A memoir should be written in the style of a book. Instead, memoir should be structured like a book, with a "plot," character arc (the main character [the author] should begin one way and end another), voice, tension, scene, showing vs telling, and so on. A memoir needs a beginning, middle, and an end. It may include a flashback or two (as long as they don't dominate the story). A memoir should be written so that it can be read by others; therefore, it should be written in the first person, present tense. Memoirs are different from personal essays and travel stories. While all three types of articles deal with topics from one's life, only a memoir uses actual events to create its narrative. Personal essays and travel stories are generally based on experiences of the writer; however, they may include facts derived from sources such as books or interviews. Memoirs must be written from the point of view of one character-- usually the author himself or herself at several points in their life. This character might be a child, teenager, young adult, or even an adult at several points in time throughout their life. Other types of articles lack a clear beginning, middle, and end. They may be titled "essays" or "articles" but they're not really stories because no one character dominates for any significant amount of time.