Everyone wears a mask and hides things. I don't want that to be any different. Because that's what gives us our depth. My big soft spot in stories is not the "what" but the "how." How is something told, how do characters do something, and how do they say it? For me, characters are the essential thing in a story. Many writers carry a notepad and write down stories and ideas. My notepad is full of quotes, characters, and dialogue. I write and change until every character is in place - saying exactly what they need to say, doing exactly what they need to do. What's the best story I've ever heard? I don't know anymore. But I remember exactly who told me the story.