Making Memoir Magic

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 writers use• Unwritten stories don’t disappear—they turn into regret• You don’t need more time—you need a clear path and accountability

This episode is honest, compassionate, and motivating—and it just might be the permission you’ve been waiting for.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* How to write when life is full and noisy

* Why consistency beats motivation every time

* How to keep your story warm even when you can’t write

* Why memoir dreams quietly age out when they’re not honored

* What it really takes to finally finish your story

Resources Mentioned:

* Make Memoir Magic (course)

* Free Facebook Group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors

Connect with Kerry:

* Email: [email protected]

* Facebook Group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors

* Website: www.kerrykriseman.comIf this episode sparked something in you, email Kerry and tell her what you’re thinking. And don’t forget to join the free Facebook group—your writing community is waiting.

Episode notes: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 blockers

* The quiet fears that keep aspiring memoirists circling instead of starting

* Why avoidance often looks responsible (and feels convincing)

* What it really costs to keep postponing your story

* How to move from thinking about writing to actually beginning

If you felt seen—or slightly exposed in the best way—you’re not alone. And you’re not late. You’re right on time.

Ready to stop circling and actually begin?

I’m hosting a free live masterclass on January 14:3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Kickstart Your Memoir

In this one-hour workshop, I’ll help you:

* Find a clear, doable starting point

* Understand why your story matters (without exaggerating or apologizing)

* Build momentum instead of waiting for confidence to magically appear

👉 Register for the free masterclass here.

Want ongoing support and community?

If you’re craving encouragement, accountability, and a room full of people who get this memoir itch, join my free Facebook group:

Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors

It’s a supportive space for writers who are ready to stop second-guessing and start honoring the stories they’ve lived.

👉 Join the free Facebook group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors

Your story doesn’t need permission. It needs your presence. And I’m really glad you’re here.

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 meaning

* Readers connect to recognition, not extremity

* Imposter syndrome affects even accomplished writers

* Everyday experiences hold powerful story potential

* Unwritten stories often show up as restlessness and self-doubt

* You don’t need permission or perfection to begin—just a clear starting point

Free Resource:🎓 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Kickstart Your Memoir🗓 January 14 | Noon (ET) | Live via Zoom👉 Register here: 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Kickstart Your Memoir

Join my free Facebook Group, Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors. It’s your place for support, community, tips, live trainings, and more! Click here to join! Would love to have you!

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 Episode, We Cover:

* Why writing slowly is often a structure problem—not a motivation problem

* What memoir structure really is (and what it’s not)

* The three questions every memoir must answer to stay focused and coherent

* How structure helps you write a strong, readable first draft

* Why writing faster doesn’t mean sacrificing depth, meaning, or voice

* How preparation and planning eliminate overwhelm and second-guessing

Key Takeaways for Memoir Writers:

* Momentum comes from clarity, not pressure

* Structure doesn’t limit creativity—it protects it

* A strong first draft is coherent, not perfect

* Writing without a plan is what creates messy drafts

* Knowing where your story is going allows you to write faster with confidence

Resources Mentioned:

✨ The Memoir Blueprint Bundle – $17A practical, supportive roadmap for memoir writers who want clarity, confidence, and momentum.

What’s Inside:

* Memoir Structure Template

* First Chapter Guide

* Self-Editing Checklist

This bundle helps you:

* Know exactly where to start

* Write with purpose instead of doubt

* Move your memoir forward without overwhelm

👉 Click here to get the bundle.

💬 Join My Free Facebook GroupA supportive, grounded community of writers and aspiring authors who are navigating the memoir journey together.

👉 Click here to join Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors.

Episode Quote:

“Writing faster isn’t about typing speed. It’s about removing the obstacles between you and the story you already know you’re meant to tell.”

Reminder:

You don’t need to rush your story. You just need a roadmap.

If this episode resonated, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with a writer friend who needs a little momentum.

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, you’ll discover:

* Why tiny actions beat giant plans (especially in December)

* How to stay connected to your story even when your writing time is measured in minutes

* The one question that reveals your true next step

* Why waiting for “the perfect time” quietly stalls your memoir dreams

* How to use the holidays to your advantage (yes, really)

The 5 things you can do THIS week:

* Set a micro-goal: 10 minutes, one scene, or one paragraph — something you can complete.

