Krystle Herdy, a queer disabled poet and editor, discusses the emotional reality of writing poetry, navigating literary spaces as a queer and disabled writer, and the pressure of recognition. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, representation, and accessibility in the literary world. The conversation covers the journey of a poet and writer, Krystle, as she navigates the challenges and triumphs of her creative life. It delves into the themes of bravery, self-compassion, the value of poetry, and the importance of creating accessible spaces for disabled writers.
Takeaways
Authenticity and representation are crucial in the literary world.
Accessibility and inclusion are essential for writers with disabilities. Bravery in creativity
Kindness to oneself
The value of poetry
Creating accessible spaces for disabled writers
Chapters
00:00 Challenges of Accessibility and Inclusion in Literary Spaces
15:52 Impact of Recognition and Personal Journey
25:15 The Value of Poetry
30:25 Kindness to Oneself
Krystle Herdy, a queer, disabled poet and editor based on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. In 2025, Krystle won the June Shenfield National Poetry Award, and her work has appeared in Australian and international journals. Her first poetry collection, Mythology Mechanic, was published while she was still an undergraduate—an experience that shaped her early relationship with literary success, visibility, and voice.
Krystle describes poetry as a space where precision and ambiguity, structure and chaos, can exist at the same time—and I think that tension sits at the heart of both art and identity.
In this conversation, we talk about the emotional reality of writing poetry, the pressure of recognition, navigating literary spaces as a queer and disabled writer, the tension between authenticity and expectation, and why poetry still matters in a world increasingly shaped by speed, algorithms, and certainty.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystle_jadeh/
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