《How to Write Stories People Will Love》Question 23: Changing viewpoints
Advertisement
asks: How do you change viewpoints in a multi-viewpoint novel?
There are a few ways to do this. The most important thing is to make sure it's absolutely clear to the reader whose viewpoint is currently active.
- An easy way to switch viewpoints when there are two main characters is to switch characters every time a new chapter starts. In other words, when it's time to switch viewpoints, you start a new chapter. It's okay to have short chapters. Rainbow Rowell does this in Eleanor & Park, and I enjoyed it a lot. I was never confused who was speaking, even though there were no chapter titles, because the chapters followed a pattern. Each new chapter meant a switch in point of view.
- If you don't like the idea of a switching point of view every time a new chapter starts, you can add a chapter title stating the name of the character who's narrating. This is also helpful when you have more than two points of view to juggle.
- Another popular method of switching viewpoints is an extra gap between paragraphs. Such gaps are often used to signify a new scene. They can also be used to switch to another character, so long as the wording makes it apparent who it is. Be sure to use the character's name in the first sentence.
It's best not to switch viewpoints too many times per scene, or the reader may get dizzy reading it. In my opinion, each main character should express their viewpoint once per scene. After switching away from their point of view, don't switch back again until the next scene.
Advertisement
- In Serial174 Chapters
Power Overwhelming
A particular soul has gone through more reincarnations than it can remember. Used to living quiet and simple lives, the soul is told that the next life would likely be the last one and that it would have to go back home, to the universe where it was first born to live it. A universe that also happens to be the gathering place of other reincarnators and some of the most powerful beings in the multiverse. What can a soul do when thrust in the middle of an emerging conflict? Why would this be the last life the soul can live? And who orchestrated all of this?
8 1102 - In Serial46 Chapters
Blood Emperor
Blood Emperor Eztli has reigned over the world for the past two thousand years. Unfortunately, he has reached the end of his life. His body has long since withered, qi barely usable and his Life Force a delicate strand. He, however, dedicated his life researching a way to create an immortal body--so he could reign eternally--and succeeded. Defenseless as he transfers his soul into the immortal body, he is betrayed. He awakes only to find himself trapped in the body of a rabbit, his strength gone and staring at a boy eager to bind him.
8 264 - In Serial18 Chapters
The House Husband's Multiverse Fueled Journey From Mediocrity
"What existed before the Big Bang?", "Why are 7/11 taquitos so good?", and "What lies at the boundaries of our universe?" are all questions that have forever haunted the best and greatest minds humanity could offer. Questions which we may never hope to understand. At least, not until the ever expanding Multiverse beyond rips apart the boundaries we once had and absorbs our own little slice of Greater Space. In our return to relative civilization, how will humanity fare against the innumerable denizens of the countless stars beyond our own? Will we even survive our home planet, now refurbished with the mystical energy of the cosmos? John Mermous, house-husband-cum-author-cum-father, has absolutely no idea. But, if sci-fi space magic and annoying fairies can keep his daughter safe and reunite his family, he'll take whatever he can get. [Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] As such, expect some major edits after we pass the two milestones! I'll let your know if anything important changes, or if we're just cleaning up :) Watch the numbers go up in r e a l t i m e on NaNoWriMo under the same title!
8 80 - In Serial22 Chapters
Im Just a Normal Character
A university student who have arrived at home, and was about to start read a new novel he found, but was reincarnated.
8 226 - In Serial8 Chapters
The Relistar
It's been hundreds of years since the Three Empires collapsed. Hundreds of years since belief in gods died out, and cults became the mainstay religions of Caloria. On the lone, warring island of Kylinstrom, most have turned their worship from the heavens to the world, though some yet worship strange beings and powers beyond their own. Cedric Castelbre felt the same. But now he may have no choice but to believe in gods and demons; Serkukan, the Great Red One of Etheria, has fled his own plane, seeking refuge... And it was within the boy's mind that he found it.
8 205 - In Serial12 Chapters
I FELL IN LOVE WITH MY MANAGER (JENLISA)
Lisa was a mentor who almost spent her youth in New York. She never thought that one day, she'll comeback to Korea just to be a manager of a top idol from their entertainment company. Who would think that their cat fights would make them slowly develop something that is both new to them?
8 104

