Making Memoir Magic
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
Your Memoir May Need Another Container
Does a memoir have to begin with childhood and move chronologically through every major event?
Not at all.
After returning from the Florida Writers Association’s WritersCon, Kerry reflects on questions participants asked about thematic memoirs, linked essay collections, and other alternatives to the traditional beginning-to-end structure.
In this episode, she explores how a memoir can be organized around a central theme, relationship, question, place, object, activity, or recurring image. She also discusses five memoirs she researched for their distinctive structures. These books are on Kerry’s reading-and-craft list; they are not presented as p...
I Came Home. The Stories Kept Going.
You have plenty of memories—but how do you find the story that connects them?
After three trips in three weeks, an unexpected cold, and an editing project that brought back memories of Copenhagen, I found myself with plenty to write about and no clear focus. In this episode, I share how I discovered the connection—and how you can do the same with your own experiences.
We explore how travel, books, and ordinary interruptions can become meaningful material for memoir, along with practical ways to shape that material into a focused story.
In...
Are You a Supporting Character in Your Own Memoir?
Your memoir may include a larger-than-life parent, a spouse facing illness, or someone whose choices changed your life. But if readers know more about that person’s inner world than yours, an important question arises: Where are you in the story?
When I began writing Accidental First Lady, I could have filled the pages with my husband’s political career, campaigns, and elections. My memoir began to take shape when I asked what I wanted, feared, believed, and learned during those 22 years.
In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I share three signs you...
What 5 Years as a Published Memoirist Taught Me About the Stories We Tell
My memoir, Accidental First Lady, turns five next month.
And I'll admit something: Sometimes I wonder whether my story has run its course.
Then I meet a reader who tells me the book stayed with her. Someone discovers it for the first time. Or a copy unexpectedly finds its way into another reader's hands.
And I'm reminded:
We don't get to decide how long our stories will matter—or who might need them.
In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I'm looking back at nearly five years as...
The Other New Year: Why September May be the Perfect Time to Begin
January may get all the attention, but September offers its own invitation to begin again.
In this episode, Kerry reflects on several seemingly unrelated moments: teaching aspiring memoirists at the library, accepting two proclamations for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, returning from a late-summer trip, and welcoming college football season.
Together, these moments reveal an important truth: We don’t need to feel completely ready before beginning something that matters.
Kerry explores the difference between resting and postponing, how survivorship changed her relationship with time, and why writing often helps us understand our stories—not...
Follow the Garlic: Where Ordinary Memories Can Lead Your Memoir
What if the story worth telling isn’t buried in the most dramatic chapter of your life? What if it’s waiting inside a familiar restaurant, a family tradition, or a place you’ve returned to for years?
In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I share the story of Al Dente, a restaurant in Boston’s North End that my husband, Rick, and I first discovered in 1994. What began as an unplanned dinner became part of our family history—a place we later shared with our children, friends, and colleagues.
Using this ordinary but meaningful...
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 e...
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 fo...
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 ende...
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 (a...
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 th...
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...
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 wr...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...The Case Files of Ordinary Life: Why Memoir Writers Must Become Advocates for Their Stories
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...
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...
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 thro...
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 impor...
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 record...
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 storyÂIf y...
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 tru...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
✨ perfecti...
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 p...
3 Mistakes that Keep Your Story Stuck
If you’ve been thinking about writing your memoir—but haven’t started (or can’t seem to keep going)—this episode is for you.
Your story isn’t stuck because you lack talent, time, or discipline. More often, it’s a handful of subtle but powerful habits that quietly keep you circling instead of creating.
In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the three most common mistakes that keep aspiring memoirists stuck—and how to move past them so you can finally begin.
Because your story doesn’t need to be perfect.
It just...
How to Start Your Memoir When You Don't Know How to Begin
If you’re standing in front of a blank page feeling both excited and completely overwhelmed, this episode is for you.
Most aspiring memoir writers don’t struggle because they have nothing to say—they struggle because they have too much. A lifetime of memories, emotions, turning points, and questions can feel like a storm with no clear way in.
