When it comes to filmmaking, writing, comedy, direction, impeccable content creation, or being an Eagle Scout who earned all 139 merit badges, this creative has got it all covered!

Baron Ryan is a multi-faceted creative and an internet sensation branching out to the literary landscape as he releases his debut novel 'A COMEDY OF NOBODIES'; a collection of work written in a wry, comedic style that favors sagacity over gags and perceptiveness over punchlines. Ryan's work traces one unique fall semester in the lives of four Ivy League nobodies who possess an enormous aspiration to be somebodies. It further revolves around some hilarious attempts and extreme lengths one can go to in order to find true love. 

Ryan successfully amalgamates humor and poignancy in this fascinating collection of novel short stories based in the 21st century. Baron Ryan's 'A Comedy Of Nobodies' published through Blackstone Publishing is currently available on their official website and on all other major platforms. 

We chat with Baron Ryan in this exclusive interview with ReVamp regarding his literary debut, his writing process for 'A Comedy of Nobodies', the initial inspiration behind it, any challenges he faced while crafting his debut fiction novel, and more significant insights into his professional journey. 

Hi there Baron. Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! How are you doing? How has 2024 been like for you so far? 

It’s been busy without being very productive. I’ve never been an adult before, but this sure feels like what adulthood sounded like as a kid. Like a sprinting turtle. I’ve made lots of wonderful new friends though, a big tribe of filmmakers, photographers, poets, designers, and musicians. It feels like I found a Lost Generation of the internet age. My book coming out is obviously the big milestone. 

I would love to begin our conversation by asking what it really was that lured you towards the landscape of literature and entertainment.  

Partly because writing works for me. I make sense of the world by writing it out. Entertainment is an escape valve, but you learn so much from escaping that in the end it becomes more valuable than a vacation from reality. It teaches you how to operate in this thing called real life. 

Was it something you decided to pursue at a young age or did this passion emerge at a later stage in your life?

I think I always did. My family would watch one, sometimes two movies per night in the VHS and DVD days. At a certain point you learn to think in that narrative language. It’s partly something I always wanted to do but wound up being the only thing I’m good at. I’m not good at anything else. 

Talk to me about your debut fiction novel 'A COMEDY OF NOBODIES'. First of all, huge congratulations on this book! I would love to know what the initial inspiration and overall writing process was behind penning this fantastic piece of work? 

The inspiration came from what didn’t happen. I am a shy, normal guy who never had the courage to live brave, but I had to fulfill that alternative life somehow and writing a book can be a great way. Plus, it’s cheaper than therapy. 

Did you face any sort of challenges while crafting this book? If so, how did you overcome those specific obstacles? 

As with many firsts, the big challenge is getting over that urge to overthink it and just finish the damn thing. The challenge in the rewrite is that I’ve changed so much since I wrote the first draft that I’m coming at it from a detached perspective. I’m rewriting a more naïve writer’s work.

Do you have a memorable sequence that you loved incorporating within this book? Any segment or short story in particular that comes to your mind that you'd be thrilled for everyone to peruse through and get their reactions on. 

There’s a dream sequence in What’s Up God? I filmed this sequence about two years ago and I thought the writing was good enough to live here in the book. I’d be curious to hear thoughts on that story—it was my favorite one to write. 

Besides being an amazing author, you are currently also a highly-recognisable filmmaker, humorist, digital creator, and an immensely established TikToker amongst several other things as we witness you branching towards a distinct array of creative outlets. 

Juggling so many creative fields at the same time, how do you personally manage amalgamating these specific elements together and focusing on them equally when it comes to factors like time management? 

I cannot time manage. I live in disciplined chaos. I wake up, write for five hours, film sometimes till 2am, and other times I’ll just go watch a movie. There is no pattern other than sleeping and waking and writing in between. How I finished this book while balancing all these plates I have no idea. I don’t know if I’d be able to do it twice. I think when you’re letting good ideas guide the way in that you find an idea that excites you, following it is easy, no matter how busy you are. It’s like making time for someone you’re sweet on even though you’re busy up to your eyes. 

The book is already out and it has been merely a few weeks since its highly-anticipated launch. How are you enjoying the reception you are currently garnering from your fans from around the world?

I don’t know the reception. I made a conscious choice to not read reviews good or bad and I asked everyone in my life not to tell me about them. Bad reviews get you down and good reviews aren’t good for you. 

Having such an established fanbase, did you ever face any kind of pressure while releasing your debut novel knowing there's such a massive amount of people waiting passionately to read this collection of fascinating short stories or was this entire publishing ordeal smooth sailing for you? 

I felt the pressure. There are hardly any stakes to watching a 90 second video online, but there are plenty of stakes with a book that takes 5 hours to read. That’s a commitment, and an intimate one. When people hate a video, they tend to move on. When they don’t like a book, they come for blood.

Where do you usually draw your inspirations from in terms of your professional endeavours? 

 It is very much reality mixed with fiction. The material comes from a real place, but the situations are mostly fictional—and sometimes vice-versa. These days I’ve been drawing more inspiration from avoiding real-life. Delusion—what a gift. 

Pertaining to your literary inspirations specifically, if given an opportunity, is there any author on your radar that you would absolutely love to collaborate and work with in the future? 

I don’t think authors like working with each other. Maybe on a TV show or a movie, but a book collaboration is a strange one. I’ve always admired Garrison Keillor’s work and he’s on tour again with A Prairie Home Companion. I’d love to be a guest on that show and voice some guest character. Wow, what a treat that would be. 

For the people who are yet to buy this impeccable novel, what can you tell us about 'A COMEDY OF NOBODIES' and why do you think the readers should buy it? 

It’s not impeccable, but it’ll gives you a few laughs and it might make you weep a tear or two. Anyone easily prone to the syndrome of nostalgia would get a kick out of this book. 

What's next for you, Baron? Any upcoming projects in the pipeline for this year that you'd like to hint your fans about? 

I’m writing a movie about two people who meet each other in the same dream. I’m of the internet, so I’m not waiting for someone to say yes. I’m very much going to make this with whatever money I can find and with the resources I have. 

Lastly, I would love to know if there's any message that you wish to convey to your fans and supporters currently reading this interview? 

Well, if you’re reading this, I appreciate it. I appreciate it on behalf of a much younger me, the youngest of a family of five who never thought anyone would be interested in hearing what he had to say. Thanks for reading, thanks for watching, thanks for everything. 

Check out Baron Ryan's "A Comedy Of Nobodies".