Chapter 24NoticeStoriesEverywhere

When I interview people for a project, I try asking questions that can be answered with a story. Stories get at what’s significant and raw. They’re a main line to that part of our consciousness that hasn’t yet sanitized memories.

Some of us are better than others at recalling stories. One of my favorite storytellers is John Vorhaus, a writer of mystery novels, books on writing technique, and manuals on how to win at poker. During an interview, I asked him for tales that in some way deal with writing. Here’s a smattering of what he said:

Story #1

A large envelope arrived in the mail. I opened it and turned it over. Pieces of my book, The Comic Toolbox, came sliding out. So did a letter. The guy who sent it said ...

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