In this episode, we explore how to move from overwhelm to clarity by finding the true beginning of your memoir—not the start of your life story, but the moment everything changed.
You’ll learn:<...
The Secret to Writing Memoir Scenes that Keep Your Audience Reading
Writers often think their memoir feels flat because the story itself isn’t strong enough.
But that’s rarely the problem.
In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful lesson pulled straight from what I’m teaching live right now inside my Zoom workshop for memoir writers—and it was simply too good not to bring to the podcast.
You’ll learn why memoir scenes are the key to transforming meaningful memories into immersive experiences readers can feel.
We’ll talk about the difference between summary and scene, how to use sensory detail...
Can You Be Sued for Writing Your Memoir? Let’s Talk About It.
Can you get sued for writing your memoir?
It’s one of the most common fears aspiring memoir writers face. In this episode, we’re breaking it down in a clear, thoughtful way.
While this isn’t legal advice, you’ll learn how to approach writing about real people with greater awareness and confidence. Drawing from real conversations with other writers, we explore the difference between perceived risk and reality—and how to tell the truth without creating unnecessary exposure.
If fear has been holding you back from writing your story, this episode will help...
So You Want to Query your Memoir? Start Here
Querying your memoir can feel intimidating. Not writing it. Not revising it. But sending that query letter to an agent and hoping they say yes? That’s the real challenge.
In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I walk memoir writers through the querying process, sharing practical tips and strategies that make it easier to navigate. We cover:
How to find comparative titles (comp titles) for your memoir—even recent ones published in the last five yearsWhere to research agents who actually represent memoirTools and resources to streamline your querying processA gent...Why Your Memoir Feels Flat (And How to Fix It)
If your memoir feels flat, the problem may not be your story — it may be how you’re telling it.
In this mini-lesson, Kerry breaks down one of the most important craft distinctions in memoir writing: scene vs. summary. You’ll learn why summary explains but scene immerses, and how slowing down your turning points can dramatically increase the emotional impact of your writing.
Through concrete examples and a practical exercise, Kerry shows you how to transform flat narration into vivid, cinematic storytelling.
Your story deserves to be experienced — not just reported...
The Fear of Judgment: Writing Your Truth Anyway
Do you hesitate to write your memoir because of fear—of judgment, criticism, or misunderstanding? In this episode, Kerry explores why fear of judgment is natural, how it shows up in your writing, and practical strategies to write authentically anyway. Learn how to reclaim your voice, embrace courage, and share your story honestly without overthinking.
What You’ll Learn:
Why fear of judgment stops so many writersHow to identify when fear is controlling your storyTechniques to write honestly and courageouslyHow to start small, build trust in your voice, and grow confidenceCTAs:<...
Stop Overexplaining: How to Trust Your Story and Your Voice
Stop Overexplaining: How to Trust Your Story and Your Voice
 Do you overexplain your life in your memoir? Stop! In this episode, Kerry teaches aspiring writers how to trust their story and their voice, strip away unnecessary justification, and connect with readers emotionally. With practical exercises and mindset shifts, this episode will help you show up boldly and write honestly—without overexplaining.
What You’ll Learn:
Why overexplaining hurts your memoirHow to write scenes that speak without footnotesExercises to trust your story and your voiceHow to use specificity instead of explanationHow to build...The Myth of the Big Writing Retreat
What if the reason you haven’t started your book isn’t lack of talent—but waiting for perfect conditions?
In this episode, Kerry busts the myth of the big writing retreat and reveals what actually gets books written: twenty minutes a day, a chair, and a decision. You’ll learn how to create a writing retreat at home, DIY a retreat in one weekend, and build a consistent writing habit—without waiting for more time, money, or inspiration.
Kerry also announces her new weekly Memoir Magic Write-Ins, starting February 11 at 10:30 a.m. live on...
Why Your Story Matters - Especially Now
In this conversation, Kerry Kriseman emphasizes the significance of storytelling, especially during challenging times. She reassures listeners that their stories are valuable and necessary, serving as acts of resistance and courage. Kriseman discusses her course, Make Memoir Magic, as a pathway for aspiring authors to reclaim their voices and share their narratives. She encourages individuals to embrace their experiences and recognize the power of their stories, regardless of external circumstances.
