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

5d ago

Why Most People Never Finish Their Memoir

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 stuck * The surprising difference between a life story and a memoir * How fear of judgment can quietly stop your progress * Why consistency matters more than inspiration * The power of writing with support instead of struggling alone Whether 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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 9

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. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 2

The Case Files of Ordinary Life

This week, I found myself juggling roofing delays, flooring disputes, a package stranded in a warehouse, and a hole in my kitchen ceiling. None of it was life-threatening. All of it required persistence. Phone calls.Documentation.Follow-up emails.Advocating for ourselves in ways no one ever prepares us for. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, I realized that writing memoir asks something remarkably similar of us. As memoir writers, we often become reluctant advocates for our own stories. We dismiss memories as too ordinary.We assume no one would care.We deny our own claim before anyone else has the chance. In this episode, we’re talking about: * the hidden labor of ordinary life * why advocacy is a creative skill * the biggest lie memoir writers tell themselves * why ordinary moments are often the heart of great memoir * how to recognize the stories worth preserving Writing Prompt: Finish this sentence: “What exhausted me most wasn’t ________. It was ________.” You may discover the real story hiding underneath the obvious one. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 24

It's Never Too Late to Write Your Story

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 stuck * How life experiences become the foundation of powerful memoirs * Why it’s never too late to call yourself a writer * The surprising truth about becoming visible later in life Whether 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. A final thought for anyone carrying a story they’ve always wanted to tell: You don’t have to have a perfect outline, a dramatic life story, or years of writing experience to begin a memoir. You simply need curiosity about the moments that shaped you. If you’re exploring your own story, I invite you to join my free Facebook group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, where I share memoir writing insights, prompts, and encouragement for writers at every stage of the journey. Your life has chapters worth preserving. The only question is whether you’re ready to start turning the pages. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 18

The Gift of a Simple Hello

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. 🌿 Looking for a supportive writing community? Join Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors, my free Facebook group for aspiring memoir authors. Come for the writing tips, encouragement, and inspiration—and stay for the connection with others who believe every life holds a story worth telling. Join us: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 9

The Biggest Make Aspiring Memoirists 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 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 2

From Manuscript to Microphone

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. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe
May 26

Why You Remember Certain Moments Forever

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 MattersA 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 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerrykriseman.substack.com/subscribe

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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

Creator

Kerry Kriseman
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

46
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Making Memoir Magic

Making Memoir Magic

Episodes

Why Most People Never Finish Their Memoir

What Two Girls Selling Beads Taught Me About Writing a Memoir

The Case Files of Ordinary Life

It's Never Too Late to Write Your Story

The Gift of a Simple Hello

The Biggest Make Aspiring Memoirists Make

From Manuscript to Microphone

Why You Remember Certain Moments Forever

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