--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of folks just get it in their head…" description: "\"A lot of folks just get it in their head that, for instance, like writing memoirs is just easy. You just write down what happened. It doesn't quite wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/homer-hickam-10698_easy_a-lot-of-folks-just-get-it-in-their-head_3069384.jpg" --- # A lot of folks just get it in their head that, for… ![“A lot of folks just get it in their head that, for instance, like writing memoirs is just easy. You just write down what happened. It doesn't quite work that way.” quote by Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/homer-hickam-10698_easy_a-lot-of-folks-just-get-it-in-their-head_3069384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/homer-hickam-10698_easy_a-lot-of-folks-just-get-it-in-their-head_3069384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/homer-hickam-10698_easy_a-lot-of-folks-just-get-it-in-their-head_3069384.jpg) > “A lot of folks just get it in their head that, for instance, like writing memoirs is just easy. You just write down what happened. It doesn't quite work that way.” [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing memoirs is more complex than recalling events; it requires narrative skill and reflection. **In simple terms:** Memoirs need narrative skill. Key Takeaway Craft your story. Themes writing memory creativity Mood inspirational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - authoring memoirs - teaching writing - personal storytelling Key Concepts storytelling self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What makes a memoir compelling? - How to balance truth and narrative? A Different Perspective May be emotionally taxing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone thinks they can write a play; you just write down what happened to you. But the art of it is drawing from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/everyone-thinks-they-can-write-a-play-you-just-write-down-what/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Then what shall I write? I can't just write that this happened then this happened then this happened to boring infinitum. I'll let my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/then-what-shall-i-write-i-can-t-just-write-that-this-happened-then/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) > [Listen, in England people are already writing their memoirs at the age of 23.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/listen-in-england-people-are-already-writing-their-memoirs-at-the-age/) [Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/) > [We are all looking for something of extraordinary importance whose nature we have forgotten; I am writing the memoirs of a man who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/we-are-all-looking-for-something-of-extraordinary-importance-whose/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [We were developing an innovative Personal Information Manager called Chandler but a couple years ago I took off from that to do a project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hertzfeld/we-were-developing-an-innovative-personal-information-manager-called/) [Andy Hertzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hertzfeld/) > [As far as being territorial about one's own life, that's a mistake for ANY writer. All writers everywhere, in every genre, are drawing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/as-far-as-being-territorial-about-one-s-own-life-that-s-a-mistake-for/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [I've been approached many times to write all sorts of books about my past and my personal life. I get interest from people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-ve-been-approached-many-times-to-write-all-sorts-of-books-about-my/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I have some very good friends who've written memoirs, but it's not for me. It's just not a format that I'm interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-bateman/i-have-some-very-good-friends-who-ve-written-memoirs-but-it-s-not-for/) [Justine Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-bateman/) > [I could never write my memoirs, just because too many people are still alive and would be hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/i-could-never-write-my-memoirs-just-because-too-many-people-are-still/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [I've always loved reading diaries and memoirs and just getting a sense of different personalities and what made them tick as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-macmillan/i-ve-always-loved-reading-diaries-and-memoirs-and-just-getting-a/) [Margaret MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-macmillan/) > [In the writing of memoirs, as in the production of shows, too much caution causes the audience to nod and think of other channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-clarke/in-the-writing-of-memoirs-as-in-the-production-of-shows-too-much/) [Gerald Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-clarke/) > [“Early retirement, Dalton. Teach yourself to type with your toes and you can start writing your memoirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-allen-smith/early-retirement-dalton-teach-yourself-to-type-with-your-toes-and-you/) Mark Allen Smith > [As to why people like Joseph Lelyveld are writing memoirs, I think they're just catching on the coattails of the trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-du-plessix-gray/as-to-why-people-like-joseph-lelyveld-are-writing-memoirs-i-think/) [Francine du Plessix Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-du-plessix-gray/) > [Through therapy and a lot of thinking and writing my memoirs, I've been able to use my life as a lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/through-therapy-and-a-lot-of-thinking-and-writing-my-memoirs-i-ve/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [It's always painful