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Hey there Word Nerds!

So glad you could be here with me for this awesome episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today we\\u2019re here with pop culture and sci-fi guru, Ryan Britt, talking about his new book Luke Skywalker Can\\u2019t Read, And Other Geeky Truths. This book is a\\xa0blend of nerd-ilicious, mind-bending awesomeness, and fall-out-of-your-chair hilarity and as soon as I heard about it I just\\xa0knew I had to have Ryan on the show. Listen in to hear us geek out about life, literature, and all things nerdy.\\xa0

In this episode Ryan and I discuss:

• The differences between writing for and reading online vs.\\xa0writing and reading a book
• What it actually means to be a geek now
• What benefits there are to being a geek now as a writer

Plus, Ryan\\u2019s #1 tip for writers.

Don\\u2019t forget, if you want to dig deeper, join me for a "Stop Dreaming, Start Doing" workshop on January 12 at 8pm ET. You can find more information at DIYMFA.com/openhouse.

Also, DIY MFA 101 is open for enrollment. Learn more at DIYMFA.com/DIYMFA101

About Ryan Britt

If the ghost of Marshall McLuhan were to merge with Chuck Klosterman, you\\u2019d have essayist Ryan Britt. Ryan has never met a monster, alien, wizard or superhero that didn\\u2019t require further discussion, and in his book he answers questions you\\u2019ve probably never thought to ask (but now that he\\u2019s brought them up, you\\u2019re probably wondering about them too). In his book, he tackles topics like: Does anyone in the Star Wars universe read books? Is Pete Best the Bilbo to Ringo Starr\\u2019s Frodo? And, what ever happened to Biff Tannen\\u2019s parents? If you\\u2019re a geek like me (and even if you\\u2019re not) you\\u2019re going to get a kick out of this entertaining manifesto for modern geekdom.

But seriously, Ryan has written for The New York Times, Electric Literature, The Awl, VICE and The Morning News and is a consulting editor for Story. He was the staff writer for the Hugo Award-winning web magazine Tor.com, where he remains a contributor.

About LUKE SKYWALKER CAN\'T READ

Britt recounts personal stories of coming of age amid the influence of 80s and 90s pop culture; how he learned to take his interests seriously from a big box store manager he nicknames Captain Space Pirate because of he was reminiscent of Harrison Ford; how his first \\u201cthe birds and the bees\\u201d conversation came from asking his father about the pictures in an Omni magazine article entitled \\u201cTyrannosaurus Sex: A Love Tail\\u201d; and how his next lesson in sex was from watching Jane Fonda in Barbarella, which quickly evolved into a life-changing epiphany.

Britt\\u2019s thoughtful and fun meditations on everything sci-fi and pop culture spins insights on what many of us have not known about our favorite stuff. He shows us how monster movies are just romantic comedies with commitment issues, claims nobody should get mad about super hero remakes, and argues that killer robots are probably harmless authenticity-seeking hipsters. Luke Skywalker Can\'t Read\\xa0tears down the wall between hardcore sci-fi readers and the mainstream, making it perfect both for cosplayers, or those who haven\\u2019t worn a costume since grade school.

If you want to learn\\xa0more about Ryan, follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website.

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Also, if you liked this episode\\u2026

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you\\u2019ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/076

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

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