Making Memoir Magic

Kerry Kriseman
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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. 6d ago

    The Stories Hiding in Plain Sight: Finding Meaning in Everyday Memories

    What turns a memory into memoir? In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry shares the story of her grandmother Nana's unusual collection of dated “I Voted” stickers—and how something the family once lovingly teased her about took on an entirely different meaning years later. The lesson? The memory is what happened. The memoir is what you understand about what happened. Kerry explores how present-day reflection adds depth to memoir and why some of our smallest, most ordinary memories can reveal the biggest themes in our lives. In this episode: The important difference between memory and memoirWhy your younger self and present-day narrator bring different perspectives to the pageThe Then, Now, Meaning method for finding deeper significance in a memoryHow to use ordinary objects as doorways into larger storiesWhy you don't need extraordinary experiences to write meaningful memoirHow family stories can become part of the legacy you preserveA simple 15-minute writing exercise to uncover the meaning inside one of your own memoriesTry This Writing Exercise Choose one ordinary object or small memory from your past and write from these three sentence starters: I remember... I didn't understand then... Now I know... Don't force the meaning. Follow your curiosity and see where the memory takes you. This Week's Essay This episode was inspired by Kerry's Life Lived & Written essay, “What It Really Means to Leave a Legacy With Your Words,” about voting, voice, family stories, and her grandmother's unforgettable “I Voted” shrine. One Thought to Take With You Enter through the small door. The object, habit, phrase, recipe, photograph, or seemingly insignificant memory may be the doorway into one of the biggest themes in your memoir. 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!

  2. Aug 19

    You Haven't Missed Your Chance to Write Your Memoir

    Have you been thinking about writing your memoir for years—but wondering whether you've waited too long? You haven't. In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry Kriseman explores why time may actually give memoir writers something they didn't have when they were younger: perspective. Inspired by her recent Stories of Humanity interview, where she shared the words “It's never too late,” Kerry reflects on some of the biggest changes of her own 50s: publishing her first memoir, beginning a new career as a memoir teacher and coach, surviving two forms of cancer, and becoming an advocate for ovarian cancer awareness. But this episode isn't only for writers over 50. It's for anyone who has lived through an experience and reached the point where they're beginning to understand it differently. Because memoir isn't simply about remembering what happened. The event is what happened. The memoir is what you now understand about what happened. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why you don't need to be famous or have lived an extraordinary life to write a meaningful memoirWhy ordinary doesn't mean insignificantHow time and distance can give you valuable perspective on your experiencesThe difference between recording what happened and discovering what it meantWhy “Who am I to write this?” is the wrong questionHow to recognize experiences that may belong in your memoirWhy “someday” can keep aspiring authors from ever beginningThree questions to help you move from thinking about writing your memoir to actually startingThree Questions to Help You Find Your Story If you've been wondering what your memoir might actually be about, spend some time with these: 1. What experience from my life do I understand differently now than I did while I was living it? 2. What story do I keep returning to? Pay attention to the memories that refuse to leave you alone. 3. If someone saw herself in my story, what would I hope she understood? You don't need to have your entire memoir figured out before you begin. You need a place to start. Ready to Go From “Someday” to “I'm Writing It”? Believing your story matters is one thing. Knowing how to turn your experiences into a memoir—with a central story, structure, scenes, voice, vulnerability, and forward momentum—is something else. That's why Kerry created Make Memoir Magic, her course for aspiring memoir writers who are ready to stop saying, “Someday I'm going to write my memoir,” and start saying: “I'm writing it.” Because you are not behind. Your age isn't evidence that you've missed your chance. The years you've lived may be precisely what gives you something worth saying. It's never too late to become visible, use your voice, and write the memoir only you can write. Learn more about Kerry's memoir writing resources, workshops, courses, and community. 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!

