The Writer's Guide to Peoplewatching

The Forever Workshop Community Corner — 5.7.25

Psst. Hey, kid. Wanna do some peoplewatching?

I mean, don’t be a creep about it¹, but a little light anthropological voyeursim observation can be gold for your writing.

Because no matter how realistic and vivid and complex your imaginary characters are, the truth is always stranger / sillier / sweeter / more unexpected than fiction.

So steal borrow from real life and add an extra layer to your protagonist. Lift a perfect line of dialogue from an overheard conversation. Describe the heck out of a real person, just for kicks. It’s all great practice, and could prompt some brand new ideas for your WIP.

Here are my top 5 favourite ways to peoplewatch (pls add yours in the comments!):

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#1. On Public Transport

Ok, so nowadays most people are on their phones, which doesn’t seem very interesting to observe on first glance. But this is a great opportunity to make up scenarios about what you imagine they might be doing…

Writing a break-up message? Arranging a secret hookup? Wistfully looking at photos of their cat, who went missing three days ago? Cramming for the bar exam? Planning a heist?

Or, if they’re not on their phone, what else are they looking at? What can they see outside the window? Are they also peoplewatching? Are they mid-conversation with someone next to them? Where might they be headed?

You have a bus/train full of potential characters here. Gather clues from their appearance, their expression, their posture, and write them into a story.

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#2. At a Social Gathering

A chilled hangout. A raucous party. A civilised evening of board games, wine and cheese that descends into a table-flipping argument. A book club. A civil war reenactment. A folk festival. A backyard barbecue. A poetry reading. Your great aunt’s silver wedding anniversary.

Get a bunch of peeps together and watch the complicated dynamics at play… How do people make polite chit chat? Who helps with the washing up? Who’s the life of the party and where are the wallflowers hanging out? Is there some juicy backstory or something no one is talking about simmering under the surface…?

So many interactions, so much silent body language, so much characterisation and conflict. Collect as many tiny snippets as you can and tuck them away for later.

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#3. Over a Meal

This one’s a bit more intimate, but mealtime conversations are always doozies for mining deep emotional dialogue — and the occasional heated discussion.

Next time you’re sharing a meal where there are plenty of different convos going on, see if you can tune into some of them. At a cafe, restaurant, in the queue for street food, in a cafeteria at work or school — or combine this one with #3 (social gathering) or #4 (formal event).

Look. Don’t be a creep. People are trying to have a private conversation here. But I’m just saying… if they’re talking loud enough for you to happen to hear, then that’s not your fault, is it?

And maybe you can ‘borrow’ a few lines of dialogue, or observe some meaningful eye contact, or even some unusual eating habits.

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#4. At a Formal Event

This might be my favourite, actually — as much as I hate formal events, they’re incredible fodder for observing people perform all kinds of social acrobatics. Status shifting; code-switching; following strict procedures and expectations; dressing, moving, and speaking in a certain way; showing the correct respect according to some unspoken, arbitrary rules.

Maybe you’re often in these situations at work, or maybe you’re going to a wedding soon, or maybe you’ve been called up for jury duty. Prime opportunities to observe just how different people are when they have to be ‘proper’. And what happens when someone steps out of line…?

Study the intricate social patterns of a formal event and think about what emotions and thoughts might be going on underneath…

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#5. During an Unexpected Moment

People behave in fascinating ways when things don’t go to plan. So if you ever find yourself in the midst of an unexpected moment — a flashmob, a protest, a surprise birthday party, an emergency situation — take note of the people around you. (Within reason, of course. Don’t whip out your notes app when someone needs an ambulance…)

Do they freeze? Leap into action? Laugh? Scream? Run away? Join in? Get embarrassed? Look to their friends for reassurance? Shake their head in disappointment? Yell out their support/disapproval?

What would you do? What would your characters do?

What’s YOUR favourite peoplewatching place?

Got a fave spot for creepin performing your own very serious literary observations?

Ever seen something in the wild that you just had to put in a story?

Share ‘em below!

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And in the spirit of peoplewatching, we’re having some much-needed quiet time here at The Forever Workshop as Andrea A. Firth guides us through this month’s workshop series:

Crafting Stories from Everyday Moments

“Discover the art of quiet writing, where the power of storytelling emerges from the small, often-overlooked moments of daily life.”

Check it out and become an expert quiet observer…

1. Seriously though. Don’t be a creep.