639 - Intrinsic Motivation
John and Craig can\u2019t help but look at intrinsic motivations \u2014 those specific internal drives that guide characters behavior. They discuss how to structure and expose that internal drive, the importance of an innate irritability, how it can stop your characters from becoming flat, and rewarding that intrinsic motivation with choice.
But first, we follow up on AI training, blueprints and \u201cimportant\u201d movies. We also weigh in on a high-school senior\u2019s college dilemma and answer a listener question on writing with your trailer in mind.
In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig parse out their reasons for why humans may \u2013 or may not \u2013 ever leave the solar system.
Links:
- My Pal Foot Foot\xa0by\xa0The Shaggs
- Braid\xa0by\xa0Jonathan Blow
- Connections\xa0from the New York Times
- Q: Who Found a Way to Crack the U.K.\u2019s Premier Quiz Show?\xa0by David Segal for The New York Times
- On what motivates us: a detailed review of intrinsic v. extrinsic motivation\xa0by Laurel S. Morris, Mora M. Grehl, Sarah B. Rutter, Marishka Mehta, and Margaret L. Westwater
- Why are there so many illegal weed stores in New York City?\xa0by PJ Vogt
- Sh\u014dgun on FX
- Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
- Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
- Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription\xa0or\xa0treat yourself to a premium subscription!
- Craig Mazin on\xa0Threads\xa0and\xa0Instagram
- John August on\xa0Threads,\xa0Instagram\xa0and\xa0Twitter
- John on Mastodon
- Outro\xa0by Ben Singer (send us yours!)
- Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by\xa0Matthew Chilelli.
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode\xa0here.