Poets often push the boundaries of language and imagination in their work, examining both the self and others.
But how do we do this with sensitivity and insight?
How do we write about ourselves without navel-gazing?
How do we write in other voices without appropriating others’ lives?
In this four-module, self-paced workshop, you’ll explore these questions through serious play—discussing exemplary self-portrait and persona poems and experimenting with prompts that invite you to write about self and other with verve and precision.
Follow the suggested sequence or chart your own path. Expect to sharpen your craft, draft new poems, and grow your confidence.
Crafted by
American Poets Laureate Fellow & 2020-21 Poet Laureate of Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Amie Whittemore (she/her) is the author of the poetry collections Glass Harvest (Autumn House Press), Star-tent: A Triptych (Tolsun Books), and Nest of Matches (Autumn House, 2024). Her poems have won multiple awards, including a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Prize, and her poems and prose have appeared in The Gettysburg Review, Nashville Review, Smartish Pace, Pleiades, and elsewhere. She is the Reviews Editor for Southern Indiana Review and teaches English at Middle Tennessee State University, where she directs MTSU Write, a from-home creative writing mentorship program.
“From day one of the Poetry Barn’s unique and intense workshops, you are drawn right in, with an intelligent and insightful treasure trove of literary nuggets. Each robust lesson is designed to provide creative stimulation and memorable food for thought long after the workshop ends. If you’re looking for a trough to replenish your poetry feedbag, this is the only barn to graze in.”
"What a gift. I honestly feel that these workshops are the equal of mini-MFA’s."
"Being part of a creative vibrant writing community has been the best experience. I am grateful to Poetry Barn and to everyone who has helped to make it happen. ”
"The care, attention and support from the instructors is exemplary and the writing shared in the classes has been stunning, which inspires me forward. I love the classes. I love the lessons, I love the teachers and I love the writers."
“I wanted to write and tell you how thankful I am for Poetry Barn’s online workshops!"
Work at your own pace · Return anytime