Personal narrative: his-story; her-story … version or diversion? “Just the facts, Ma’am.”

Sgt. Friday was always so sure the facts would suffice. In a manhunt, maybe. But in the quest for a personal narrative little is certain. If you like facts or feel you need them, personal narrative is the worst place to look.

What matters is that you like it and it helps you live more happily. The fact it’s fiction changes nothing.

But I want my story to also be believable, and more than that, compelling. I want people to say “That was a good story,” and even feel inspired, uplifted and emboldened to go on with their lives, face their demons and come through whole.

In a stricter sense we have only fictions to select from, and if Sgt. Friday would grouse he would also lose.