

Hi, I’m Jeda
I’m a Scottish Jamaican writer and poet based in Scotland
My work often traverses/reflects the ‘in between’ and explores the intersections of belonging, disability, secrecy and survival.
I mostly write poetry, fiction and occasionally create multidisciplinary work.
I also love arts programming, collaborative projects and helping develop community platforms.

Inspiration for my work comes from many places…
- The musicality of my family’s shared languages, Scots, Geordie, Jamaican Patios
- Science fiction, the fantastical, surreal, eccentric, weird and unexpected
- Superstitions, folklore and unsettling, twisted fairytales
- Untold and hidden histories
- Highlighting people and stories from underrepresented communities
- Life in all its rough and tough edges, incredible beauty and everything in between
- The wilds of parenthood
- Creativity in all its forms and so many amazing writers and artists…
Read, listen or watch selected readings and access available anthologies
Blog posts
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Windrush Legacy Creative Reflections
Reflecting on our Caribbean roots, sharing our stories of life in Scotland and dreaming into our futures
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A Night in the Stars – Edinburgh Science Festival
4/APR/2023 Performance at Edinburgh Science Festival Late Lab ‘A Night in the Stars’ to celebrate the James Webb Space Telescope.
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botanical spell for the new year
a nature poem calling within and without on what we may need to move through the year
More blog posts
Bio
Jeda Pearl (she/her) is a Scottish Jamaican writer and artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her work often traverses/reflects the ‘in between’ and explores the intersections of be/longing, (intergenerational) memory, illness and disability, secrecy and survival. Her work examines the histories, cultures, folklores and languages of her ancestral islands, at times exploring grief and nature writing, often creating magical realist or science-fictional worlds. In 2022, she was shortlisted for the Sky Arts RSL Award and longlisted for the Women Poets’ Prize. Jeda is published/commissioned by Collective, Rhubaba, New Writing Scotland, Shoreline of Infinity, Aesthetica, and most recently in Glimpse – Peepal Tree Press’ first anthology of speculative fiction by Black British writers. Find her online @JedaPearl or jedapearl.com.
Contact Jeda for readings, panels, writing workshops, creative collaborations or her writing CV.