Richard Hugo Quotes

You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.

To write a poem you must have a streak of arrogance-- not in real life I hope. In real life try to be nice. It will save you a hell of a lot of trouble and give you more time to write.

A creative writing class may be one of the last places you can go where your life still matters.

Assuming you can write clear English sentences, give up all worry about communication. If you want to communicate, use the telephone.

An act of imagination is an act of self-acceptance.

Don't write love poems when you're in love. Write them when you're not in love.

Say nothing and just make music and you'll find plenty to say.

Think small.... If you can't think small, try philosophy or social criticism.

Don't write with a pen. Ink tends to give the impression the words shouldn't be changed.

A good creative-writing teacher can save a good writer a lot of time.

Never want to say anything so strongly that you give up the option of finding something better. If you have to say it, you will.

Scholars look for final truths they will never find. Creative writers concern themselves with possibilities that are always there to the receptive.

In the world of imagination, all things belong.

You are someone and you have a right to your life.

Never write a poem about anything that ought to have a poem written about it.

A poet is seldom hard up for advice. The worst part of it all is that sometimes the advice is coming from other poets, and they ought to know better.

If you want to communicate, use the telephone

I think it's better if you write poems that look like you.

Rub a half potato on your wart and wrap it in a damp cloth. Close your eyes and whirl three times and throw. Then bury rag and spud exactly where they fall.