Making Memoir Magic
kerrykriseman.substack.com
Episodes
46 episodes
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 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 ...
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'...
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 ...
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...
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 thems...
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 memo...
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 t...
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 pow...
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 muc...
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 ...
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 approac...
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 writ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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,...
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 di...
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 fa...
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...
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, ...
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.
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 ...
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.&...
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 ...