---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first two, three, four weeks are…"
description: "\"The first two, three, four weeks are wasted. I just show up in front of the computer. Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg"
---

#  The first two, three, four weeks are wasted. I just show…

![“The first two, three, four weeks are wasted. I just show up in front of the computer. Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too. If she doesn't show up invited, eventually she just shows up.” quote by Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg)

> “The first two, three, four weeks are wasted. I just show up in front of the computer. Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too. If she doesn't show up invited, eventually she just shows up.”

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

## About This Quote

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

Initial days of any creative work feel idle, but consistent presence eventually invites inspiration.

**In simple terms:** Showing up leads to inspiration.

Key Takeaway

Be present, trust the process.

Themes

creativity discipline patience

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- writing
- research
- learning new skills
- starting a project

Key Concepts

flow habit formation intrinsic motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you make the early days more productive?
- What rituals help you stay present?

A Different Perspective

Inspiration may still be delayed despite effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-muse-5742464/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Doesn Invited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-invited-3213177/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Invited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invited/) [Invited Eventually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invited-eventually-3213176/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muse/) [Muse Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muse-shows-3213178/) [Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too. If she doesn’t show up invited, eventually she just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/show-up-show-up-show-up-and-after-a-while-the-muse-shows-up-too-if/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/show-up-show-up-show-up-and-after-a-while-the-muse-shows-up-too/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I don't much enjoy travelling, but I have always longed to take a slow train to Russia. I'd like to go alone - like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-birkin/i-don-t-much-enjoy-travelling-but-i-have-always-longed-to-take-a-slow/)

[Jane Birkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-birkin/)

> [Unfortunately when I start to talk or when someone watches over my shoulders my pencil either stops or I draw meaningless lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-hughes/unfortunately-when-i-start-to-talk-or-when-someone-watches-over-my/)

[E. J. Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-hughes/)

> [Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I'll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/said-hamlet-to-ophelia-i-ll-draw-a-sketch-of-thee-what-kind-of-pencil/)

[Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/)

> [I put my pencil upon the paper, doubtfully, and drew little lines, considering my theme. But I would not long hesitate in this manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/i-put-my-pencil-upon-the-paper-doubtfully-and-drew-little-lines/)

[Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/)

> [Nevertheless, the realization that breaking a pencil point would have far less disastrous consequences played little or no role, I believe, in this decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-a-marcus/nevertheless-the-realization-that-breaking-a-pencil-point-would-have/)

[Rudolph A. Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-a-marcus/)

> [An old man said Eraser are made For those who make MISTAKES. A youth replied Erasers are made for those who are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/echoyan/an-old-man-said-eraser-are-made-for-those-who-make-mistakes-a-youth/)

[EchoYan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/echoyan/)

> [“That person, I can't remember who it was right now, who said the pen was mightier that the sword-I thnk they were wrong. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverley-brenna/that-person-i-can-t-remember-who-it-was-right-now-who-said-the-pen/)

[Beverley Brenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverley-brenna/)

> [“pencil the exact middle of the head’s height. Place a horizontal line there; this should be located below the eyebrows' line.  ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-london/pencil-the-exact-middle-of-the-head-s-height-place-a-horizontal-line/)

[Vladimir London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-london/)

> [With pencil there is a tendency to be timid, either using very faint lines or erasing bad lines... Line sketching tends to emphasize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laseau/with-pencil-there-is-a-tendency-to-be-timid-either-using-very-faint/)

[Paul Laseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laseau/)

> [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/)

[Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/)

> [But I had never drawn on a tablet before. I've been doing pencil and paper and film for almost 20 years. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-hertzfeldt/but-i-had-never-drawn-on-a-tablet-before-i-ve-been-doing-pencil-and/)

[Don Hertzfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-hertzfeldt/)

> [Arithmetic is numbers you squeeze from your head to your hand to your pencil to your paper till you get the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/arithmetic-is-numbers-you-squeeze-from-your-head-to-your-hand-to-your/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [I've got to feel the pencil and see the words at the end of the pencil,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-ve-got-to-feel-the-pencil-and-see-the-words-at-the-end-of-the-pencil/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

