When you have a clear idea of what your character is trying to accomplish, it makes it a lot easier to riff on things.

One of my biggest pet peeves is that I just don't like it when characters do things that are funny to the writer, but you don't know why they're doing it and it doesn't make any sense.

I was entirely wrapped up in the idea of becoming an actor. I learned how to write on the job, basically out of necessity. I always thought it'd be fun to write something, but it never was an ambition of mine, per se. I just thought, Well, maybe I'll do it one day just for the hell of it and see if it works.

I take my work very seriously, and that's the only way for it to be fun for me.