Alternative Selves, Personas in Poetry, Kate Potts 8/4/25

In this masterclass, we’ll look at close readings of poets that have used alternative selves to explore and express their truths, as well as poems that describe and consider multiple or changeable selves.

The ‘I’ of the poem is always, to some degree, a construction. But how can we use poetry to explore alternative selves and express ideas around pretence, performance, or fraudulence?

We'll experiment with heteronyms, alter egos and transformations to produce fresh new poem drafts that celebrate and give voice to our slippery, multi-faceted selves.

Something rather special and timely… just as her new book 'Pretenders' is launched this month, Kate Potts explores themes and processes that led to the book.