5 Small Moves That Set Your Memoir Up for Success in 2026

We’re in that beautifully chaotic stretch of the year — calendars overflowing, emotions swirling, routines bending every which way. And yet, even in the busy hum of December, there’s that quiet whisper tugging at your sleeve:

“Next year… maybe next year’s the year I finally write my memoir.”

I hear you.
I’ve lived this season.
And I know how easy it is to wait for January, for “someday,” for the moment when life magically organizes itself into a neat, spacious container perfect for writing.

While writing my memoir, Accidental First Lady, I learned that you don’t need a clean slate to begin, you don’t need hours every day, a perfect desk, or even the perfect outline.

You just need movement. Small steps now become massive momentum later.

In this post, I’m sharing five simple things you can do THIS week to set yourself up for a powerful, sustainable memoir-writing rhythm in 2026. These steps take minutes, not hours. They are gentle. They are doable. And they work.

Let’s begin.

1. Write for 10 Minutes

Set a timer. Open a note on your phone, a Google doc, a journal—anything. And write for 10 minutes with zero expectation of brilliance. This does two things:

  • It signals to your brain that writing is safe again (perfectionism often shuts down the creative system).

  • It activates your writing muscles so you don’t waste half your energy “warming up” every time you sit down.

Writing even for a short time still counts. is still writing.

2. Choose That One Story You Always Tell

You know the one. The story that always escapes your lips at dinner tables, family gatherings, or when someone asks, “What was that like?” That repeat story is your nervous system tapping you on the shoulder saying, “This mattered. Pay attention.”

Write down:

  • Why it sticks

  • What it meant

  • Why you still tell it

These “frequent flyer” stories often become beautiful anchor scenes in your memoir.

3. Create One Tiny Ritual

Not a schedule. Not a system. A ritual. The smallest, simplest cue that tells your brain: It’s time to create now.

Examples:

  • Lighting the same candle

  • Sitting in the same chair

  • Writing right after your morning walk

  • Opening the same playlist

  • Putting your phone across the room

When your brain recognizes a cue, it shows up—even when motivation decides to sleep in. Make your ritual sacred. Make it yours. It’s the doorway into your writing life.

4. Use Your Voice Instead of the Page

Some of your best ideas won’t show up when you’re sitting at a laptop. They’ll find you while driving, walking the dog, or unloading groceries. So talk your story out loud. Record it in your Notes app. Dictate it on a voice recorder. Don’t discard the brilliant thoughts simply because you aren’t “in writing mode.”

Speaking your story is writing. You can always transcribe later.

5. Take One Imperfect Action Today

Read one page. Write one paragraph. Revisit one memory. Jot down one scene idea. Momentum is built through motion, not waiting. And lowering the bar for entry—especially during the holidays—is one of the kindest things you can do for your writing life. Your future author-self will thank you.

A Personal Note From Me to You

I know what it feels like to want to write a memoir but struggle to find time. When I began writing Accidental First Lady, I was juggling part-time work, a high school son deep in competitive golf, college visits, long drives, and the everyday chaos of life.

I wrote in car lines. I wrote between tournaments. I wrote in the cracks of time I didn’t even realize I had until I claimed them. If you’ve spent 2025 thinking about your memoir but haven’t made the progress you hoped for, please hear me:

You have not missed your moment.
You haven’t “failed.”
You’re simply ready for a new rhythm.

And I’d love to help you build it.

Start With Memoir Moments — Your 5-Day Jumpstart

To pair perfectly with these five steps, I created Memoir Moments, a free 5-day video series designed for busy aspiring authors.

For five days, you’ll receive:

✨ One 60-second video
✨ One idea
✨ One nudge
✨ One reminder that your memoir doesn’t require hours—only momentum

It’s the simplest way to restart your writing life and walk confidently into 2026 with clarity and intention.

👉 Click here to opt in and get your first Memoir Moment today.

Let me walk with you—minute by minute. Let’s make 2026 the year you proudly say: “I’m finally an author.”

Your story matters. Your readers are waiting. And you are more ready than you believe.

If you’d like more memoir goodness, guidance, and inspiration, join my free Facebook Group: Memoir Magic for Aspiring Authors. I’d love to have you!

Kerry Kriseman