--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writers who spend all night writing…" description: "\"“Writers who spend all night writing, addicted to caffeine and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, are a myth, Marcus. You have to be disciplined. It’s exa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/jo-l-dicker-9212_writing_writers-who-spend-all-night-writing-addi_1831353.jpg" --- # Writers who spend all night writing, addicted to caffeine… ![“Writers who spend all night writing, addicted to caffeine and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, are a myth, Marcus. You have to be disciplined. It’s exactly the same as training to be a boxer. There are exercises to be repeated, at certain times of day. You have to be persistent, you have to…” quote by Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/jo-l-dicker-9212_writing_writers-who-spend-all-night-writing-addi_1831353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/jo-l-dicker-9212_writing_writers-who-spend-all-night-writing-addi_1831353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/jo-l-dicker-9212_writing_writers-who-spend-all-night-writing-addi_1831353.jpg) > ““Writers who spend all night writing, addicted to caffeine and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, are a myth, Marcus. You have to be disciplined. It’s exactly the same as training to be a boxer. There are exercises to be repeated, at certain times of day. You have to be persistent, you have to maintain a certain rhythm, and your life has to be perfectly ordered.”” [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discipline and routine are essential for creative work, just like training in sports, and mythic images of chaotic inspiration are misleading. **In simple terms:** Creative work needs disciplined routine like athletic training. Key Takeaway Build a consistent schedule and stick to it. Themes discipline routine creativity myths productivity Mood focused determined realistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - writing sessions - daily planning - time blocking - health routines - skill practice Key Concepts habit formation self‑regulation flow state Questions to Reflect On - How can you design a daily rhythm that supports your writing? - What habits could replace the “night‑owl” myth? A Different Perspective Creative bursts alone rarely sustain long‑term output without structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“You should not need anything to wake up. If you can't wake up without it, it's because you are either addicted to caffeine, sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-freedman/you-should-not-need-anything-to-wake-up-if-you-can-t-wake-up-without/) [Rory Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-freedman/) > [I never really wanted to be a daily critic who goes out every night and writes 300 word reviews, I wanted to write essays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-giddins/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-daily-critic-who-goes-out-every-night/) [Gary Giddins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-giddins/) > [Sometimes when I do stand-up the night before and I'm in a writing room the next day, I'm sharper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-hoffman/sometimes-when-i-do-stand-up-the-night-before-and-i-m-in-a-writing/) [Robby Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-hoffman/) > [I have great difficulty sitting in the middle of the night and writing. Everything I do comes spontaneous. Sometimes it takes a long time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/i-have-great-difficulty-sitting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [Late night writing is also good, too, but in New York, you've got neighbors. I try to be a good neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/late-night-writing-is-also-good-too-but-in-new-york-you-ve-got/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [I'm not a disciplined writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-m-not-a-disciplined-writer/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“What are we if we are not disciplined?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/what-are-we-if-we-are-not-disciplined/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [I'd rather hire someone who is extremely disciplined and process-oriented, than someone with all of the experience in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-mcdonald/i-d-rather-hire-someone-who-is-extremely-disciplined-and-process/) Devon McDonald > [I've written what and when I want to. It's been about expressing myself. But with the degree, I had to learn to do everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/i-ve-written-what-and-when-i-want-to-it-s-been-about-expressing/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinoba-bhave/it-is-only-when-our-life-proceeds-within-bounds-and-in-an-accepted/) [Vinoba Bhave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinoba-bhave/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Joël Dicker > [“Victory is within you. All you need is to want to let it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/victory-is-within-you-all-you-need-is-to-want-to-let-it-out/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Life is like a foot race, Marcus: There will always be people who are faster than you, and there will always be those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/life-is-like-a-foot-race-marcus-there-will-always-be-people-who-are/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Love, love, always love! But what is love? It doesn’t mean anything! Love is just a trick invented by men so they don’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/love-love-always-love-but-what-is-love-it-doesn-t-mean-anything-love/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“HARRY, IF I COULD learn only one thing from you, what would it be?” “I’d like to ask you the same question.” “For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/harry-if-i-could-learn-only-one-thing-from-you-what-would-it-be-i-d/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Había