Making Memoir Magic

Change is inevitable — in life and in writing. In this episode, I talk about the power of embracing new seasons and how you can use life’s natural transitions as fuel for your memoir. Whether you’re moving into retirement, stepping into a new role, or simply turning the page on a personal chapter, change gives you fresh perspective. I’ll share simple steps you can take to harness these shifts and get words onto the page, even when it feels daunting.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

* Why seasonal changes in your life often spark the richest material for memoir.

* How to reframe change from “loss” to “possibility.”

* Simple, practical steps to use change as momentum for writing.

* A journaling exercise to help you capture your emotions during transition.

Resources & Links:

* Explore my online course, Make Memoir Magic

* Download my free guide: Top 10 Books Every Memoirist Should Read

Food is never just food—it’s memory, culture, and story. In this episode, Kerry shares how lemons, a community garden, and family recipes all become powerful starting points for memoir writing.

You’ll discover:

* Why food is one of the best doorways into memory.

* How sensory details invite readers directly into your story.

* A personal reflection on lemons, limoncello, and the richness of shared meals.

* The connection between food, memoir, and identity.

* An invitation to Kerry’s live workshop: Savor and Remember: Writing Memoir Through Food.

✨ Save your seat at the workshop here

Taylor Swift may be celebrating an engagement, but what she really deserves applause for is her storytelling superpower. Every album is a chapter, every lyric a scene—and she always defines her own narrative before anyone else can.

In this episode of Making Memoir Magic, I’ll show you how Taylor’s approach to songwriting offers powerful lessons for memoir writers:

* How to own your narrative before others define it

* Why vulnerability and detail create connection with readers

* The importance of honoring every era of your journey

* How to redefine and reinvent yourself while staying true

Whether you’re a Swiftie or simply an aspiring memoirist, this episode will inspire you to be bold with your story.

📖 Ready to start your memoir? Explore resources, classes, and coaching that can help you at www.kerrykriseman.com.

Links:

* Blog and Podcast

* Tools for Writers

* Instagram: @kerry.kriseman

What if the secret to unlocking your life stories isn’t hiding in a dusty journal—but in your kitchen?

In this episode, I take you into my grandmother’s kitchen for Nana Muffins, then into my own for a Thanksgiving turkey that’s been part of my family for 30 years. Along the way, I’ll show you how food can be one of the most powerful tools in memoir writing.

Food isn’t just sustenance—it’s memory, history, and love served up on a plate. When you write about what you ate, you’re really writing about who gathered, who taught you, who loved you, and who you were at that moment in time.

This episode will not only give you a taste of my own food memories, but also invite you to start writing yours. And, if this excites you, I’ll tell you about a brand-new workshop I’m cooking up: Memoir Writing Through Food. You’ll get to help me decide how to serve it—90 minutes, a full-day feast, or a slow simmer series.

👉 Vote for your favorite workshop format here:

* 90-Minute Tasting Session - A quick, powerful online workshop to spark one vivid memory and get it on the page.

* Full-Day Feast (6 Hours) - A deep dive into cooking, memory work, and guided writing, with time to shape and share your story.

* Slow Simmer Series (3 Days over 3 Weeks) - A paced, immersive journey with cooking, multiple writing sessions, feedback, and polished stories to share at the end.

✨ Key Takeaways

* Food is a portal to memory. A single muffin or recipe card can unlock entire chapters of your life.

* Recipes are artifacts. They hold not just instructions, but family history, rituals, and personalities.

* Sensory detail is memoir gold. Smell, taste, sound, and touch bring readers to your table in ways words alone can’t.

* Start small. Write about the first meal you remember as a child and notice the details that surface.

* Memoir through food is both universal and deeply personal. Your story is unique, but it will spark recognition in others.

Check out my memoir course and tools for writers at www.kerrykriseman.com.Take the quiz: What’s Your Memoir Writing Roadblock?

Episode Summary:This week, I stepped into a recording studio to narrate the audiobook version of my memoir, and I didn’t expect it to be so emotional.

