Most first-time memoirs don’t fail because of poor grammar.
They fail because they explain what the reader already understands.
Writers often feel the need to guide the reader through the meaning of an event:
“That was when I realised…”
“It taught me that…”
“Looking back, I can see…”
These sentences feel helpful. They aren’t.
They weaken the writing.
Why explanation doesn’t work
When you explain the meaning of a moment, you take the work away from the reader.
Instead of experiencing the scene, the reader is told what to think about it.
That creates distance.
Memoir works best when the reader feels they are there — not being guided from a distance.
A simple example
Original:
I stood there, embarrassed, and realised I hadn’t prepared enough. It taught me the importance of being ready.
Edited:
I stood there, the words gone.
No one moved.
I could feel the silence settle.
Nothing has been lost.
But everything is stronger.
The reader understands the moment without being told what it means.
What to do instead
When you’re editing your memoir, look for sentences that explain:
- what you realised
- what you learnt
- how something changed you
Then remove them.
Let the scene do the work.
A useful test
Take any paragraph and ask:
If I remove this sentence, does the meaning still land?
If the answer is yes, the sentence is not needed.
The result
When you remove explanation:
- Your writing becomes clearer
- Your voice becomes stronger
- Your story becomes more engaging
And most importantly:
The reader stays inside the moment.
Memoir isn’t about explaining your life.
It’s about letting the reader experience it.