Multiple POVs - Writers Forum

FieryHands · 02-12-2004, 08:32 PM

I'm considering using multiple perspectives in my story. They wouldn't all be the main characters, they'd mostly be vehicles to see the protagonist through different eyes. They'd all tie to him and his journey.

This conflicts somewhat with the main character, since he's the narrator. I'm thinking about using first person for him, but if everyone else is third person, could that work?

JenJoyful · 02-12-2004, 08:54 PM

I'd suggest taking a look at Francine Pascal's Fearless series. She uses multiple perspectives in a really interesting and effective way.

The main character POV is third person, but every so often there is a chapter in the first person from any number of supporting characters or the main character. Tiny glimpses into the thoughts of the characters.

Sam · 02-13-2004, 09:57 AM

FieryHands, if you intend on mixing the third- and first-person I suggest that they were divided into different chapters or segments. You were probably planning on doing that anyway, but you can’t be too careful

In Tad William’s Otherland series one of the characters keeps an audio diary. Entries kick in every few chapters and it really helps to show the party’s predicaments.

Jen, I was thinking of employing a somewhat similar method into my story. Every other chapter was going to be a short piece from the perspective of someone ‘off-screen,’ as it were. Example: If Bill is the main character, and Mac goes off to bed or something, the reader would be treated to whatever Mac was thinking while lying in bed. Not sure whether I’m actually going to implement this into my story, though. What do you think, Hands? Any use?

That reminds me. At one point I planned on writing a third-person story with the main character's tale told exclusively from the perspectives of the people he walks by. I reckoned it would be interesting for the reader to see how different people percieve the protagonist and their actions. I might get around to knocking a quick short story together at some point

Aevin · 02-13-2004, 03:30 PM

I kind of frown on doing it exactly the way you described. If you think you can do it successfully, go for it, but I personally think any character you focus on should be a main character.

You shouldn't define this one guy as THE main character, and allow him the privelege of first person narration. If the other characters are important enough to have a part of the story told from their point of view, they should be main characters of a sort as well. As the author, there's no need for you to play favorites--you should simply write from the point of view of whoever has the most interesting story. A loose rule for short stories is to write from the point of view of the character who changes the most, because stories almost always involve change on the part of the main character--at least, the interesting ones. If you're trying to make the reader "see the protagonist through different eyes," you might drop subtle hints in about which aspects the narrator is not seeing in himself. The "unreliable narrator" can be very effective, but is always a challenge.

Of course, rules are meant to be broken, as they say. But I think you could find a more effective and less structurally questionable way of doing what you want. I, too, have felt the urge to write from the point of view of every interesting new character who comes into the story, but it takes discipline to limit yourself to the correct point of view. When you do this, the reader can become much closer to the one character you focus on.

Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying you shouldn't do this if it's really what the story needs. I'm just saying I think there are better ways, and doing this effectively may be more of a hassle than you want to deal with.

On a side note, I recently read Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. In this book, Woolf switches effortlessly between character POVs, only rarely using chapter breaks. In one paragraph, she'll be inside a woman's head, and the next paragraph will be from a man's POV, though she makes no differentiation between main and minor characters. If you're ever bored enough, you might take a look at that.

FieryHands · 02-13-2004, 04:16 PM

Yes, I intend to divide chapters up between characters.

I checked at Amazon.com about the Fearless series, but from what I could tell from the pages available for preview, the POV is first, which could just be that book's first chapter or just the first book of the series, I'm not sure.

What I'm intending is not to have every random person's POV when they encounter this character. There's a set group of people who will be focused upon, an outsider only when its call for. The point of structuring it like this is to view the protagonist (the hero) through the eyes of the others. I refer to this other character as the main character, because he has next most prominent role. The idea is to mirror their two journeys through an internal/external theme to show how these two people cope, which reflects an ongoing theme of avoidence. I don't know if I'm going do first person or not (although probably not), or switch first and third with the group, but the story is meant to be from outside the protagonist. The reader isn't supposed to "know" him, only know what others know about him. However, this limits the amount of sympathy the reader will feel towards him.

