Angela Douglas asked herself a question before she'd published a single book: what's the worst thing that could happen to a writer? She landed on an answer while working through lockdown on her still-unpublished first novel: having one of your stories stolen. That became the premise for The Mentor, a psychological thriller about Karla, an author accused of basing her breakout book on a former student's real life. Angela likes writing characters readers won't warm to right away, and Karla is one of them. To keep her from reading as one-dimensional, Angela added details that never made the original outline, including a strained relationship with Karla's mother. The book also splits into two points of view, uses an outlining method she calls waypoint writing instead of a fixed chapter plan, and went through more than one ending before she landed on the one that made the final book. Key Takeaways Why she's drawn to writing unlikable characters, and how she made sure Karla still had a reason to be the way she is. Why she rewrote The Mentor's ending more than once before one version finally stuck. How outlining toward scene “waypoints” instead of a fixed chapter plan changed her process Why she split the story into two points of view instead of writing Karla's story alone. Why she kept the book's 2020 setting even knowing it would cost her some readers. Angela Douglas | The Mentor: https://www.amazon.com/Mentor-Angela-Douglas/dp/1067810714 Follow Angela Douglas online: https://www.angeladouglasbooks.com/ Want to be part of the conversation? Join the Patreon and ask your questions for the guest. You’ll also get early access to episodes and a free novella Cognitive Breach. Your support helps keep The Thriller Writer Lab going and brings more great thriller authors into the Lab. https://patreon.com/markpjnadon Mark's Thrillers Psychological tech thrillers from your host, including The Treatment Room: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers Follow on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethrillerwriterlab/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thethrillerwriterlab

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