This recent episode of Scriptnotes covers all the ways humans can approach a problem. These are great things to know when writing characters! For instance, RUBBER DUCKING…

Rubber Ducking is “Talking through a coding problem to an inanimate object, like literally a rubber duck, saying ‘Okay, first I’m doing this and then I’m doing this.'”

Certain screenplays come to mind that use this method, including Cast Away, wherein the Tom Hanks character talks to Wilson, the volleyball, as he works on solving his problems.

See more at:
https://johnaugust.com/2025/problem-solving