Verago

The way my WIP seems to be being written, there are two main sides; let's call them the Empire and the Resistance. Throughout the book, perspectives switch between three or four main characters; one or two from each side. Switches so far are about 20-40 pages in between each, so I'd think it'd be alright.

But do you think switching perspectives that many times would confuse the reader, or decrease interest level, prevent suspension of disbelief, lead to an anticlimactic ending, or anything?

It's almost midnight on a Friday, and this is my designated 'Doubt Yourself And Your Writing' time.

Sincerely,
Ethan

dwellerofthedeep

I'd say the route you're going is well outside the danger zone of confusion, just make sure the transitions are smooth.

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Verago

Alright...That's what I was thinking.

And please pardon my miswording of that post...it was late.

By 'perspective' I actually meant 'the person the story is following mostly'.

imrhati

There is ntohing wriong with switching characters, but ask yourself why your switching everytime you switch, is it just becuase you ran out of ideas, or is it to develop the story. Only do so if it is the latter.

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spider8

I'd say switching is fine as long as you have something quite memorable to mentally link the reader to the character you're revisiting- a name alone, might not be enough; remember that several days might pass between one read and the next. If so, you can manage many more characters but, if your four are great, then be very wary of introducing one that can't live up to the others. Also the characters have to be equally compelling or someone might flip through three chapters to 'get the latest' on the one they've finished or they might groan inwardly when a chapter closes on a favourite and a new one opens on a least favourite. Deciding how you end a chapter- with a hook or with a closure on something- is also important. My best tip would be to read books written like this (like George R.R. Martin or Stephen Donaldson's Gap series) and ask yourself at the end of each chapter what you are feeling, what do you now want? A change or a continuance? Sometimes, when I've read books written like this, I've been too hungry for a switch (Martin) because certain characters are not as fun/intriguing as others, or I've been practically oblivious because it's all flowing too well (Donaldson). I'd say the answer is to know what you like and why and, perhaps more importantly, to know what you don't like and why. Anyway, good luck.