A Pantser’s Guide to Plotting a Memoir

After He Said Cancer | Memoir Update

They say there are two types of writers: the ‘Plotters’ and the ‘Pantsers’. The Plotters outline the book’s structure at the beginning and write along the plot line. I admire the Plotter for their foresight, discipline, and linear way of thinking.

I could never be a Plotter.

Without a doubt, I am a Pantser. A scene begins to take shape in my mind. Then, the momentum inside me builds and builds, until I have no choice but to let it out onto the page. Crafting the essay is almost a relief in the end, as the creative work takes shape and comes to life.

The writing world is beautiful to a Pantser, because there are no rules. You can write about whatever you want as long as your pen (or computer keyboard) is free to follow your heart. The Pantser needs freedom.

Until it is time to plot out the book. Suddenly, the Pantser’s world comes crashing down. There are plot holes, themes only partially developed, and no opening image. The protagonist isn’t sufficiently flawed, and so on.

This is where I am now.

Although I hoped that I was nearing the end of my memoir, it is more likely that I am only halfway there. The beginning is incompletely developed and doesn’t move the plot forward sufficiently. I need to add more tension and give the reader a reason to root for the hero (me). In short, my flaws need to be more visible in the first part of the book so that the reader can experience my transformation.

The Pantser must now become a Plotter.

Here is a photo showing the plot line of my memoir taken from the famous book on writing novels called “Save the Cat”. An interview with a book agent that I recently saw discussed this book as an industry standard for evaluating plot lines.

Now that I have adopted a structure, the realization that I haven't written many of the book’s chapters is a bit daunting. The good news is that I have plenty of flaws to populate the first part of my book, which sets the reader up for the transformation that needs to take place within me. I am human and far from perfect. For the memoirist, this is rich material!

Time for me to become a Plotter, at least for the home stretch of completing a first draft. And, yes, I need to ‘save a cat’ in the beginning.

Please share your thoughts with me in a comment. It would really help encourage me!

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If you would like to read other posts, here are a few:

1. How It Began. This story is the origins of my Substack and tells the story of the first moment when we learned of my husband’s breast cancer diagnosis. https://www.afterhesaidcancer.com/p/how-it-began

2. Extremes. The extremes of poverty give me perspective on my grief.

   https://www.afterhesaidcancer.com/p/extremes

3. That Ribbon. https://www.afterhesaidcancer.com/p/that-ribbon

4. The Day He Nearly Died. https://www.afterhesaidcancer.com/p/the-day-he-nearly-died

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