Well done. You nailed it. I usually explain the difference by saying: Memoir takes a bigger theme, such as marriage, and uses it to examine the writer's life. Personal essay takes a moment in the writer's life and uses it to examine a bigger theme." They seem very similar but are actually opposites!

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Kelly Eden | Essayist | Writing Coach
Kelly Eden | Essayist | Writing Coach

Written by Kelly Eden | Essayist | Writing Coach

New Zealand-based essayist | @ Business Insider, Mamamia, Oh Reader, Thought Catalog, ScaryMommy and more. Say hi at https://becauseyouwrite.substack.com/

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