--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's actually easier to do…" description: "\"It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The story is already there. It's a matter of carving away what doesn't fit rather than building up..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/craig-thompson-13868_actually_it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographi_165228.png" --- # It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The… ![“It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The story is already there. It's a matter of carving away what doesn't fit rather than building up from nothing.” quote by Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/craig-thompson-13868_actually_it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographi_165228.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/craig-thompson-13868_actually_it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographi_165228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/craig-thompson-13868_actually_it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographi_165228.png) > “It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The story is already there. It's a matter of carving away what doesn't fit rather than building up from nothing.” [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating autobiographical narratives is easier because the material exists; it involves editing rather than inventing. **In simple terms:** Writing about my life is easier than inventing a story. Key Takeaway Edit existing experiences to craft compelling narratives. Themes creativity storytelling self‑reflection Mood introspective inspirational Type literary reflective When to use this quote - memoir - personal essays - creative writing Key Concepts narrative construction editing Questions to Reflect On - What parts of my story do I avoid? - How can I balance truth with narrative flow? A Different Perspective May limit imaginative growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Autobiographical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographical/) [Autobiographical Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographical-stories-464651/) [Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Carving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carving/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easier Autobiographical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-autobiographical-1803045/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-matter-1447462/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I read a lot of autobiographical stories, and I write plays and prose. And I play piano and cello. A lot of my downtime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-dziena/i-read-a-lot-of-autobiographical-stories-and-i-write-plays-and-prose/) [Alexis Dziena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-dziena/) > [I categorically resist this idea that films are supposed to be autobiographical and the only stories you tell are about your own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/i-categorically-resist-this-idea-that-films-are-supposed-to-be/) [Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/) > [True stories, autobiographical stories, like some novels, begin long ago, before the acts in the account, before the birth of some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/true-stories-autobiographical-stories-like-some-novels-begin-long-ago/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [“Your life will contribute to a grand and wonderful story no matter what you do. You have been spoken. You are here, existing, choosing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/your-life-will-contribute-to-a-grand-and-wonderful-story-no-matter/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [There is only the actuality of what happens in life. 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If it's somebody that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/the-trick-to-making-a-story-matter-is-that-every-now-and-then/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Why, I wonder, should the popularity of a news story matter to me? Does it mean it's a good story or just a seductive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/why-i-wonder-should-the-popularity-of-a-news-story-matter-to-me-does/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [A good story is a good story no matter who wrote it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/a-good-story-is-a-good-story-no-matter-who-wrote-it/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [“To write an excellent novel, make the outcome of the story matter to the reader through the evolving relationships between well-designed characters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sandforth/to-write-an-excellent-novel-make-the-outcome-of-the-story-matter-to/) [Martin Sandforth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sandforth/) > [After 'Blankets,' I was sick of drawing myself and doing this autobiographical, mundane, Midwestern sort of comics. I wanted to create something bigger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/after-blankets-i-was-sick-of-drawing-myself-and-doing-this/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) ## More by Craig Thompson > [At night, lying on your back and staring at the falling snow, it's easy to imagine oneself soaring through the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/at-night-lying-on-your-back-and-staring-at-the-falling-snow-it-s-easy/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [How satisfying it is to leave a mark on a blank surface. To make a map of my movement - no matter how temporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/how-satisfying-it-is-to-leave-a-mark-on-a-blank-surface-to-make-a-map/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [The state of your psyche is reflected in your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/the-state-of-your-psyche-is-reflected-in-your-body/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [“I promise-ted I'd care up for him downwise 'til the tailend of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/i-promise-ted-i-d-care-up-for-him-downwise-til-the-tailend-of-time/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [On my first visit to the public library, I was like a kid at a candy store where all the candy was free. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/on-my-first-visit-to-the-public-library-i-was-like-a-kid-at-a-candy/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [I'm really interested in making a mark on a paper and letting that be cursive shorthand for an idea - that's the origin of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/i-m-really-interested-in-making-a-mark-on-a-paper-and-letting-that-be/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [“And slowly the snow began to melt. First, doing a number on children's constructions; Then retreating to the foundations of barns and other buildings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/and-slowly-the-snow-began-to-melt-first-doing-a-number-on-children-s/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [“And there you have it, Your Highness. Turning a jug of water into gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/and-there-you-have-it-your-highness-turning-a-jug-of-water-into-gold/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [I think there is some overlap in terms of artistic desires and Christian desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/i-think-there-is-some-overlap-in-terms-of-artistic-desires-and/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [“They say a man's inspiration is visual, but for a woman, it's the narrative. Abandon both the narrative and the visual. Close your eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/they-say-a-man-s-inspiration-is-visual-but-for-a-woman-it-s-the/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [I was grateful for cereal --- the only food that my tummy, riddled by pangs of infatuation, could handle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/i-was-grateful-for-cereal-the-only-food-that-my-tummy-riddled-by/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [I grew up in a very fundamentalist, evangelical Christian household. Both my parents were born-again - their faith infused every aspect of my childhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/i-grew-up-in-a-very-fundamentalist-evangelical-christian-household/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [After 'Blankets,' I was sick of drawing myself and doing this autobiographical, mundane, Midwestern sort of comics. I wanted to create something bigger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/after-blankets-i-was-sick-of-drawing-myself-and-doing-this/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [Pressed against her I can hear eternity -- hollow, lonely spaces and currents that churn ceaselessly, and the fallen snow welcomes the falling snow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/pressed-against-her-i-can-hear-eternity-hollow-lonely-spaces-and/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [The question is not, could Utah compete week in and week out in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, whatever, .. The question is, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/the-question-is-not-could-utah-compete-week-in-and-week-out-in-the/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) [Explore all 48 Craig Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. 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