pasado treinta años satisfaciendo mis ambiciones, me enfrentaba a los siguientes treinta intentando mantener esas ambiciones a flote y, al pensar bien en…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/hab-a-pasado-treinta-a-os-satisfaciendo-mis-ambiciones-me-enfrentaba/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“En los libros, los que ya no están vuelven a reunirse y a abrazarse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/en-los-libros-los-que-ya-no-est-n-vuelven-a-reunirse-y-a-abrazarse/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Marcus, do you know what is the only way to know how much you love someone? No. By losing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/marcus-do-you-know-what-is-the-only-way-to-know-how-much-you-love/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“I don’t like to dwell on regrets. They tell you that you have not come to terms with what you’ve done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/i-don-t-like-to-dwell-on-regrets-they-tell-you-that-you-have-not-come/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Goldman, stop this nonsense, will you? I have looked at your file. I made a few phone calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/goldman-stop-this-nonsense-will-you-i-have-looked-at-your-file-i-made/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Me gusta saberlo todo, es una enfermedad. Me puede la ansiedad, necesito controlar todo lo que está a mi alrededor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/me-gusta-saberlo-todo-es-una-enfermedad-me-puede-la-ansiedad-necesito/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“wish that I will succeed in life,” I replied. And I thought that a shooting star, though it could be beautiful, was a star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/wish-that-i-will-succeed-in-life-i-replied-and-i-thought-that-a/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“IN OUR SOCIETY, MARCUS, the most admired men are those who build bridges, skyscrapers, and empires. But in reality, the proudest and most admirable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/in-our-society-marcus-the-most-admired-men-are-those-who-build/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Life is like a foot race, Marcus: There will always be people who are faster than you, and there will always be those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/life-is-like-a-foot-race-marcus-there-will-always-be-people-who-are-2/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“Life is a long drop down, Marcus. The most important thing is knowing how to fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/life-is-a-long-drop-down-marcus-the-most-important-thing-is-knowing/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) > [“You know what a publisher is? He’s a failed writer whose father was rich enough that he’s able to appropriate other people’s talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-l-dicker/you-know-what-a-publisher-is-he-s-a-failed-writer-whose-father-was/) [Joël Dicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) [Explore all 34 Joël Dicker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-l-dicker/) ## More Disciplined quotes > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm not a disciplined writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-m-not-a-disciplined-writer/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinoba-bhave/it-is-only-when-our-life-proceeds-within-bounds-and-in-an-accepted/) [Vinoba Bhave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinoba-bhave/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [I've written what and when I want to. It's been about expressing myself. But with the degree, I had to learn to do everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/i-ve-written-what-and-when-i-want-to-it-s-been-about-expressing/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [I'd rather hire someone who is extremely disciplined and process-oriented, than someone with all of the experience in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-mcdonald/i-d-rather-hire-someone-who-is-extremely-disciplined-and-process/) Devon McDonald > [“What are we if we are not disciplined?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/what-are-we-if-we-are-not-disciplined/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [John Cleese is a very fast worker and a highly disciplined one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/john-cleese-is-a-very-fast-worker-and-a-highly-disciplined-one/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [The boys are so well-rounded, they're so self-disciplined, there is so much camaraderie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-pietersen/the-boys-are-so-well-rounded-they-re-so-self-disciplined-there-is-so/) [Kevin Pietersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-pietersen/) > [Discipline must come through liberty. . . . We do not consider an individual disciplined only when he has been rendered as artificially silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/discipline-must-come-through-liberty-we-do-not-consider-an-individual/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I'm very disciplined and eat right and gym regularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-ranganathan/i-m-very-disciplined-and-eat-right-and-gym-regularly/) [Suman Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-ranganathan/) > [I wasn't disciplined at all. As good of an athlete as I was, I was not disciplined. Had I had the drive that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-wasn-t-disciplined-at-all-as-good-of-an-athlete-as-i-was-i-was-not/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) Browse all 329 Disciplined quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Writers who spend all night writing, addicted to caffeine and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, are a myth, Marcus. You have to be disciplined. It’s exactly the same as training to be a boxer. There are exercises to be repeated, at certain times of day. 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