Some people think best with pen in hand. If that's you, this worksheet is designed to be printed, spread out on your kitchen table, and filled in one stage at a time — with a cup of coffee and no screen in sight.
Download the Worksheet
The worksheet is two pages. Page 1 covers Stages 1–5 (Acts I and early Act II). Page 2 covers Stages 6–10 (late Act II and Act III).
Preview
Page 1: Stages 1–5
Page 2: Stages 6–10
How to Use It
Step-by-Step
- Print both pages. Use landscape orientation for the best layout. Color or black-and-white both work.
- Start with the "What Happened" column. For each of the 10 stages, write 2–3 sentences about what happened externally. Don't overthink it — just get the facts down.
- Flip to Page 2 for the Inner Journey. Each outer stage maps to an inner stage. For each one, write what was true at the start of that stage and what was true at the end. The gap between start and end is your transformation — that's where the emotional truth of your memoir lives.
- Choose your scene structures. Once both pages are filled, refer to Chapters 8–9 to pick which of the 12 scene structures fits each stage.
- Pin it up. Tape the completed worksheets above your desk. They're your roadmap for the entire memoir.
Tip: Many writers find it helpful to fill in Stages 1, 5, 7, and 10 first — these are the anchors of your story (the beginning, the leap, the darkest moment, and the legacy). The stages in between often become clearer once you know those four.
Tip: Print extra copies. Your first pass won't be your last. As you write your memoir and memories surface, you'll want to revise your timeline. That's not a mistake — that's the process working.
The worksheet is intentionally simple. Page 1 maps what happened (the outer journey). Page 2 maps what changed inside you (the inner journey) — start vs. end for each stage. Together, they're the complete blueprint for your memoir on two sheets of paper.