Inside the Poetry Marathon: Writing Poetry Every Hour for a Whole Day—Amanda Potter | Ep 90

Imagine dedicating 24 hours straight to writing poetry — one poem every hour, guided by unpredictable prompts and fueled by nothing but creativity, snacks, and community. That’s exactly what Amanda Potter, a Jacksonville-based poet and long-time participant in The Poetry Marathon, has done for nearly a decade.In this conversation with Onyemechi Nwakonam, Amanda shares how writing under pressure transforms not just her poetry but her sense of self. She talks about the friendships that have blossomed across continents, the joy of discovering new poetic forms, and the discipline it takes to create meaningful work hour after hour.Together, they explore how creativity thrives in constraint, what makes poetry such a powerful emotional release, and why some art forms—like poetry marathons—reveal who we truly are. Amanda also reads her 2016 poem “Taken Out of Context,” originally written for The Poetry Marathon Anthology.In This EpisodeWhat a poetry marathon is and why it’s so addictiveThe power of prompts and poetic forms (sonnets, sestinas, and nonets)How to stay creative and energized during long writing sessionsWhy community makes all the difference in artistic enduranceThe personal transformation that comes from writing without pauseAmanda’s reflections on success, spontaneity, and the art of short poemsConnect with Amanda Potter👉 Facebook – search Quarter Crazy Marathon to join her next 12-hour poetry event (September 13 on Facebook)Connect with BuildWriting→ Subscribe to the BuildWriting newsletter for behind-the-scenes notes, writing prompts, and creative-process insights:🌐 https://buildwriting.com/newsletterChapters 00:00 – The Power of the Poetry Marathon01:00 – Discovering the Marathon02:00 – The Challenge of Prompts and Forms04:30 – Preparing for 24 Hours of Writing07:00 – Staying Creative Through Fatigue09:00 – How Marathon Writing Shapes Your Craft13:00 – The Lessons of Endurance and Community17:00 – Building Global Friendships Through Poetry20:00 – Platforms Prompts and the Evolving Community23:00 – The Art of Short Poems28:00 – On Editing and Imperfection33:00 – How Poetry Changes the Poet36:00 – What Makes a Poem a Poem40:00 – Advice for First Time Marathon Poets50:00 – Closing Reflections