The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword discussion
Writing
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Multiple POVs
I think it is a risk, but if executed properly it is definitely worth it. I have done a story with two POV's but I agree with Kelley, any more than two or three is too many.
Mod
I have one story that it switches POV between each chapter. Idk if it is any good but yeah.
I have a war story with 20 main.....yeah.... Lol it's always like an onlooker( 3 rd omniscient if I'm remembering correctly) but I switch between different groups in almost every chapter. I'm at 40 pages and everyone I sent it to said that they likes it but I think it's a little confusing...
But some of the books can actually pull it off without seeming too confusing.I don't like a lot of books where they have a lot of POV's because they get in the way of understanding a particular character better.And I always like to relate well with the character.Sure with the right execution I might just make an exception to that choice...
I don't think there should be any more than three. I have read a couple books that change POV between 2 or 3 characters.Some of my favorite examples:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (2 POVs)
The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (both 3 POVs)
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson (2 POVs)
IKR! I have read that one and The Son of Neptune and love it as much as Percy Jackson! I cannot wait for The Mark of Minerva this fall!!!!!
I haven't read Son of Neptune yet:(I don't feel like reading it either.
Oh I though you were sad that;s why I was sad:)
Mod
Sorry to interrupt
Mod
So what's uppppp
Mod
Mod
You beat me
Mod
The most POV changes I've made in a book is 4, but I make it fairly obvious who is who. And it's easier to do POV changes when in third person, in my opinion...
I agree. I am writing a story right now that may end up with up to eight POV changes. Hopefully it won't be confusing though. It won't alternate between the characters, each one gets only one chance in the spotlight.
Mod
That's interesting!
Allison wrote: "I agree. I am writing a story right now that may end up with up to eight POV changes. Hopefully it won't be confusing though. It won't alternate between the characters, each one gets only one chanc..."That sounds really cool.... :-)
i have a couple good story ideas that i still need to fully get down on paper...but one goes back and forth each chapter or so and the other is one POV from the main guy character.
I just had an amazing story idea that I'm really excited about!
I think 3 is the highest to go up to. My new FanFic has 2 POV's.
Mod
I like multiple POV's as long as you know that the author is switching POV's back and forth. I read this book one time, and it took me forever to figure out that the POV's were changing.
In Witch and Wizard, although it clearly states this in the chapter head, I didn't realize it changed POVs until I got to chapter five. I was like, WHAT? THIS MAKES NO SENSE!
I have a book where the Pov changes every chapter, and the first and last chapters are me. At the end of each chaper, I watch that character die.
Mod
Thats the point.
I'm considering this with my NaNo project... I'm not sure if I can actually pull it off though. At the moment my POV is between my MC and my MC's mother (because part of the story is before the MC was born)...I'm tossing up the ideas to include a POV from another MC, but not THE MC... *shrugs*
The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword
Books mentioned in this topic
City of Bones (other topics)Schooled (other topics)
how many is too many?