Changing Perspectives. Help.

[MarkoAaron]

I'm working on an idea I have about 3 characters. Each will have their own individual moments.
I'm by no means, a talented author and I'm trying to figure out how to switch from one perspective to the other.

Should it be done by chapters? Or better in another way?
If anyone has opinions, please let me know, or if you know of a story here on Lit that could be an example, please let me know.

Sorry for being short on my wording, in a bit of a rush.

Thanks

 

[lovecraft68]

If their moment in the sun so to speak is lengthy, then I feel their own section would work as long as your transition from one to the other is smooth enough for the reader to follow.

On the other hand if you're using third person, then you can head hop from character to character when its seen more from that person's POV, again as long as it flows and doesn't have the reader wondering whose thinking/saying/doing what.

 

[MarkoAaron]

Only way I can put it, is that in the beginning, the characters converse and it goes on. Later, they're separated and each has their own moment. The idea of separating them by chapters seems good, but some of their moments probably won't go on long enough to make it a complete chapter.

I've only written with the focus on one or two people, but now I'm trying to figure this one out.
Narration of the situation, then go to a character then skip to the next.

Originally, my idea was for the main character, but as I continued thinking, I thought of important dialogue for others. Especially for an erotic story. Can't have 3 people getting their freak on and only get one's perspective lol

 

[lovecraft68]

Only way I can put it, is that in the beginning, the characters converse and it goes on. Later, they're separated and each has their own moment. The idea of separating them by chapters seems good, but some of their moments probably won't go on long enough to make it a complete chapter.

I've only written with the focus on one or two people, but now I'm trying to figure this one out.
Narration of the situation, then go to a character then skip to the next.

Originally, my idea was for the main character, but as I continued thinking, I thought of important dialogue for others. Especially for an erotic story. Can't have 3 people getting their freak on and only get one's perspective lol

Rather than official chapters use scene breaks like this ***** in between.

 

[MarkoAaron]

I might do that. Thanks for the advice.

 

[DreamCloud]

I use multiple points of view all the time. You need a clear tell-tale break. Chapters are best but it can be done with a scene break like lovecraft68 suggested, especially when it is a quick switch:

***********
Mary
***********​

Screw convention, let the story dictate its needs.

 

[MarkoAaron]

I'm gonna practice a bit tonight when I get home from work. Just write a few paragraphs and try switching between characters and see how it goes.

 

[Recidiva]

I definitely recommend the scene break and add to that a name at the beginning of the section indicating who is going to speak, otherwise it gets a little bogged down in up front identifiers in context in the first sentence.

I tend to do it like this:

oOoOoOoOoOoO

Tim

Based on prior experience, today was going to suck.

++++++++++++

This way the audience knows it's Tim speaking and they don't have to wonder who, nor do you have to begin it with some exposition identifier. Tim can be speaking to himself and not the audience. So Tim can just think the day is going to suck, the audience knows its him and there's no "Tim sat at the coffee table thinking that today was going to suck." I think they should be identified by name and not pronoun and really clearly by the first sentence otherwise to avoid irritating readers who like immersion but don't like character scavenger hunts.