  3. Aug 12

    Your Memories Aren’t Your Memoir: How to Find the Real Story

    What if the story you would have written ten years ago isn't the story you're ready to write today? In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I'm talking about the dog days of summer—and one very special dog who has me thinking about endings, beginnings, family, and the way our understanding of our own stories changes over time. Betty is the 16th guide dog puppy we've raised for Dogs Inc. We loved her, raised her, prepared her for what came next…and eventually said goodbye. We thought we knew how that story ended. Then Betty came home. Now, for the first time, we're officially a three-dog household—and I'm looking at Betty's story from an entirely different season of my life. That's one of the gifts of memoir: the facts of our stories may not change, but we do. In this episode, you'll learn: Why an event from your life isn't necessarily the storyHow distance and perspective can reveal deeper meaningThe difference between the person who experienced something and the narrator who writes about it years laterWhy family stories can hold two seemingly contradictory truths at onceA simple exercise for discovering how your understanding of a memory has changedThe question that can help you move from “Here's what happened” to “Here's what this experience means”Try This Choose one experience from your past and ask yourself: What did I believe about this while I was living it? Then ask: What do I understand about it today that I couldn't understand then? Finally: What is this story really about? You might discover that the story underneath the memory is the one you've been trying to find all along. Ready to Find the Story Inside Your Life? If you have years of memories but aren't sure how to shape them into a memoir, I'd love to help. The next live cohort of Make Memoir Magic begins in September. Over four weeks, I'll help you move from “I have all these stories” to “I know the story I'm trying to tell.” We'll work on finding the heart of your memoir, shaping your story, developing scenes and voice, creating a sustainable writing practice, and moving forward with greater clarity and confidence. Join the Make Memoir Magic waitlist: https://kerrykriseman.myflodesk.com/waitlist Connect With Me Follow me on Substack: https://substack.com/@kerrykriseman Join my free Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/memoirmagicforaspiringauthors Learn more about working with me: https://www.kerrykriseman.com/personal-memoir-consulting And remember: You probably don't need more stories. You've lived plenty of them. The work now is discovering which story you're really trying to tell. 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!

  4. Aug 5

    Finding the Real Story Hidden Inside Your Life

    Have you ever thought about writing a memoir but wondered, “Is my story really interesting enough?” You’re not alone. Many aspiring memoir writers don’t struggle because they lack stories. They struggle because they haven’t yet discovered the deeper story hiding beneath their memories. In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry Kriseman explores why finding the heart of your memoir is the first—and often most important—step in transforming your life experiences into a meaningful book. Drawing from her own journey writing Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics, Kerry shares how she discovered that her memoir wasn’t truly about politics. It was about identity, resilience, and finding her own voice. She also explains why so many writers get stuck trying to capture every memory instead of uncovering the meaning behind those moments. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your memoir is not simply a collection of memoriesThe difference between the events of your life and the deeper story beneath themWhy many aspiring authors believe their stories aren’t “important enough”How to identify the themes, questions, and transformations that can shape your memoirThe questions you can ask yourself to begin uncovering your own storyWhy clarity comes before writing—and how finding your story makes the writing process easierIf you've been carrying a story inside you but don't know where to begin, this episode will help you see your memories differently. Your life is filled with moments. Your memoir begins when you discover what those moments mean. Ready to uncover the story hidden inside your life? Learn more about Make Memoir Magic, Kerry’s step-by-step memoir writing course, at: www.kerrykriseman.com About Kerry Kriseman Kerry Kriseman is an author, memoir instructor, speaker, and storytelling advocate who helps aspiring authors transform their life experiences into meaningful memoirs. She is the author of Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics, a memoir about public life, identity, resilience, family, and finding your own voice. With more than 30 years of writing and communications experience, including a career as a journalist and communications professional, Kerry teaches writers how to uncover their unique stories, structure compelling memoirs, and share their experiences with honesty and heart. Through her online course Make Memoir Magic, workshops, and coaching programs, Kerry guides writers from “I have a story, but I don’t know where to begin” to confidently creating a memoir they’re proud to share. Learn more at: www.kerrykriseman.com 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!

  5. Jul 29

    Why Memoir Writers Need to Stop Predicting the Impact of Their Words

    You Don't Know Who Needs Your Story What if you're asking the wrong question about your memoir? Many memoir writers wonder: Is my story important enough? Will anyone care? Will anyone relate? Does anyone need to hear this? In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry shares three unexpected reminders she received in a single day about the power of words—and the impact our stories can have in ways we may never anticipate. A client reminded her that being listened to and heard is a gift. A reader shared what Kerry's memoir, Accidental First Lady, meant to her. And a longtime reader of Kerry's newsletter took the time to write a letter explaining how one of her essays had impacted people beyond her own inbox. These moments led Kerry to a powerful lesson for memoir writers: You are not responsible for predicting who needs your story. You are responsible for telling it honestly. In this episode, you'll learn: Why memoir writers often get stuck asking whether their story is "important enough"Why you can't predict exactly who will connect with your storyHow a reader's experience becomes part of the meaning of a memoirThe question to ask instead of "Will anyone care?"Why your story may matter to someone for a reason you never anticipatedA simple writing exercise to help you move past self-doubt and begin writing the story you've been dismissingA Writing Prompt from This Episode Think of one story you've been hesitating to write. Complete these sentences: I want to write this story because... The part I'm most afraid to share is... Someone who reads this might recognize... You don't have to know exactly who needs your story. You just have to be willing to tell it. If you've been wondering whether your story is important enough to write, this episode is for you. Because the story you keep dismissing as too ordinary, too personal, or too insignificant may be exactly the story someone else needs to hear. Keep writing the stories only you can tell. 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!

