For polymers whose σ(e) diagram has the form of a monotonically increasing curve the creep rate is monotonically damped with time. If, however, the stress-strain diagram has a maximum, the creep curve becomes stepped: after first slowing, the creep sharply accelerates, and then slows down again. The strains corresponding to characteristic points on the stress-strain curves coincide with those corresponding to singular points on the creep curves.