Behind Door Number Three Is Master Storyteller Monty Hall

It’s amazing where you’ll come across fantastic stories.

I’m a big fan of the WTF podcast with Mark Maron, on which his guests relate the stories of how they came up in the industry. I wasn’t expecting much out of his interview with game show host Monty Hall, but it turned out to be one of my favorites.

I encourage all aspiring writers to attend and participate in the storytelling events in their cities. After all, the art of fiction began as an oral tradition thousands of years ago. The skills you need to get a reader to stay engrossed in your work are even more necessary for keeping the attention of listeners when speaking before an audience. Personally, it’s very easy for me to get distracted when listening to someone tell a long story.

The whole interview with Monty Hall is entertaining, but if you want to hear a particularly good story, start listening at the 39-minute mark. Please note that nothing spectacular happens. Anyone can make some fantastic event in their life into a good story. It’s the more mundane happenings that are much harder to make interesting.

The way he sets up what is otherwise a rather prosaic narrative is what makes Monty Hall so fascinating. I think there’s a lesson in there for all of us.

Check out Decater's new novel, available now at Amazon. Plus, don't forget his earlier books: Ahab's Adventures in Wonderland and Picasso Painted Dinosaurs.