Pamela Power: South African Writer and Script Editor on Storytelling, Patience & Creative Evolution
In this engaging conversation, I speak with Pamela Power, a Johannesburg-based television scriptwriter, script editor, novelist, and former actor whose wit, honesty, and storytelling flair have made her a distinctive voice in South African media.
Pamela initially studied acting and later taught acting, experiences that gave her deep insight into character, dialogue, and human emotion — tools she now masterfully brings to her writing. She has contributed to some of the country’s most popular television productions — Top Billing, Generations, Rockville, and Uzalo — and is currently a scriptwriter for Smoke & Mirrors (eTV) and the script editor for Youngins(Showmax).
Beyond the screen, Pamela is the author and co-author of several acclaimed novels, among them Ms Conception, Things Unseen, and Chasing Marian (written collaboratively with Amy Heydenrych, Qarnita Loxton, and Gail Schimmel).
In our interview, Pamela shares how her creative journey began, what inspired her to write, and how she often draws on her own life experiences to shape her characters — sometimes as a means of venting frustration or making sense of the world. We also talk about the patience and perseverance needed in the writing process, her evolution as a storyteller, and her hopes for the future.
Join us for an insightful and humorous discussion about creativity, resilience, and the art of storytelling — both on screen and on the page.