Making Memoir Magic

Kerry Kriseman

The podcast where we unlock the power of your story and guide you through the magical process of turning life experiences into memoirs that inspire and impact. kerrykriseman.substack.com

  1. 1d ago

    It's Never Too Late to Write Your Story: The Courage to Become Visible After 50

    Have you ever told yourself: "I'm too old to start." "I should have done this years ago." "Someone else is already doing it better." If so, this episode is for you. As I approach my 58th birthday, I'm reflecting on the decade that changed me most. In my 50s, I published my first book, survived ovarian and uterine cancer, left a career that no longer fulfilled me, and stepped into a new identity as a memoir teacher and coach. None of those things happened because I finally felt ready. They happened because I stopped waiting for permission. In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I'm sharing the personal experiences that taught me our stories do not expire with age. In fact, some of our most meaningful chapters are often waiting to be written. You'll learn: Why waiting for confidence often keeps us stuckHow life experiences become the foundation of powerful memoirsWhy it's never too late to call yourself a writerThe surprising truth about becoming visible later in lifeWhether you're 45, 65, or 85, your voice matters. Your stories matter. And the time to begin is now. Journal Prompt: What story, dream, or part of yourself have you been hiding because you think it's too late? Write about the moment you first started believing that. Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    14 min

  2. Jun 16

    The Gift of a Simple Hello: Why the Small Moments Matter Most

    In this heartfelt episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry reflects on a simple ritual: walking her dog Christie through her neighborhood each morning and pausing to say hello. Those two words—a greeting, a moment of recognition, a brief conversation—become a reminder of something many of us are missing in a world of distractions and screens: the gift of truly seeing one another. Through stories about neighborhood dogs, a retired teacher who remembers the details of her life, and a powerful lesson about fear and perception, Kerry explores how connection is built not only through extraordinary events, but through ordinary moments of attention. And for memoir writers, that may be the greatest lesson of all. Our stories are not only found in the dramatic turning points. They are found in the morning walks. The familiar faces. The conversations we almost didn't have. The moments we almost overlooked. In this episode, you'll discover:  Why a simple hello can be an act of connection  How fear can shape the way we see the world  Why the smallest memories often hold the greatest meaning  The concept of "threshold moments" and how they can become powerful memoir scenes  A writing prompt to uncover the ordinary moments worth preserving Writing Prompt: Take ten minutes today and write about a small interaction you still remember. Who was there? What was said? Why do you think that moment stayed with you? You may discover that what seemed insignificant was actually shaping your story all along. Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    12 min

  3. Jun 9

    The Biggest Mistake Aspiring Authors Make

    Have you ever wondered how you'll fit your entire life into a single book? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, we're exploring one of the most common mistakes aspiring memoir writers make: trying to tell everything. You'll learn: • Why memoir is different from autobiography • Why readers connect to transformation, not timelines • How defining moments create structure • Why the goal of memoir is meaning, not documentation • How to identify the stories that actually belong in your book One of the most important takeaways: Your memoir is not about everything that happened to you. It's about what changed you. Ready to Find Your Story? Join me on June 24 for my live workshop: Find the Story that Matters In this workshop, you'll learn how to identify the defining moments that belong in your memoir, uncover the organizing thread in your story, and gain clarity about what book you're truly meant to write. 👉 Register here: FIND THE STORY THAT MATTERS Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    16 min

  4. Jun 2

    From Manuscript to Microphone: My Audiobook Journey

    Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a book into an audiobook? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on my journey of recording and publishing the audiobook version of my memoir, Accidental First Lady. From choosing a professional recording studio over a DIY closet setup to navigating ACX, Audible's audiobook platform, I share the lessons I learned, the mistakes I made, and the surprises along the way. You'll hear: • Why audiobooks continue to grow in popularity • The different paths authors can take when creating an audiobook • What recording in a professional sound studio was really like • Why narrating a book is very different from writing one • How audiobook files are organized and uploaded to ACX • The unexpected challenge of audiobook cover design • Why Fiverr saved me time, money, and frustration • The emotional experience of hearing my own story come to life If you've ever dreamed of hearing your own words in your own voice, this episode is for you. Listen now and discover why audiobook publishing may be the next step in your author journey. Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    19 min

  5. May 26

    Why You Remember Certain Moments Forever — And Why They Matter in Memoir

    Why do some moments stay with us for decades while entire seasons of life fade into blur? In this episode, memoir mentor and author Kerry Kriseman explores the fascinating connection between memory, emotion, and storytelling — and why the moments you remember most vividly are often the key to uncovering your memoir. You’ll learn:  why emotional memories stay etched in our minds  how defining moments shape compelling memoir  why memoir is not about documenting your entire life  how transformation creates powerful storytelling  and why your strongest memories may hold the deeper thread of your story If you’ve ever wondered whether your life experiences matter enough to become memoir, this episode is your reminder that meaningful stories are often hiding inside the moments you can’t forget. ✨ Mentioned in this episode:  Find the Story That Matters A live memoir workshop designed to help you uncover the defining moments, emotional themes, and hidden story inside your life experiences. 📅 Wednesday, June 24  ⏰ 2 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE FOR THE WORKSHOP Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    12 min

  6. May 19

    Can a Writer Change Their Voice?

