Writing Your Memoirs: Enriching Your Storytelling
The first draft is the foundation of your story. Now it can be developed into a rich, colorful tale.
My writing is all over the place…
One idea for improving your writing skills is to read your favorite authors with a critical eye. Think about what makes their stories so good. You’re not seeking to imitate. Just perhaps incorporate their style into your writing when it’s appropriate.
The mantra of many writing teachers is: show, don’t tell. An example of telling: ‘the girl was sad.’ vs. an example of showing: ‘tears trickled through the dirt on the girl’s sunburned face.’ Showing is more descriptive and there’s no doubt the girl is sad. The emotions seem more real and compelling.
It’s best to use common words. No one wants to frequently stop reading to look up words.
Your story should have a focus. Pick an event, or idea, and stick with it. Then focus on different aspects of your story. Think of how you would photograph the event, say for example at a wedding. You may take a picture of the church, of guests arriving. A picture showing the inside of the church, of the bride walking down the aisle and the happy couple exiting the church. A room full of guests at the reception. Then zoom in on the flower girl so she’s alone in your lens looking like a princess in her beautiful sparkling dress. Zoom in again on the groom’s father talking about his son as an awkward adolescence. You get the picture. 
Going off on an unrelated tangent, no matter how interesting, will confuse the reader and weaken your story. Leave out unnecessary facts. Don’t ramble or include irrelevant information. Or separate them into another Story.