* Identify your next memoir moment: the small moment from your life that’s asking to be written now.

* Choose one writing window: Just one. Put it on the calendar like you mean it.

* Create a December writing anchor: A ritual that signals “I’m showing up” — a candle, a playlist, a cup of tea.

* Reconnect with your why: The heartbeat behind your story that lights you up when things get busy.

✨ Want guided support for these 5 steps?

Sign up for Memoir Moments, my free 5-day video series designed to help you build creative momentum in simple, doable ways.Opt in here → Memoir in Minutes / Memoir Moments (use your link!)

These short daily videos pair beautifully with the steps in this episode — a quick, encouraging companion that helps you actually follow through.

🎧 Listen now

This episode is brief, easy to digest, and designed with your busy season in mind. Press play while you wrap gifts, stir a pot on the stove, or take a breather between holiday chaos.

💬 Loved it? Let me know.

After you listen, reply back and tell me one thing that resonated with you — I read every message.And if this episode supports your writing, please rate, review, and share it wherever you listen. It helps more writers find the courage to tell their stories.

✨ Join Memoir in Minutes / Memoir Moments

This episode is your jumpstart. The 5-day series is the fuel.Take the first step toward a steadier, braver writing rhythm in 2026.

Sign up here: Memoir Moments Video Series

We live in a world that quietly demands perfection. From perfect timing, perfect choices, perfect progress, perfect everything. Yet, most of our lives are lived in the in-between. The messy middle. The unfinished chapters. The still-figuring-it-out seasons.

In this episode, Kerry Kriseman explores why imperfection isn’t something to fix, but instead by flipping the script, explains why it’s something to embrace.

Through personal reflection, storytelling, and truth-telling, this conversation looks at how our most awkward, uncertain, and imperfect moments are often the ones that shape us the most. Not just in creativity, but in life, leadership, relationships, healing, and becoming.

Even if you're not aspiring to write a book, your career may require you to write. You may be asked go pen an opinion piece for your local paper. You may dabble in freelance work. We all write at certain times in our lives, which means we’ve all struggled with perfection that sets in once we sit down and endeavor to put words on the page.

This episode is for anyone who has ever:– Felt stuck waiting to feel “ready”– Held themselves back because things weren’t perfect yet– Struggled with self-doubt, comparison, or the pressure to perform– Wondered if the messy parts of their life still mattered

Inside this episode, you’ll explore:• Why perfection is brittle and often keeps us stalled• How imperfection builds trust with others and with yourself• The difference between performing and being real• Why forward motion matters more than getting it “right”• How embracing the messy parts of your story can unlock clarity, courage, and connection

Kerry also shares a free resource for listeners: 7 Steps for Embracing Imperfection — a practical, grounding guide designed to help you loosen your grip on perfection and move forward with more ease, honesty, and confidence.

This conversation is a reminder that, you don’t need perfectly polished answers to live a meaningful life. You don’t need a neat narrative to move forward. And you don’t have to be finished to be powerful.

Resources Mentioned:– Free Guide: 7 Steps for Embracing Imperfection– Make Memoir Magic (online course for aspiring authors)– Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors (free Facebook community)

If this episode feels like a deep breath, a quiet permission slip, or a gentle nudge forward, you’re exactly where you need to be.

If you’ve ever promised yourself, “This week, I’m finally going to start writing,” only to watch seven days slip by in a blur of life, laundry, and lost time… this one’s for you.

Let’s be honest: it’s not that you don’t want to write. It’s that life refuses to give you those mythical uninterrupted hours we imagine “real writers” have.

But what if you didn’t need them?

What if 20 minutes a day could change your writing life?

That’s the heart of this week’s episode of the Making Memoir Magic Podcast:🎧 “The Power of 20 Minutes.

In this episode, I break down:1. Exactly how to implement a 20-minute daily writing ritual.2. Why short, consistent sessions build more momentum than long, sporadic ones.3. How to make writing feel like a gift, not a grind.

Here’s the truth: waiting for hours of peace and inspiration is a trap.The writers who finish their books? They don’t wait for ideal conditions.They create tiny pockets of time, and they fiercely protect them.

Twenty minutes is long enough to build a scene, capture a memory, or sketch an outline. It’s short enough that you’ll actually do it. And, it’s powerful enough to turn your dream of writing a memoir into a habit that lasts.

