--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did that for 40 years or more. I never…" description: "\"I did that for 40 years or more. I never had any writer's block. I got up in the morning, sat down at the typewriter - now, computer - lit up a cigaret..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/frederik-pohl-12573_block_i-did-that-for-40-years-or-more-i-never_2624819.jpg" --- # I did that for 40 years or more. I never had any writer's… ![“I did that for 40 years or more. I never had any writer's block. I got up in the morning, sat down at the typewriter - now, computer - lit up a cigarette.” quote by Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/frederik-pohl-12573_block_i-did-that-for-40-years-or-more-i-never_2624819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/frederik-pohl-12573_block_i-did-that-for-40-years-or-more-i-never_2624819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/frederik-pohl-12573_block_i-did-that-for-40-years-or-more-i-never_2624819.jpg) > “I did that for 40 years or more. I never had any writer's block. I got up in the morning, sat down at the typewriter - now, computer - lit up a cigarette.” [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wrote continuously for decades without writer’s block, using a routine of coffee, cigarettes, and a typewriter/computer. **In simple terms:** Consistent routine prevented writer’s block. Key Takeaway Maintain a steady writing habit. Themes creativity routine productivity Mood practical inspirational Type creative motivational When to use this quote - daily writing - work schedule - creative projects Key Concepts habit formation psychology Questions to Reflect On - What routine helps your creativity? - How do you break monotony in work? A Different Perspective Routine may become monotonous and limit inspiration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer 's block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-s-block/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“You can have the finest pen, typewriter, or computer, but without a set of eyes that truly see the world, you might as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-p-banks-jr/you-can-have-the-finest-pen-typewriter-or-computer-but-without-a-set/) [Thurman P. Banks Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-p-banks-jr/) > [I can write faster on a typewriter than you can on a computer. I do 120 words a minute, and you can't do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-can-write-faster-on-a-typewriter-than-you-can-on-a-computer-i-do/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Writer's block is real. It happens. Some days you sit down at the old typewriter, put your fingers on the keys, and nothing pops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/writer-s-block-is-real-it-happens-some-days-you-sit-down-at-the-old/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [You will never work through writer's block if you walk away from your typewriter. That will only make it easier to walk away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/you-will-never-work-through-writer-s-block-if-you-walk-away-from-your/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [For a long period in my life - it lasted about 10 years - I had writer's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-garden/for-a-long-period-in-my-life-it-lasted-about-10-years-i-had-writer-s/) [Mary Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-garden/) > [I've never considered soundtracks for what I write. Nor have I considered computer drawing or painting. As a painter, I'm still trying to perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-major/i-ve-never-considered-soundtracks-for-what-i-write-nor-have-i/) [Clarence Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-major/) > [My prescription for writer's block is to face the fact that there is no such thing… Writing well is difficult, but one can always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/my-prescription-for-writer-s-block-is-to-face-the-fact-that-there-is/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [Writer's block.. when one curses the blinking cursor on the blank page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/writer-s-block-when-one-curses-the-blinking-cursor-on-the-blank-page/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [Cure for writer's block: blow something up(in the story)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/cure-for-writer-s-block-blow-something-up-in-the-story/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [I don't think that writer's block exists really. I think that when you're trying to do something prematurely, it just won't come. Certain subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-think-that-writer-s-block-exists-really-i-think-that-when-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I don't believe in writer's block, writing well is very easy; it's writing horribly, the horrible work necessary to do to get to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-young/i-don-t-believe-in-writer-s-block-writing-well-is-very-easy-it-s/) [Dean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-young/) > [I've never really suffered complete and utter writer's block, really. I equate it with sex: in the beginning of my career, I was writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-ve-never-really-suffered-complete-and-utter-writer-s-block-really-i/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Maybe one of the reasons that I don't ever experience myself as having writer's block is I don't feel that I need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-barton/maybe-one-of-the-reasons-that-i-don-t-ever-experience-myself-as/) [Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-barton/) > [I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/i-think-writer-s-block-is-simply-the-dread-that-you-are-going-to/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/writer-s-block-i-ve-never-heard-of-a-plumber-complain-about-plumber-s/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) ## More by Frederik Pohl > [“There are people who never pass a certain point in their emotional development. They cannot live a normal free-and-easy, give-and-take life with a sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/there-are-people-who-never-pass-a-certain-point-in-their-emotional/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [“Only you have to keep practicing and remembering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/only-you-have-to-keep-practicing-and-remembering/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [“Anyway, that's what life is, just one learning experience after another, and when you're through with all the learning experiences you graduate and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/anyway-that-s-what-life-is-just-one-learning-experience-after-another/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [A lot of the cosmologists and astrophysicists clearly had been reading science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/a-lot-of-the-cosmologists-and-astrophysicists-clearly-had-been/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [Advertising reaches out to touch the fantasy part of people's lives. 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If a picture on the wall can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/if-a-picture-on-the-wall-can-remember-you-remember-that-this-is-not/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [It's clear that science and science fiction have overlapping populations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/it-s-clear-that-science-and-science-fiction-have-overlapping/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [“Wealth ... or death. Those were the choices Gateway offered. Humans had discovered this artificial spaceport, full of working interstellar ships left behind by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/wealth-or-death-those-were-the-choices-gateway-offered-humans-had/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [When I sit down to the feast of life ... 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It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [The family is the building block for whatever solidarity there is in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/the-family-is-the-building-block-for-whatever-solidarity-there-is-in/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [New York is so serious about the creation of work. 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