## More by Isabel Allende

> [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Music is a wind that blows away the years, memories, and fear, that crouching animal I carry inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/music-is-a-wind-that-blows-away-the-years-memories-and-fear-that/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [Everybody has losses - it's unavoidable in life. Sharing our pain is very healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/everybody-has-losses-it-s-unavoidable-in-life-sharing-our-pain-is/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“The writer and the dreamer have so much in common: They can't control the plot, they are always part of the story or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-writer-and-the-dreamer-have-so-much-in-common-they-can-t-control/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [People think that they will sit down and produce the great American novel in one sitting. It doesn't work that way. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/people-think-that-they-will-sit-down-and-produce-the-great-american/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“He had a principle: if you lend money and never see the person again, that's money well spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/he-had-a-principle-if-you-lend-money-and-never-see-the-person-again/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“Catholics form a majority in Chile, although there are more and more Evangelicals and Pentacostals who irritate everyone because they have a direct understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/catholics-form-a-majority-in-chile-although-there-are-more-and-more/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“At times I feel as if I had lived all this before and that I have already written these very words, but I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-feel-as-if-i-had-lived-all-this-before-and-that-i-have/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-have-lived-with-passion-and-in-a-hurry-trying-to-accomplish-too/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I'm surrounded by the scene of aging. I myself am in my 70s and not getting any younger. Although I'm very healthy, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-surrounded-by-the-scene-of-aging-i-myself-am-in-my-70s-and-not/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I try to write the kind of books I like to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-books-i-like-to-read/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“Intimacy needs time to mature—a shared history, tears shed, obstacles overcome, photographs in an album. It’s a slow-growing plant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/intimacy-needs-time-to-mature-a-shared-history-tears-shed-obstacles/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [ The idea of the book \["The Japanese Lover"\] came in a conversation that I had with a friend walking in the streets of New… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-idea-of-the-book-the-japanese-lover-came-in-a-conversation-that-i/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

[Explore all 552 Isabel Allende quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

## More Computer quotes

> [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/)

[Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/)

> [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [One of our big goals in search is to make search that really understands exactly what you want, understands everything in the world. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/one-of-our-big-goals-in-search-is-to-make-search-that-really/)

[Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/)

> [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/)

[Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/)

> [I'm from the South, so I'm very old-fashioned and I'm not very computer savvy at all, but I'm getting it. I understand that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-m-from-the-south-so-i-m-very-old-fashioned-and-i-m-not-very/)

[Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/)

> [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

> [A little bit more than 50% of what you see on screen is handcrafted and the other 50% was about emulating these textures on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-abreu/a-little-bit-more-than-50-of-what-you-see-on-screen-is-handcrafted/)

[Alex Abreu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-abreu/)

> [Well I'm trying to think what I put in... I think I put in 'why?' to see if I'd confuse the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/well-i-m-trying-to-think-what-i-put-in-i-think-i-put-in-why-to-see-if/)

[Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/)

> [Our brains are great at knowing what to forget. We actually have to teach computers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/our-brains-are-great-at-knowing-what-to-forget-we-actually-have-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language will reach the same standard as an office secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/in-nine-months-a-group-of-children-left-alone-with-a-computer-in-any/)

[Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/)

> [Why do you do what you do? Why do you dress the way you dress?Why do you do what you do with your time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/why-do-you-do-what-you-do-why-do-you-dress-the-way-you-dress-why-do/)

[Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/)

> [Yeah, I'm a geek. I read sci-fi and I watch sci-fi films. I love my computer and I love to fix it. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/yeah-i-m-a-geek-i-read-sci-fi-and-i-watch-sci-fi-films-i-love-my/)

[Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/)

[Browse all 3,924 Computer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The first two, three, four weeks are wasted. I just show up in front of the computer. Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too. If she doesn't show up invited, eventually she just shows up.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Isabel Allende"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-wasted-i-just-show-up-in-front-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Computer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-wasted-i-just-show-up-in-front-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/isabel-allende-266_computer_the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-waste_733876.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first two, three, four weeks are wasted. I just show up in front of the computer. Show up, show up, show…” — Isabel Allende",
                "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": "Isabel Allende",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The first two, three, four weeks...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-wasted-i-just-show-up-in-front-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-first-two-three-four-weeks-are-wasted-i-just-show-up-in-front-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