I won't know exactly if this works until I start writing it. If it doesn't, I may just do the opposite and focus on the hero, but it would make it more difficult to show what is going on in the story.

Aevin · 02-16-2004, 11:17 AM

You sound like you know exactly what you want to accomplish with this, so much of what I said doesn't seem to apply. Feel free to ignore my "lecture."

StumpJumper · 02-23-2004, 01:05 PM

I've tried a technique similiar to that for a novel-lengh story, and even though I wound up going back to consistant first person, the multiple POV chapters that I wrote helped me to really get into the main character's head and understand him better... I say to go for it! You can always go back to a single POV later -- with the added insight that you gained through the multiple POV exercise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FieryHands

Yes, I intend to divide chapters up between characters.

What I'm intending is not to have every random person's POV when they encounter this character. There's a set group of people who will be focused upon, an outsider only when its call for. The point of structuring it like this is to view the protagonist (the hero) through the eyes of the others. I refer to this other character as the main character, because he has next most prominent role. The idea is to mirror their two journeys through an internal/external theme to show how these two people cope, which reflects an ongoing theme of avoidence. I don't know if I'm going do first person or not (although probably not), or switch first and third with the group, but the story is meant to be from outside the protagonist. The reader isn't supposed to "know" him, only know what others know about him. However, this limits the amount of sympathy the reader will feel towards him.

Pawn · 02-24-2004, 05:51 PM

I often find authors messing with perspective somewhat gimmiky, and occasionally mildly irritating. Don't let this discourage you however, there's certainly great potential in the concept. The first person is wonderful however; i've always wanted to write an epic about a man sitting in a room. The classic 'Steppenwolf' comes to mind. Anyone read it?

StumpJumper · 02-25-2004, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawn

I often find authors messing with perspective somewhat gimmiky, and occasionally mildly irritating. Don't let this discourage you however, there's certainly great potential in the concept. The first person is wonderful however; i've always wanted to write an epic about a man sitting in a room. The classic 'Steppenwolf' comes to mind. Anyone read it?

I've never heard of it, but Steppenwolf sounds really interesting from the reviews on Amazon.com. I may have to check that out...

Kafka's Metamorphosis came to mind when you mentioned an epic about a man sitting in a room. I guess it's not epic in length, but it's still an epic story.

Pawn · 02-25-2004, 09:30 AM

It's very much worth reading. As for Metamorphosis, that has to be one of the greatest short stories ever written. Genius. Disturbing, but genius nonetheless.

StumpJumper · 02-25-2004, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawn

It's very much worth reading. As for Metamorphosis, that has to be one of the greatest short stories ever written. Genius. Disturbing, but genius nonetheless.

If you've never read it, In the Penal Colony is another piece of genius from Kafka. It's only about 40 pages, but I wouldn't recommend reading it before spending time with people who will expect you to be in a cheery mood...

Pawn · 02-25-2004, 10:32 AM

Lol. I've read The Trial, but after Metamorphosis and that, I couldn't take any more. I've got In The Penal Colony around in a collection somewhere; I'll give it a read when I get a moment.

colinad · 03-04-2004, 09:22 PM

Go for it I say. Even Hemmingway in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' switches between first person and third person (including using first person for more than one character). As long as you know the rules, and separate the POV switches into scenes or chapters, then go ahead and do it. There are plenty of best sellers who use similar devices, so when it's done well, it can work.

Cheers,
Colin.

Kimberly Bird · 03-05-2004, 09:13 AM

I would have to against using multiple POV's, unless you know your writing is exceptional and outstanding, using more than the main characters' POV's will confuse the reader. There are the great writers of course that use multiple, but then they knew what they were doing and how to weave it magically into the story. Lesser character's can be shown through actions not thoughts. A lot can be said about a sour face and stamping of the feet.

Best of luck

Kimberly

Kimberly Bird · 03-05-2004, 09:13 AM

It was suppose to read go against