    Can writers change their voice over time? Or does evolving creatively mean losing what made their writing unique in the first place? In this episode, we explore one of the most common — and emotionally loaded — questions writers ask themselves, especially after publishing a first book:  “Can my writing voice change?” The answer is yes. But the deeper conversation is about authenticity, growth, emotional honesty, and the difference between voice, style, and tone. This episode dives into:  why writers evolve creatively  how life experience shapes the page  the danger of chasing trends instead of truth  why memoir writers especially struggle with this question  and how to stop censoring your real voice as a writer If you’ve ever worried that your writing sounds different than it used to, this conversation will remind you that evolution is not failure — it’s evidence that you’re alive, growing, and paying attention. In This Episode:  The difference between voice, style, and tone  Why writers naturally evolve over time  The hidden reason many writers obsess over voice  How memoir writing deepens authenticity  The pros and cons of changing your voice  Why readers sometimes resist creative evolution  Authors who evolved their voice successfully  The real danger writers should avoid Mentioned in This Episode: David SedarisJoan DidionThe Year of Magical ThinkingAnne LamottMemorable Quote: “Maybe the goal isn’t to find one permanent voice and freeze it forever. Maybe the goal is becoming more fully yourself on the page over time.” Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    17 min

  7. May 12

    5 Questions Every Aspiring Memoirist Asks Before They Begin

    Have you ever wondered: – Am I really a writer? – Is my story worth telling? – What if I start and never finish? – Is it too late for me to write a memoir? In this episode, Kerry shares the five biggest questions aspiring memoirists ask before they begin writing—and the deeper fears often hiding beneath those questions. This heartfelt conversation explores: ✨ why memoir writing feels so vulnerable ✨ the myth that only “real writers” can write books ✨ why information overload keeps aspiring authors stuck ✨ the emotional side of memoir writing ✨ perfectionism, procrastination, and unfinished drafts ✨ why ordinary stories matter deeply ✨ and why it’s never too late to begin telling your story If you’ve been quietly carrying the dream of writing a memoir, this episode is your reminder that your experiences matter—and your voice deserves a place on the page. Resources Mentioned: ✨ Make Memoir Magic Course: LEARN MORE HERE ✨ Kerry’s memoir: Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics ✨ Join the Make Memoir Magic Facebook Group: CLICK HERE Connect with Kerry: Website: https://www.kerrykriseman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerry.kriseman If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another aspiring author and leave a review—it helps more memoir writers find the show. Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    18 min

  8. Apr 28

    Why You Don't Need to be a "Writer" to Write Your Memoir

    There’s a belief that keeps far too many stories locked away: “I’m not a writer.” In this episode, we gently unravel that idea—and replace it with something far more freeing. Because memoir was never meant to belong to “writers.”  It belongs to people who have lived, felt, questioned, and grown. If you’ve been waiting to feel more confident, more qualified, or more “ready” before you begin writing your story, this episode is your permission slip to stop waiting. You don’t need perfect grammar.  You don’t need a polished voice.  You don’t need to know how it all ends. You just need a willingness to begin. Inside this episode, we explore:  Why the label “writer” might be the very thing holding you back  What memoir is actually about (hint: it’s not perfection)  The mindset shift that makes writing feel possible again  What you truly need to start—and it’s simpler than you think This is an invitation to come back to your story—not as a writer, but as a witness to your own life. ✨ Takeaway You don’t become a writer and then start your memoir. You start your memoir… and somewhere along the way, you realize you’ve been a writer all along. 💡 Ready to Begin? Join me for my free workshop:  The Memoir Blueprint: How to Stop Overthinking and Start Writing This is where you’ll take that first step—with guidance, structure, and the permission you’ve been waiting for. SAVE YOUR SEAT FOR THE WORKSHOP! 💬 Let’s Stay Connected If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who has a story inside them. And if you’re ready for support, encouragement, and a community of writers just like you, come join us inside my free Facebook group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors.. Thank you for listening to this episode of Making Memoir Magic. To learn more about my course, Make Memoir Magic, click here.  Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where we honor your story, provide tips, create community, and help you write the story you were meant to tell. Join here!

    11 min
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About

The podcast where we unlock the power of your story and guide you through the magical process of turning life experiences into memoirs that inspire and impact. kerrykriseman.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kerry Kriseman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Making Memoir Magic
  • Show Website
    Making Memoir Magic