---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For about twenty years, if I managed to…"
description: "\"For about twenty years, if I managed to write ten or twelve poems in a year; I considered that a pretty successful year, but I wrote 'The Beforelife' w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png"
---

#  For about twenty years, if I managed to write ten or…

![“For about twenty years, if I managed to write ten or twelve poems in a year; I considered that a pretty successful year, but I wrote 'The Beforelife' within a year.” quote by Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png)

> “For about twenty years, if I managed to write ten or twelve poems in a year; I considered that a pretty successful year, but I wrote 'The Beforelife' within a year.”

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writing ten poems a year felt successful, yet the poet produced a major work within a year.

**In simple terms:** Productivity standards vary; breakthrough works can emerge quickly.

Key Takeaway

Allow flexibility in creative expectations.

Themes

productivity creativity expectations

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

literary creative

When to use this quote

- poetry writing
- creative retreats
- publishing schedules

Key Concepts

artistic flow inspiration

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance quantity and quality?
- When to pursue ambitious projects?

A Different Perspective

High output may sacrifice depth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/)

## Related quotes

> [Another factor is that in terms of the original compositions, this is our strongest year yet. Everyone wrote a fantastic piece and everyone really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-redman/another-factor-is-that-in-terms-of-the-original-compositions-this-is/)

[Joshua Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-redman/)

> [I think part of the process of putting out a record is always looking back because, by the time a song comes out, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-cosmos/i-think-part-of-the-process-of-putting-out-a-record-is-always-looking/)

[Frankie Cosmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-cosmos/)

> [The book, you understand, was not written for publication. It was the portrayal of my emotions, the analysis of my own soul life during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/the-book-you-understand-was-not-written-for-publication-it-was-the/)

[Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/)

> [“Studied all year and wrote in my journal like a nun works a Rosary, dog with a new bone, bee in his hive’s back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/studied-all-year-and-wrote-in-my-journal-like-a-nun-works-a-rosary/)

[Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/)

> [But its a blessing to be so successful within a year; its the greatest feeling in the world, making money and doing the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/but-its-a-blessing-to-be-so-successful-within-a-year-its-the-greatest/)

[Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/)

> [I can't complain about the support I've been given over the years, but I don't like it slipping away. Nobody says 'I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-williams/i-can-t-complain-about-the-support-i-ve-been-given-over-the-years-but/)

[Robbie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-williams/)

> [I think it's amazing that I'm 45 and it is the most creatively successful year of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/i-think-it-s-amazing-that-i-m-45-and-it-is-the-most-creatively/)

[Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/)

> [But it's a blessing to be so successful within a year; it's the greatest feeling in the world, making money and doing the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/but-it-s-a-blessing-to-be-so-successful-within-a-year-it-s-the/)

[Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/)

> [At the same time, the Reagan Administration assured that the main elements of policymaking were in the hands of competent loyalists, thus assuring a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-v-allen/at-the-same-time-the-reagan-administration-assured-that-the-main/)

[Richard V. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-v-allen/)

> [When I was doing stand-up, I was about twenty, and I really think that that's a little too young. I didn't have a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/when-i-was-doing-stand-up-i-was-about-twenty-and-i-really-think-that/)

[Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/)

> [Twenty years on, the books are still fun to write and I've still got lots of stories I want to tell, mainly about social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/twenty-years-on-the-books-are-still-fun-to-write-and-i-ve-still-got/)

[John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/)

> [I have to re-write a lot. I couldn't tell you how many drafts I write, but I know I've done at least twenty rewrites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-willis-holt/i-have-to-re-write-a-lot-i-couldn-t-tell-you-how-many-drafts-i-write/)

[Kimberly Willis Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-willis-holt/)

> [Although I've lived in England for more than twenty years, I still have a foreigner's passion for all the details of English history and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-rosoff/although-i-ve-lived-in-england-for-more-than-twenty-years-i-still/)

[Meg Rosoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-rosoff/)

> [I'm very excited about my new Spotify account, which gives me access to twenty gazillion songs any time, all the time. The day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-very-excited-about-my-new-spotify-account-which-gives-me-access/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [The reason I quit being a sales manager over twenty years now is because I hate elevator pitches. I want to write stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-reason-i-quit-being-a-sales-manager-over-twenty-years-now-is/)

[Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/)

## More by Franz Wright

> [“What I would say is this: writing poems doesn't make you a poet. … It is only with poetry, for some reason, that everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/what-i-would-say-is-this-writing-poems-doesn-t-make-you-a-poet-it-is/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [I write and have done so primarily for personal pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-write-and-have-done-so-primarily-for-personal-pleasure/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [The poetic prose that most interests me is that of Henri Michaux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-poetic-prose-that-most-interests-me-is-that-of-henri-michaux/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [Beckett's 'Stories and Texts for Nothing' is probably my favorite book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/beckett-s-stories-and-texts-for-nothing-is-probably-my-favorite-book/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [We know there are poets who are chosen: by what or whom, we no more know than what lies beyond our final breath, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/we-know-there-are-poets-who-are-chosen-by-what-or-whom-we-no-more/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [“If only I could tell someone. The humiliation I go through when I think of my past can only be described as grace. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/if-only-i-could-tell-someone-the-humiliation-i-go-through-when-i/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [I wish you all the aloneness you hunger for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-wish-you-all-the-aloneness-you-hunger-for/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [“Think of it: a writer actually possesses the power to alter his past, to change what was once experienced as defeat into victory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/think-of-it-a-writer-actually-possesses-the-power-to-alter-his-past/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [“The road to Emmaus is this world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-road-to-emmaus-is-this-world/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [Should each individual snowflake be held accountable for the avalanche?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/should-each-individual-snowflake-be-held-accountable-for-the-avalanche/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [There is only one heart in my body, have mercy on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/there-is-only-one-heart-in-my-body-have-mercy-on-me/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [Its hard for me to grasp that I might somehow be my fathers equal in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/its-hard-for-me-to-grasp-that-i-might-somehow-be-my-fathers-equal-in/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [I used to comfort myself with the idea of a book with serrated, detachable pages, so that you could read the thing the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-used-to-comfort-myself-with-the-idea-of-a-book-with-serrated/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [“You gave me in secret one thing to perceive, the tall blue starry strangeness of being here at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/you-gave-me-in-secret-one-thing-to-perceive-the-tall-blue-starry/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

> [“The all-night convenience store's empty and no one is behind the counter. You open and shut the glass door a few times causing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-all-night-convenience-store-s-empty-and-no-one-is-behind-the/)

[Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

[Explore all 46 Franz Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For about twenty years, if I managed to write ten or twelve poems in a year; I considered that a pretty successful year, but I wrote 'The Beforelife' within a year.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Franz Wright"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-write-ten-or-twelve-poems-in-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-write-ten-or-twelve-poems-in-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/franz-wright-14400_about_for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-w_2668662.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For about twenty years, if I managed to write ten or twelve poems in a year; I considered that a pretty…” — Franz Wright",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Franz Wright",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For about twenty years, if I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-write-ten-or-twelve-poems-in-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/for-about-twenty-years-if-i-managed-to-write-ten-or-twelve-poems-in-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