Takeaways
Another Year Goes By. You Still Haven’t Written It. Let’s Talk About That
It’s already the third week of January, and if your memoir is still unwritten, you’re not alone. In this episode, Kerry Kriseman unpacks why so many memoir dreams get postponed and what it really takes to start writing in real life, not in a fantasy schedule.
You’ll meet three types of writers Kerry sees most often:
 • The at-home entrepreneur with young kids
 • The full-time worker with limited energy and time
 • The start-stop writer who can’t seem to gain momentum
And you’ll learn why:
 • “Later” is the most dangerous word writer...
The Real Reason You’re Not Writing Your Memoir (It’s Not Time or Talent)
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll write your memoir when you have more time… more clarity… more confidence—this episode is for you.
Today, we’re going one layer deeper than productivity tips and writing advice. We’re talking about the fears that hide behind “I’m just busy” and “maybe someday.” The ones that sound reasonable. The ones that keep you stuck.
In this episode, we explore:
Why time and talent are rarely the real blockersThe quiet fears that keep aspiring memoirists circling instead of startingWhy avoidance often looks responsible (and feels convincing)What it...What If My Story Isn't Big Enough (Why that belief is keeping you stuck)
Episode Description:
Many aspiring memoir writers believe their story isn’t “big enough” to matter. In this episode, Kerry explores why that belief is the real obstacle—and how meaningful memoirs are built from everyday experiences, quiet transformations, and personal truth. If you’ve ever questioned whether your life is worth writing about, this conversation will help you reframe memoir, understand what readers actually connect with, and take the first step toward telling your story.
Key Takeaways:
Memoir isn’t about fame, trauma, or spectacle—it’s about meaningReaders connect to recognition, not...How to Write Faster Without Writing Garbage: The Power of Structure in Memoir
Writing faster doesn’t have to mean writing sloppier. In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, we’re talking about how memoir writers can write with more speed and more confidence—by putting a solid structure in place first.
If you feel stuck, slow, or caught in endless rewrites, the problem may not be discipline or motivation. It may be that you’re trying to write without a roadmap.
In this episode, you’ll learn how structure creates clarity, protects your voice, and builds the kind of momentum that actually gets memoirs finished.
In this ep...
5 Ways to Move Your Memoir Forward This Week (Even During the Holidays)
If the calendar is screaming “December!” and your writing brain is whispering “Maybe next year…” — take a breath. This episode is your soft landing and your gentle-but-firm nudge forward.
In just 13 minutes, I’m sharing five simple, doable actions you can take this week to move your memoir forward — even in the swirl of holidays, obligations, and glitter-covered chaos.
These aren’t big, dramatic, rearrange-your-whole-life moves. They’re small shifts that open the door to consistency, clarity, and confidence — the exact foundation you’ll need to head into 2026 feeling steady and ready.
In this episode, yo...
Embrace the Mess: Why Imperfection Is Your Memoir Superpower
In today’s episode, Kerry pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest myths in memoir writing: the idea that great writers, great stories, and great authors are somehow… perfect. Spoiler alert—they’re not. And you don’t have to be either.
 Kerry shares her own early writing fears, the pressures of living a public life, and the liberating truth that imperfection is actually where memoir magic begins. You’ll learn why messy drafts matter, how imperfection builds trust with your readers, and why your most awkward, unpolished moments are the ones that create connection.
 Plus—don’t mis...
Make Book Marketing Fun: How to Share Your Book Without Feeling Salesy
In This Episode:
Today we’re talking about a subject that makes most authors want to hide under their writing desks - book marketing. But here’s the truth: marketing is not selling. It’s sharing. And it becomes joyful the moment you realize your story is a lantern readers are already searching for.
You’ll learn:
Why book marketing matters (and why it’s not sleazy)How to shift from writer → author → advocateWhy marketing begins before your book is publishedHow to build a fun, authentic social media presenceWhat to include on a one-page autho...