  6. Jul 21

    Sometimes Travel Is a Rocking Chair: How Ordinary Moments Become the Stories We Remember

    What counts as an adventure? Sometimes, it means getting on a plane and exploring somewhere new. And sometimes, it means sitting on the front porch of a downtown St. Pete hotel with a friend you've known for more than 20 years. In this episode, I share the story of a hot oat-milk latte, a cold—and often pink—tea, two rocking chairs, and a Florida thunderstorm that arrived like a marching band. A few lightning strikes were a little too close for comfort. But the breeze was cool, the humidity finally gave us a break, and we kept rocking, talking, and laughing. As our conversation moved from raising young children to retirement, new goals, new projects, and bucket-list trips, I found myself thinking about how our definition of adventure changes as we move through life. And how the moments that become meaningful stories aren't always dramatic. Sometimes, they're the ordinary moments we almost overlook. In this episode, we explore: Why travel and adventure don't always require a plane ticketHow our definition of freedom can change as we move through lifeWhy small, sensory details can transform an ordinary memory into a storyHow to recognize the memoir moments hiding in everyday lifeWhy you don't need a dramatic life event to write meaningful memoirThe question every memoir writer should ask: Why does this moment matter to me now?Your memoir may be hiding in the moments you think are too ordinary to write about, and if you want help finding your own memoir moments, join my free Memoir in Minutes 5-Day Challenge. Each day, you'll receive a simple writing prompt designed to help you capture meaningful moments from your life—without overthinking or staring at a blank page. Five days. Five small moments. And the beginning of discovering just how much story you already carry. Join the free Memoir in Minutes 5-Day Challenge  Making Memoir Magic is hosted by Kerry Kriseman, author, memoir mentor, and storytelling champion. Each episode explores the art of finding, writing, publishing, and sharing the stories that make us who we are. 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!

  7. Jul 14

    Why Most People Never Finish Their Memoir (And How to Finally Move Forward)

    Maybe you've filled notebooks with memories, written a few chapters, or spent years saying, "I'll get back to it someday." You're not alone. In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry Kriseman explores the real reasons so many memoirs remain unfinished—and why those reasons have very little to do with talent or discipline. You'll discover: Why writing "your whole life story" is keeping you stuckThe surprising difference between a life story and a memoirHow fear of judgment can quietly stop your progressWhy consistency matters more than inspirationThe power of writing with support instead of struggling aloneWhether you're just beginning or you've been carrying an unfinished manuscript for years, this episode will help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Resources Mentioned ✨ Take the free quiz: What's Your Memoir Roadblock? ✨ Join the waitlist for the September Make Memoir Magic cohort and be the first to hear when enrollment opens. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who has a story waiting to be written. Because your story 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!

  8. Jul 8

    What Two Girls Selling Beads Taught Me About Writing a Memoir

    What does returning to an unfinished manuscript have in common with two young girls selling handmade bead animals from a tiny table on the side of the road? More than you might think. In this episode, I share a quiet moment from Fourth of July weekend that became an unexpected lesson about courage, creativity, and why memoir writers often overlook the stories already waiting for them. We'll explore: Why writing your second book can feel very different from writing your first.The surprising connection between entrepreneurship and memoir.How ordinary moments become meaningful stories.Why curiosity is one of a memoir writer's greatest tools.A simple writing exercise to help you discover stories hidden in everyday life.If you've ever wondered whether your life is "interesting enough" to write about—or you've struggled to return to a manuscript after time away—this episode is for you. Writing Invitation Make a list of ten ordinary moments you've noticed recently. Choose one that continues to linger in your mind. Write about it for fifteen minutes, then ask yourself: Why did this moment stay with me? You might discover that your next chapter has been quietly waiting for you 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!

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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
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Making Memoir Magic
  • Show Website
    Making Memoir Magic