when you're writing memoirs because you've got to go through the dark places, but it gives you a chance to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/it-s-always-painful-when-you-re-writing-memoirs-because-you-ve-got-to/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) ## More by Homer Hickam > [After marketing surveys by Universal Studios indicated that 'Rocket Boys' as a movie title would not attract the female over-age-thirty demographic, the film was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/after-marketing-surveys-by-universal-studios-indicated-that-rocket/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [As I wrote more I became more critical of myself and I think that you have to be your harshest judge. I don't ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/as-i-wrote-more-i-became-more-critical-of-myself-and-i-think-that-you/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [Writer's block to me is where you stop because you're afraid to go forward because you're not sure of what really should be happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/writer-s-block-to-me-is-where-you-stop-because-you-re-afraid-to-go/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [The best way to learn to write is to read in the genre you might be interested in; then, you need to actually sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/the-best-way-to-learn-to-write-is-to-read-in-the-genre-you-might-be/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [NASA's charter is to give Americans the means to get into the wild, black yonder, beyond even the grasp of the federal government that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/nasa-s-charter-is-to-give-americans-the-means-to-get-into-the-wild/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [If politicians want to save money, that's fine. They can look for all the wasteful spending they want, but not where the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/if-politicians-want-to-save-money-that-s-fine-they-can-look-for-all/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [A rocket won't fly unless somebody lights the fuse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/a-rocket-won-t-fly-unless-somebody-lights-the-fuse/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [My father lost an eye to a snapped cable while trying to rescue trapped miners, though he kept on working for fifteen years afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/my-father-lost-an-eye-to-a-snapped-cable-while-trying-to-rescue/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [When I was a boy, one of my favorite places to go was a pine-filled hollow high on the mountain behind our house. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/when-i-was-a-boy-one-of-my-favorite-places-to-go-was-a-pine-filled/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [“The way I see it, if everybody ran from bad things instead of trying to stop them, bad things would be all there is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/the-way-i-see-it-if-everybody-ran-from-bad-things-instead-of-trying/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [When the moon was first visited in 1969, the astronauts brought back a treasure trove of unique minerals. Contained within specimens was an isotope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/when-the-moon-was-first-visited-in-1969-the-astronauts-brought-back-a/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [You must completely dedicate yourselves to it. To do less will be to let down your country, your state, your parents, your teachers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/you-must-completely-dedicate-yourselves-to-it-to-do-less-will-be-to/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [The key to not getting rejected if you're writing for a magazine, is to know to read that magazine and know everything about them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/the-key-to-not-getting-rejected-if-you-re-writing-for-a-magazine-is/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [Tired of burning fossil fuel and polluting the planet? The moon is covered with helium 3, an isotope from the sun that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/tired-of-burning-fossil-fuel-and-polluting-the-planet-the-moon-is/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [My father use to say if coal died, the country died. He was right. Our economy rests on the back of the coal miner.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/my-father-use-to-say-if-coal-died-the-country-died-he-was-right-our/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) [Explore all 64 Homer Hickam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) ## More Easy quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I don't want easy success. It's boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/i-don-t-want-easy-success-it-s-boring/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Sometimes life can suck and not be fair ,but we have to deal with it,because we feel we cant do anything but,we can.We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-can-suck-and-not-be-fair-but-we-have-to-deal-with-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I don't know why, but I'm an easy target. And I don't do anything to dispel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-m-an-easy-target-and-i-don-t-do-anything-to/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [I know that I'm going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, "I'm back." I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/i-know-that-i-m-going-to-have-to-work-hard-keep-working-hard-and-not/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) Browse all 14,306 Easy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of folks just get it in their head that, for instance, like writing memoirs is just easy. You just write down what happened. 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