Multiple POV

[exiled_oblivion]

I'm in the process of planning a story that I originally intended to be written in the first person; however, I've realised that at a few points in the story, I need the reader to develop something of a connection with a second character, during scenes where the original protagonist is not present.

I thought about getting her thoughts etc to the reader through other means, but it's just not going to work.

I think I'm going to have to change to her POV. I.e., having two characters both using first person perspective, alternating between the two.

I haven't read many books where this is done (there's a Dan Abnett book that springs to mind, but that's about it off the top of my head), and I haven't seen anything here on Lit that does this either.

Is it a big no-no? Some google results tend to indicate that it's frowned upon, others seem to go out of their way to justify it.

So are there any tips on how to make it work?

Things that I can see that need to be considered:

• Keeping the number of different viewpoints to a minimum (I can only see a need for two in my story, but I guess other people may have need of more)
• Making the two 'voices' distinctly different
• Clearly delineate where the change of POV happens in some way (any tips?)
• Only changing POV when strictly necessary - keep the number of changes down to a minimum
• Probably try and keep each POV section a similar length?

Thanks

 

[Zeb_Carter]

As long as it is clear to the reader that the POV is shifting, no problem.

I wrote a 110,000 word book where the POV's shift often among two to five people. The shift in POV was clearly mark and I received no complaints from my readers. It had been on sale for sometime and one of my most popular eBooks of the non-erotic genre. Oh, it was a Sci-Fi work.

Now there may be other who come here and foo-foo shifting POV, and they may be right, but I see nothing wrong with it as long as it is clear and the reader doesn't get confused.

Then there is the option of 3rd person POV. Whether limited or omniscient, it is an option.

 

[49greg]

I've read several stories here on Lit that use that system, one chapter being one person's POV and the next doing the other person's, all in first person. I've enjoyed one of them, but I think it was in spite of the switching POV. Generally I am put off by the switching views.

So if you're going to do it, please make sure the switches are well marked.

But that's just me. Others will like it just fine.

 

[JKendallDane]

My Valentine's Day contest entry A Cat Named Cupid not only had shifting POV's, but also having to verbalize a cat's thoughts.

I managed to pull it off by judicial use of * * * * * breaks for time shifts and double stacked * * * breaks to denote the changes in main characters narration.

Not sure I would attempt it again, but it can work.

 

[DreamCloud]

I don't hesitate to use multiple POV.
I don't hesitate to read multiple POV.

I have used it a few times at the end of my stories. It seems to work well. Neither First-to-first or first-to-third seemed to bother readers. As 49greg and JKendallDane pointed out, make sure the user recognizes the change has happened.

It is an especially handy technique when your narrator dies, but there is still need for closure.

 

[Katiecat]

I have a couple of stories with more than one POV, or written from 3rd person omniscient or limited, and it seems the best way to tell those stories. I written more than one story about the same characters, from different POV depending on the focus of the story. It can be interesting to get into a different character's head and voice, to see things from their perspective.

George R. R. Martin changes POV for every chapter in the Song of Ice and Fire series, and it works very well.

 

[R. Richard]

Things that I can see that need to be considered:

• Keeping the number of different viewpoints to a minimum (I can only see a need for two in my story, but I guess other people may have need of more)
• Making the two 'voices' distinctly different
• Clearly delineate where the change of POV happens in some way (any tips?)
• Only changing POV when strictly necessary - keep the number of changes down to a minimum
• Probably try and keep each POV section a similar length?

Thanks

I do the multiple viewpoints in many of my stories. Normally I just have two characters interact, but I can bring in other characters, as necessary.
I mostly have the two characters discussing the same thing, so the voices are clearly different.
Check out Corporate Sex Slaves to see how I handle it.
As the characters interact, the number of interactions required becomes obvious.
The length of each character's POV section depends upon the emotional reaction of the character to the action. One character might have a minimal reaction, another a long, involved reaction.

 

[exiled_oblivion]

Thank guys.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My Valentine's Day contest entry A Cat Named Cupid not only had shifting POV's, but also having to verbalize a cat's thoughts.

I managed to pull it off by judicial use of * * * * * breaks for time shifts and double stacked * * * breaks to denote the changes in main characters narration.

Not sure I would attempt it again, but it can work.

Yes, used "*** Character Name" as a scene break, so you knew who was narrating. Each Person was a separate scene in the chapters. Some chapters were 4 or 5 scenes, some were only two scenes. It almost reads as a screen play...but not quite.

 

[sr71plt]

I think that all of Sabb and my GM stories at Lit. under the account name of Shabbu are multiple/switching first-person POV.

 

[lovecraft68]

I had this dilemma recently, but ended up going with third because my story is going to feature chapters done from 4/5 different characters and I think that's too many "I" even if you label them for the reader so I went with third.

But two people I think can easily go back and forth in first providing you are clear to the reader who the "I" is in each section.

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

I'm in the process of planning a story that I originally intended to be written in the first person; however, I've realised that at a few points in the story, I need the reader to develop something of a connection with a second character, during scenes where the original protagonist is not present.

I thought about getting her thoughts etc to the reader through other means, but it's just not going to work.

I think I'm going to have to change to her POV. I.e., having two characters both using first person perspective, alternating between the two.

I haven't read many books where this is done (there's a Dan Abnett book that springs to mind, but that's about it off the top of my head), and I haven't seen anything here on Lit that does this either.

Is it a big no-no? Some google results tend to indicate that it's frowned upon, others seem to go out of their way to justify it.

So are there any tips on how to make it work?

Things that I can see that need to be considered:

• Keeping the number of different viewpoints to a minimum (I can only see a need for two in my story, but I guess other people may have need of more)
• Making the two 'voices' distinctly different
• Clearly delineate where the change of POV happens in some way (any tips?)
• Only changing POV when strictly necessary - keep the number of changes down to a minimum
• Probably try and keep each POV section a similar length?

Thanks

You can create several POVs. I'm doing a story set a good many years ago (simply for no mobile phones, different clothes, social landscape etc, which is all window dressing ultimately). By giving two voices it can work. I'm writing the wife and the husbands POV on the events in the story. I'm finding it a refreshing change of pace for once.

Just try it, you may enjoy it. Also not wanting to be negative but a friend of mine who writes often uses it as no matter how much he enjoys writing he often gets bored he says just collecting all his story threads back to the one person.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best.