He has traveled and worked around the world and was the director of the Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California for 25 years as well as a book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times.

Ragan's numerous books of poetry include In the Talking Hours, Lusions, The Hunger Wall, Womb-Weary: Poems, Too Long a Solitude, and The Chanter's Reed.

"[6] Ragan has read his poetry around the world, for heads of state, including Mikhail Gorbachev and Czech President Václav Havel.

In 1985 he was invited to perform at the First International Poetry Festival in Moscow along with other Americans Robert Bly and Bob Dylan.

Original screenplays by Ragan include Faber, The Man based on the life of Howard Hughes and written for Clint Eastwood, and Lady Oscar.