Foibles and Quirks – with Pam Williams
We all have foibles and quirks, natural behaviours that we may not even be conscious of, that are an intrinsic part of who we are.
Your characters should too. It’s the subtle details that can bring your characters to life so in this workshop we’ll explore ways to make them whole by using different scenarios to explore how physicality can convey emotion and what language (internal thought as well as dialogue) might reveal. We’ll consider the physiological responses character’s can’t control as well as the way they walk or sit, fidget, eat. How they adapt the way they speak during interactions with different people or when they’re excited versus under duress. The sentence starters they habitually use ‘yeah, so…’ and the slang, dialect or swearing. Because ultimately, the more ‘real’ your character feels to the reader the more invested in them they will be.
About the tutor
Graduating from St Martin’s School of Art in 1984, Pam Williams enjoyed a fashion career for two decades, working as a fashion journalist, magazine fashion editor (on She, PS, Shape and Now) and as a freelance stylist. Pam then worked as a foster carer and a teaching assistant before retraining as a teacher in 2017 and progressed to leading the Post 16+ provision at a special school until summer 2025 when she retired early to focus on writing.
Pam’s writing accolades include: winning a place on Spread the Word’s writers development programme the London Writers Award 2019. Winning Black Ink Magazine’s New Writing Prize 2022 with her short story Hibiscus and having her debut novel A Trace of Sun published in March 2024 and longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in the same year.
About First Tuesday Writers
First Tuesday Writers is here to keep your writing fresh. Taking place on the first Tuesday of every month, each 90 minute session offers a deep dive into a writer’s creative world – designed to challenge and energise you, and lead you to new creative discoveries.
Every writer and every form of writing has something unique that we can learn and put to use in our own work. These workshops are all opportunities to learn from radically diverse writers – including poets, bloggers, crime writers and much more. Drop in for one or two events or sign up to them all: either way, you’ll leave buzzing, and ready to do your best and most innovative work.
Low cost places available
We believe the price of our courses should never be a barrier to your learning. If you are unable to pay for a place on this event, contact us to apply for a bursary place.