Every writer writes differently, just as every reader likes to read different novels. Writing from multiple points of view is more challenging than writing from a single perspective, but it is doable, and when done right, a multiple perspective novel can be very enjoyable to read. Many writers get discouraged and decide to write from a singular perspective, believing they might alienate readers if they use more than a single point of view, but this is not true. There are guidelines in writing novels, but there are no rules, and you, as a writer, do not need to follow guidelines.
All you need to do is create an enjoyable reading experience for the reader, and it does not matter whether you achieve this using a singular point of view, or write from multiple perspectives. What you can do, instead, is keep in mind the tips we have gathered and showed below. After all, you should aspire to write from multiple points of view and do it right while you are at it. Remember, some of the most famous books of all times use multiple points of view, so there is no need for you to be discouraged from writing your novel in the same manner.
1. Make them necessary
Before you decide to write the story from multiple points of view, ask yourself whether each point of view character has something of value to add to the overall story. One of the best ways to create a tight, coherent plot is by ensuring that every scene in your novel has a purpose. Similarly, every point of view needs to be necessary to the novel and the story. In other words, if the character’s point of view does not add anything of value to the story and the plot, you need to eliminate it as a point of view. Moreover, you can create value for the character, and make the character necessary in the overall plot and story. However, keep in mind that doing this might cause major changes in the story itself.
2. Write multiple story arcs
When you write a novel from multiple points of view, you do not write a single story. The novel is the amalgamation of each of the characters’ story arcs. You are writing several stories that revolve around a central conflict, but each character has a different story arc within it. The climax is where all of these story arcs converge and come together. Each character has a different beginning, a different journey, and a different story arc within a larger story. As such, you need to treat each point of view character as the protagonist of his or her own story. Each character should have an agency in the events of the overall plot, and each character should undergo a significant change within the course of the story.
3. Create distinctive voices
One of the main reasons why writing from multiple points of view is challenging is because there is always the chance you will confuse the readers. You need to create a distinctive voice for each character, because if they sound the same, the readers will forget who is narrating the story at a given moment. Of course, the easiest way to distinguish between points of view is to appoint the character in the chapter title, however, this will not be enough if all of the characters share the same sense of humor, have the same likes and dislikes, and tend to have the same inner thoughts. You can avoid this by getting inside each character’s mind and get to know them really well, and develop their voices as distinctly as possible.
4. One – time characters
One – time point of view characters are characters that only appear in one chapter in the novel as points of view. Regardless of whether they appear as a side character in your novel or not, you need to treat the single chapter from their point of view as a short story. One-time characters also need a story arc, albeit a short one. They need to change (or begin to change) within the course of the chapter, and most of all, offer something of value to the overall story. Quite often, we see these characters in prologues, or single chapters later in the novel, usually when the author wants to split the story from part one to part two, or more.
5. Avoid repetition
If you have written a chapter or a scene from the perspective of one character, do not repeat the same scene from the perspective of another character. The repetition burdens the plot and makes the story crawl. If that chapter will have a bigger impact on the story arc of a different character, then write it from that character’s point of view. This is the easiest way to plot a multiple perspectives novel – plan each chapter and each scene, craft each characters’ story arc, and then decide which character should be the point of view of which chapter in the novel. This way, you will avoid writing the same chapter from multiple points of view until you decide which character should narrate what happens in that chapter. In other words, if the character only serves as “eyes” in the chapter, and if the events of the chapter do not affect him or her, then you should choose a different point of view.
Georgina Roy wants to live in a world filled with magic. As an art student, she’s moonlighting as a writer and is content to fill notebooks and sketchbooks with magical creatures and amazing new worlds. When she is not at school, or scribbling away in a notebook, you can usually find her curled up, reading a good urban fantasy novel, or writing on her laptop, trying to create her own.