In our film profession you may have Gable's looks, Tracy's art, Marlene's legs or Liz's violet eyes, but they don't mean a thing without that swinging thing called courage.
When it comes to memoir, we want to catch the author in a lie. When we read fiction, we want to catch the author telling the truth.
Every writer hopes or boldly assumes that his life is in some sense exemplary, that the particular will turn out to be universal.