“Crassly put: When I write, I am trying not to bore myself and my readers.” WritingTryingReaderBores Author:Rita Dove
“If I begin writing a poem that means I'm intrigued in some way by whatever it's about and that if I'm not trying to find something new and pushing the envelope in the poem I can't expect my reader to be particularly excited about it either.” IfsWayWritingTryingMeanI CanReaderExcitedPushingSomething NewIntriguedEnvelopesPushing The Envelope Author:Rita Dove
“At the very beginning when I begin writing a poem I try not to think of the audience or anyone at all except for trying to get at the very center of what is driving that poem. In a way it's like analyzing myself.” ThinkingWayWritingTryingAudienceDrivingAnalyzing Author:Rita Dove
“I never think of my audience when I write a poem. I try to write out of whatever is haunting me; in order for a poem to feel authentic, I have to feel I'm treading on very dangerous ground, which can mean that the resulting revelations may prove hurtful to other people. The time for thinking about that kind of guilt or any collective sense of responsibility, however, occurs much later in the creative process, after the poem is finished.” PeopleThinkingFeelsWritingTryingKindMayMeanOrderProcessResponsibilityAudienceCreativeDangerousProveGuiltFinishedRevelationsCollectivesCreative ProcessHauntingHurtfulSense Of ResponsibilityTreading Author:Rita Dove
“I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I think those are the two elements of poetry.” ThinkingTryingTwoShowsLanguageElements Author:Rita Dove
“Instead of trying to come up and pontificate on what literature is, you need to talk with children, to teachers, and make sure they get poetry in the curriculum early.” NeedsTryingChildrenLiteratureTeacherCome UpCurriculum Author:Rita Dove
