A page from my writer’s notebook where I’m digging into Alan.

Here’s a game I sometimes play to think about what’s going on with a character. I ask myself, “What does [insert character’s name here] want?” Then I write down what I think they want. Then I say to myself, “Now, come on, what does he really want?” Then I write that down. I keep going until I dig down and down and down to something raw and strange motivating the character. I think about what I need to know about him or her that he or she doesn’t even know.

This exercise also got me thinking about the kind of secret logic behind Alan’s sweetness to Marisa. Here’s my drawing from the same writer’s notebook entry:

I don’t know where I’d be without my writer’s notebook.