So grab your favorite notebook, pour something warm, and set a timer for 20.Start small. Stay steady. Watch how showing up for yourself changes everything.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now:👉 The Power of 20 Minutes

PS:

If you’ve been telling yourself “I just don’t have the time,” this episode is your gentle nudge to reclaim it — 20 minutes at a time. Your story deserves a place on the page, not just in your heart. Join my free Facebook Group for Aspiring Authors HERE.Click the button below to access free resources to help you begin writing your memoir, or to revive a stagnant work in progress.

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When it comes to memoir, where you begin is everything, and it’s almost never the beginning.

In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry Kriseman helps aspiring authors move past the overwhelm that stops so many stories before they start. You’ll learn why writing your life story in chronological order kills creativity, how to uncover your defining moment (the scene that changed everything), and how to begin your memoir with clarity and confidence.

If you’ve been stuck wondering where to start your story, listen in and graqb the free resource offered. It’ll have you starting your memoir today!

🪶 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* The #1 reason writers never start (and how to move through it)

* Why chronological order flattens your story’s emotional arc

* How to identify the moment that changed everything

* A personal “a-ha” moment from Kerry’s own memoir, Accidental First Lady

* A mindset shift that will help you start writing today

💬 Key Takeaway

Your memoir doesn’t begin at the beginning. It begins at the defnining moment where your life split into before and after. That’s where your story finds its pulse.

📘 Mentioned in This Episode

Free Resource:👉 The Memoir Blueprint: A Simple Guide to Outlining Your Life StoryDownload your free copy here.

Kerry’s Memoir:📖 Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics

🧭 Next Steps

If today’s episode sparked something in you, keep going.Grab your free Memoir Blueprint Guide, and then join Kerry’s online course, Make Memoir Magic, to turn your outline into a finished memoir you’re proud of.

Learn more about Make Memoir Magic here.

💌 Connect with Kerry

* Website: www.kerrykriseman.com

* Instagram: @kerrykriseman

* Quiz: Is My Story Worth Telling? Take the 2-minute quiz and learn why your story is worth telling, and strategies for putting words to paper. Click here to take the quiz.

🎧 Episode Quote

“Don’t start with the first memory. Start with the most meaningful one.Write into the heart of your story, not its history.” — Kerry Kriseman

Staring at a blank page and wondering, Where do I even begin my memoir? You’re not alone. Many aspiring authors feel overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the “right” opening for their story. Here’s the secret: memoirs don’t start at birth. They start where something shifts.

In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, Kerry Kriseman, memoir coach and author, shares practical strategies and simple prompts to help you pinpoint your most powerful starting point. You’ll learn how to identify the spark, uncover the turning points in your life, and break past the paralysis of perfection so you can finally start writing.

Whether you’re at the very beginning of your memoir journey or revising a messy draft, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to begin.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

* Why the “chronological beginning” is usually the wrong place to start

* How to spot the spark, the memory that still vibrates with emotional truth

* Why turning points are powerful entryways into memoir

* A simple exercise to identify your “before and after” moments

* 3 journal prompts to help you break through the overwhelm of a blank page

* The truth about why your first page doesn’t have to be perfect

Time-Stamped Highlights

* 00:00 – Welcome + the question that paralyzes so many memoirists

* 02:15 – Busting the myth of chronological beginnings

* 05:40 – Finding your spark: the scene that still pulls at you

* 09:20 – Using turning points to anchor your opening

* 12:15 – Prompts to loosen up when you feel stuck

* 14:00 – Why your first draft beginning doesn’t have to be your final beginning

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

* Want more writing support? Check out my Tools for Writers

* Grab my Goal-Setting Guide for Writers to help you carve out time and energy for your story. Let’s connect on Instagram

Do you ever wonder if your story is “special enough” for a memoir? In this episode, Kerry breaks down the five unmistakable signs you already have a book-worthy life story inside you. She shares practical strategies to help you uncover themes, capture lessons, and move past fear so you can start writing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

* Why your story doesn’t have to be extraordinary to be powerful

* The 5 signs you have a memoir waiting to be written

* Quick strategies to turn your experiences into compelling material

* How to silence the inner critic that says, “Who cares?”

Resources & Links:

* Take the free quiz: Is My Story Worth Telling?

* 10 Writing Prompts to Unlock Your Story: Download here.

* Explore my online course Make Memoir Magic