As I read each chapter, memories from my 22 years as a political spouse came rushing back, along with a profound realization: writing a memoir isn’t just an act of self-expression. It’s an act of generosity.

In this heartfelt episode, I share:

* The surprising emotions that surfaced while recording my book.

* How my memoir rippled out and impacted readers I’d never met.

* Why sharing your story openly can inspire, educate, and comfort others.

* Ten practical tips for writing generously — so your words connect deeply with your audience.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your story is worth telling, this episode will remind you that it is, and that someone out there is waiting for your words.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

* ✏️ Free 5-Day Memoir in Minutes Video Series: Get one-minute daily prompts to jumpstart your memoir. Sign up here.

* 📚 My memoir, Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics; check it out here.

Episode Highlights:00:00 – Intro: The bold truth about memoir as generosity02:18 – A week in the recording studio — and unexpected emotions06:05 – The ripple effect of your story08:44 – Memoir as a sacred obligation11:02 – 10 tips for writing generously14:25 – Your invitation to begin your memoir today

If you enjoyed this episode:Please follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It helps more people find these conversations and start telling their own stories.

🎧 Episode Summary:Feel like your life is too full to write your memoir? You're not alone, and you're not out of luck. In this episode, I’m sharing how to create a writing habit that fits into your real life using a simple, 5-day approach that’s pressure-free and surprisingly powerful.

You’ll hear why we often don’t start writing (spoiler: it has to do with only imagining the finish line), and how to shift your mindset, one minute at a time. I’ll also introduce you to Memoir in Minutes, my free 5-day video series designed to help you gently build a writing habit that lasts.

Memoir doesn’t get written in a weekend. It gets written in moments. Let’s start logging those miles together.

🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* Why the end of your memoir can block you from ever starting it

* How writing for just 60 seconds a day can build creative momentum

* Real-life strategies I used while writing my memoir in the margins of a full life

* What Memoir in Minutes is, how it works, and why it’s perfect for busy writers

Sign up for the FREE 5-day video series: Memoir in Minutes

💬 Let’s Connect:Was there a moment in this episode that really hit home for you? I’d love to hear it. Reply to the email that brought you here or message me on Instagram @kerry.kriseman

⭐️ Love the Show?Please rate, review, and share this episode with someone who’s been putting their story on hold. Your support helps more people discover the magic of memoir.

✍️ Episode Summary:

In this episode of Make Memoir Magic, Kerry Kriseman pulls back the curtain on the part of memoir writing no one wants to talk about—but everyone needs: editing.

You’ve written your truth. You’ve poured it all out on the page. Now what?

Now, you edit, and in this 15-minute solo episode, Kerry shares why editing isn’t something to fear. It’s where the real story begins to shine.

Whether you're knee-deep in revisions or still staring down your first draft, this episode will help you reframe editing not as a chore, but as the transformational phase of your memoir.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* Why your first draft is for you, but your edited version is for your reader

* The mindset shift that makes self-editing less overwhelming (and more powerful)

* Common mistakes memoirists make when they skip or rush editing

* What professional editors do (and what they don’t), and how to prepare your manuscript for them

💡 Want Support With Editing Your Memoir?

Kerry’s Memoir Blueprint Bundle is your next step.

This 3-part downloadable toolkit includes:

* A Memoir Structure Guide to map your narrative arc

* A First Chapter Formula to help you hook readers from page one

* A Self-Editing Checklist so you know exactly what to revise before hiring an editor

🎁 Grab your bundle here: Memoir Blueprint Bundle

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

* Memoir Blueprint Bundle

* Connect with Kerry on Instagram: kerry.kriseman

* Learn more about Kerry’s courses + coaching: www.kerrykriseman.com

📬 Like What You Heard?

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with the brave writer in your life. Your story mattersl, and the world is waiting to hear it.

Episode Summary:When we write memoir, we start with our own intention, but we never truly know how our story will land in someone else's heart. In this episode, Kerry shares 7 powerful, surprising lessons readers have taken from her memoir Accidental First Lady. These takeaways prove that your story - yes, yours - has the power to inspire, educate, and connect with others in ways you never expected.

