Absurd Quote by Glenn Howerton
“One of the rules that I always follow is that no matter how crazy characters may act, and no matter how absurd or strange their actions may be, that it's justified in the character's mind why they are doing it. Not to get all heady about it, but it's fun for me to test how far I can go with things while still keeping it grounded enough that you believe that the character really believes that what he's doing will get him what he wants. It's a personal challenge to me to see how far I can go with that.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast, 2022
A writer should ensure characters act consistently with their own logic, even if bizarre, to keep the story believable and engaging.
In simple terms: Characters must act in ways that make sense to them, no matter how odd.
Key Takeaway
Maintain internal logic for character actions.
Themes
character development
storytelling
psychology
creative challenge
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
creative
educational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- role‑playing games
- improvisation
Key Concepts
motivation
belief systems
narrative consistency
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should be set for character plausibility?
- How does internal logic affect audience empathy?
A Different Perspective
Over‑justifying absurd actions can alienate audiences.
![“I read the script [of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency] and went, "I haven't read anything this good, in a long time." I thought it was absolutely brilliant. The dialogue is so sparkling, smart and witty. You also have these insane, crazy characters, like energy sucking vampires and…” quote by Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/382/samuel-barnett-15432_agency_i-read-the-script-of-dirk-gently-s-holis_859135.jpg)
