Lenore is the author of several books for children and teens. Her work has received honors such as appearing on the Bank Street Best Books list, winning a SCBWI Crystal Kite award, and getting featured on boxes of Cheerios.

Her newest book the YA novel, The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project, (which I devoured in practically one sitting!) simultaneously pokes fun at YA literature while also celebrating everything that is awesome about the category.

So listen in as Lenore and I chat about this amazing book and how tropes are used in literature.

In this episode Lenore and I discuss:

• The manic pixie dream girl trope.
• Metafiction, what it is and how to craft it right.
• Tropes vs. stereotypes, and how to recognize each in your own writing.
• The mechanics of writing a group scene without confusing your reader.
• How to get your mind and your writing to open up to diversity.

Plus, Lenore’s #1 tip for writers.

About Lenore Appelhans

Lenore Appelhans is the author of several books for children and teens. Her work has received honors such as appearing on the Bank Street Best Books list, winning a SCBWI Crystal Kite award, and getting featured on boxes of Cheerios.

Lenore is an ambivert, a proud Slytherpuff and a world traveller. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Lenore’s newest YA novel, The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project, is now available, and she currently lives in the D.C. area with her family and her manic pixie dream cat.

To connect with Lenore check out her website at www.lenoreappelhans.com.

The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project

Riley lives in TropeTown, where everyone plays stock roles in novels. Riley, a Manic Pixie Dream Boy, is sent to group therapy after going off-script. Riley knows that breaking the rules again could get him terminated, yet he feels there must be more to life than recycling the same clichés for readers’ entertainment.

Then he meets Zelda, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (Geek Chic subtype), and falls head over heels in love. Zelda’s in therapy too, along with several other Manic Pixies. But TropeTown has a dark secret, and if Riley and his fellow Manic Pixies don’t get to the bottom of it, they may all be terminated.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 256

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 256: An Inside Look at Tropes in Literature — Interview with Lenore Appelhans appeared first on DIY MFA.