Whether you're just starting your memoir or you're deep in the writing process, this episode is a reminder that your lived experience holds incredible value—and someone out there needs to hear it.

What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ Why writing your memoir is an act of service, not just storytelling✅ 7 real-life takeaways readers found in Accidental First Lady✅ How to honor your story, even if you’ve been “behind the scenes”✅ The importance of owning your voice, without needing permission

🔥 Want to write your own memoir?Doors are open for Make Memoir Magic, my signature 4-part course for aspiring authors who want to finally write, shape, and share their life story - with courage, clarity, and a proven framework.

✨ For a limited time, I’m offering $200 off the full course as part of my summer discount.

Don’t wait. Someone needs your story.And with the right guidance, you can make memoir magic.

👉 Click here to enroll now and claim your $200 discount

Resources Mentioned:

* My memoir: Accidental First Lady

* Free Facebook group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Writers

* Memoir Blueprint Masterclass (past)

Connect with Kerry:🌐 Website📸 https://www.instagram.com/kerry.kriseman📘 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B2R162KGs/

Episode Summary:

You keep saying you’ll write your memoir someday… but someday keeps moving. In this episode, I’m getting real about what’s actually stopping you—and sharing a powerful 3-part framework to help you finally start writing your story.

Whether you’re overwhelmed with too many stories, paralyzed by self-doubt, or convinced no one would care, this episode will give you the tools (and the truth) you need to move forward.

It’s time to stop circling your story and start writing with clarity, courage, and purpose.

✍️ What You’ll Learn:

* The 3 biggest lies memoir writers believe - and how they keep you stuck

* Why your memoir is not your entire life story

* How to identify your core story and your ideal reader

* A simple method for choosing your most important scenes

* The Memoir Blueprint framework that gives you structure and momentum

🗓️ Upcoming Free Event:

🎯 The Memoir Blueprint: How to Stop Overthinking and Start Writing🗓️ Monday, July 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET📍 Live via Zoom✅ Free to attend

Join me for this powerful 60-minute workshop where I’ll walk you through the exact framework to help you begin your memoir with confidence and clarity.

✨ Register here

📚 Resources Mentioned:

* Memoir Blueprint Webinar – Register here.

* First, Worst, Best, Last scene strategy

📢 Connect with Kerry:

* Website

* Instagram

* Facebook Group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Writers

* Course: Make Memoir Magic

⭐️ If You Loved This Episode…

Please consider leaving a rating or review - it helps other aspiring writers find the courage to share their stories too.

And if you know someone sitting on a powerful story?Share this episode with them. It might be the nudge they need.

Episode Summary:In this episode, Kerry Kriseman—memoir mentor, author, and storytelling coach—pulls back the curtain on her own memoir journey and shares why writing alone can be one of the biggest roadblocks for aspiring authors. From navigating self-doubt to finding the courage to dig deeper, Kerry explains how working with a coach and writing alongside others can completely change the memoir-writing experience. She also shares what she’s witnessed in her Courage to Begin bootcamp and how her signature course, Make Memoir Magic, helps writers move from stuck to unstoppable.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why writing your memoir solo can keep you stuck

* The surprising benefits of sharing your story-in-progress

* How community and coaching accelerate progress

* Kerry’s personal experience writing Accidental First Lady

* What inspired her to start coaching aspiring memoirists

* An inside peek at her course Make Memoir Magic

Resources Mentioned:

* 📚 Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics by Kerry Kriseman

* ✍️ Make Memoir Magic Course (link to sales page)

* 🗓️ Send me a message

* 💌 Subscribe to Kerry’s Newsletter

Connect with Kerry:

* Website: www.kerrykriseman.com

* Instagram: @kerry.kriseman

* Facebook: Make Memoir for Aspiring Writers Facebook Group

Rate & Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe! It helps others find the podcast and share their stories, too.