POV question for a series

[lovecraft68]

Although I said I would never do it...it seems my muse has some other plans for me. I am going to be revisiting my Siblings With Benefits series.

But back in SWB the original I did it all first person and only switched POV a couple of times. Of the 44 parts in the main series(there was a 5 part spin off) 40 chapters were from the sister's POV so the occasional switching to the brother was no big deal and I segued that there would be a shift in the previous chapter...example at the end of one chapter, the brother says, "So, it was right after the trial..."

Then next chapter is his pov.

But I plan on this series bouncing back and forth between the two and possible a couple from another characters POV.

So would every chapter being a different "I" for first person be confusing as in the reader is like "which I is this" or would it work?

My other option is doing it all in third person which more easily identifies who the reader is following in each chapter?

 

[jonthechaosman]

I have seen others make the POV clear on a story like this by using the POV person's name as a paragraph break when the viewpoint changes. It made the story quite easy to follow along with. It's maybe a bit of a cheat...but it worked quite well.

edit: It didn't distract or pull me out of the story either.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Although I said I would never do it...it seems my muse has some other plans for me. I am going to be revisiting my Siblings With Benefits series.

But back in SWB the original I did it all first person and only switched POV a couple of times. Of the 44 parts in the main series(there was a 5 part spin off) 40 chapters were from the sister's POV so the occasional switching to the brother was no big deal and I segued that there would be a shift in the previous chapter...example at the end of one chapter, the brother says, "So, it was right after the trial..."

Then next chapter is his pov.

But I plan on this series bouncing back and forth between the two and possible a couple from another characters POV.

So would every chapter being a different "I" for first person be confusing as in the reader is like "which I is this" or would it work?

My other option is doing it all in third person which more easily identifies who the reader is following in each chapter?

what about diary entries and/or email traffic?

 

[litfan10]

the last two books I read with multiple POVs had the speaking character's name for the chapter's name\title. It didn't bother me at all, in fact it made me look forward to what was coming sometimes, at least with one of the books.
Good luck

 

[lovecraft68]

The problem is I won't just be going back and forth between the Sibs, but will have a couple of other characters in their own chapters...so I'm concerned about how many "I's" there are.

 

[slyc_willie]

You might have painted yourself into a corner by writing the vast majority of the original series from the sister's point of view. Readers may have forgiven you for switching to the brother a few times, but it could be jarring if every new chapter is from someone else's point of view.

How about just starting a new series with the same characters? Call it "The Benefits of Being Siblings" or something. Make it clear that it's an extension of the original series, but with a new title, so you're able to start fresh and use other perspectives.

 

[lovecraft68]

You might have painted yourself into a corner by writing the vast majority of the original series from the sister's point of view. Readers may have forgiven you for switching to the brother a few times, but it could be jarring if every new chapter is from someone else's point of view.

How about just starting a new series with the same characters? Call it "The Benefits of Being Siblings" or something. Make it clear that it's an extension of the original series, but with a new title, so you're able to start fresh and use other perspectives.

Good thought.

It is definitely an extension, not even a sequel because the original wrapped up everything.

This is several months after the first one ended and the main plot line is their father who is thought to have died in an institution (and had no idea he ever had the son) shows up.

Thinking either "Siblings With benefits: Sins of the Father of Sins of the Past"

But it might not fit with Ch...after it so I may go with "SWB Sins of..." just about every reader of that series I dealt with referred to it as SWB so they should recognize it.

 

[slyc_willie]

Remember that you have about a 25-character (might be a little longer, but not much) limit for titles.

 

[rjordan]

the last two books I read with multiple POVs had the speaking character's name for the chapter's name\title. It didn't bother me at all, in fact it made me look forward to what was coming sometimes, at least with one of the books.
Good luck

Jim Harrison's follow up to "Dalva" was like that. In "The Road Home", he gave each of the principle characters from "Dalva" a chapter to tell their story in the first person.

It was clear who was speaking if you remembered which chapter you were reading, but I read the book over several days and would pick it up without remembering the chapter. It would sometimes take me a couple of pages before I said to myself, "Hey, what the hell is happening?" Then I'd have to backtrack and skim it with the proper character in mind.

Probably more my own memory failings than the fault of the author.

rj

 

[lowphat]

My other option is doing it all in third person which more easily identifies who the reader is following in each chapter?

I like this option, and it may bring you more readers. I don't read first person stories hint hint

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My first novel Walker Brigade: Book of Incidents was all in first person shifting POV. Each scene was the Characters name.

There may have been multiple POV switches within a chapter, them might not have been.

My readers seem to have liked how I did it. I received no complaints about the switching as it was clear who was doing the narration.

If you would like a on of the books, PM me with an email.

 

[HuckPilgrim]

What kind of story is it going to be? If it's a big, rolling epic tale that spans generations then, yeah, I can see having a lot of different POV characters. If the POV somehow compliments and enhances the story's themes, then most readers will recognize the connections and hopefully invest the energy to figure it out, even if it does take a little more work. Good luck!

 

[PennLady]

Generally speaking, I don't think it's a problem have have more than one "I" telling a story. The key is to be clear, whether you do that by heading a chapter with a character's name (George RR Martin does this in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" books, albeit those are 3d person), or putting the character's name at a break in a scene, whatever.

I've read a number of stories that do this kind of thing, and like I said, the key is simply to make it clear. Clarity and consistency won't pull the reader out of the story.

You could even make the chapter headings more specific, like: "John: The day I came home," or "Jane: When I found out."

 

[lovecraft68]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I ended up letting the muse decide. I did two openings one first, one third to see which "felt" better and I think I am going to go with third seemed to have a better vibe than first and I think I can get away with the characters keeping secrets with the reader not in their heads.