Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint

1. Choose POV characters wisely: Limit number and ensure they're interesting

As a general rule, you should not change points of view promiscuously.

Selective POV characters. Choose the smallest number of POV characters necessary to effectively tell your story. Each POV character should be interesting in their own right, providing unique insights and interpretations of events. Consider which characters will offer the most engaging internal dialogues and complex perspectives on the plot.

Balanced representation. Ensure that all POV characters have substantial roles in the story, with significant actions, consequences, and reactions to other characters' actions. Avoid including POV characters who appear only briefly or infrequently, as this can disrupt the narrative flow. Aim for a balanced distribution of "screen time" among your chosen POV characters, maintaining their presence throughout the story at fairly regular intervals.

2. First-person narration: Intimate but limiting perspective

The strength of first person is the voice of your narrator; make yours reflect his personality not only in what he says but also in how he says it.

Immediacy and voice. First-person narration offers unparalleled intimacy with the narrator's thoughts and feelings. It allows for a unique voice that reflects the character's personality, background, and perspective. This POV excels at conveying the narrator's immediate reactions and inner world, creating a strong connection between the reader and the character.

Limitations and challenges. However, first-person narration comes with inherent limitations. The story is confined to what the narrator knows, experiences, and understands. This can restrict the scope of information available to the reader and may require creative solutions to convey crucial plot elements. Additionally, first-person narration can be challenging for writers, as it demands a consistent and believable character voice throughout the entire narrative.

3. Third-person narration: Flexible viewpoint with varying distances

Third person has the advantages of greater flexibility, external range, and objectivity, but may be less immediate and individualistic than first person.

Versatile perspective. Third-person narration offers a range of possibilities, from close third person (which provides intimate access to a character's thoughts) to distant third person (which offers a more detached, observational view). This flexibility allows writers to adjust the narrative distance as needed, providing both internal insights and external observations.

Balancing objectivity and intimacy. Third-person narration can provide a more objective view of events and characters, allowing for broader context and multiple perspectives. However, it can also delve deep into characters' thoughts and feelings, rivaling the intimacy of first-person narration. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between these aspects to suit your story's needs.

4. Multiple third-person POV: Balancing different perspectives

If you use more than one POV character, it's important that readers know this fairly early in the story.

Diverse viewpoints. Multiple third-person POV allows for a rich, multifaceted narrative by presenting the story through various characters' perspectives. This approach can provide a more comprehensive view of events, reveal different aspects of the plot, and develop multiple characters in depth.

Clarity and balance. When using multiple POVs, it's crucial to establish this approach early in the story to set reader expectations. Introduce your POV characters within the first few scenes or chapters, and maintain a balanced rotation throughout the narrative. Ensure that each POV shift is clearly indicated and serves a purpose in advancing the story or deepening character development.

5. Structural designs for multiple POV novels: Organizing complex narratives

A structural design is a formal method of organizing a long multiple-third-person novel.

Organizational frameworks. Various structural designs can help organize multiple POV narratives:

• Regularly recurring viewpoints: Rotating through POV characters in a consistent order
• Chronological sections: Dividing the narrative into time-based chunks
• Parallel running scenes: Alternating between two or more simultaneous storylines

Enhancing coherence. These structures can provide a sense of rhythm and anticipation for readers, making it easier to follow complex narratives with multiple perspectives. They can also help writers maintain balance among different POVs and ensure that each character's story arc is developed consistently throughout the novel.

6. POV transitions: Maintaining smooth shifts in perspective

Smooth transitions between distances are necessary.

Gradual shifts. When transitioning between different POVs or narrative distances, aim for smooth, gradual shifts rather than abrupt jumps. This can be achieved by:

• Moving through middle distance to get from close to far perspectives (or vice versa)
• Changing paragraphs or scenes when shifting POV
• Rewriting sections to maintain a consistent distance or perspective

Reader orientation. Clear transitions help readers adjust to new perspectives without confusion. Use context clues, distinctive character voices, or explicit indicators to signal POV shifts. This maintains the narrative's flow and prevents readers from becoming disoriented or detached from the story.

7. Climax POV selection: Reinforcing the story's central meaning

What do you want your story to mean? What impression do you want to leave with readers? What, in your mind, is the heart of this tale? Give the climactic POV to the character who embodies it.

Strategic POV choice. The selection of POV for the climax can significantly impact the overall meaning and impact of your story. Choose the character whose perspective best reinforces the central themes, conflicts, or messages of your narrative. This choice can emphasize particular aspects of the story and guide readers' final impressions.

Emotional resonance. Consider which character's viewpoint will provide the most emotionally resonant experience for the climax. This might be the character who has undergone the most significant transformation, faced the greatest challenges, or whose perspective offers the most insight into the story's resolution.

8. Prologues, epilogues, and interim chapters: Expanding narrative possibilities

Interim chapters can be a good solution when you just have too much story for even a multiple-third-person novel.

Additional narrative tools. Prologues, epilogues, and interim chapters can expand the scope of your narrative beyond the main POV structure:

• Prologues: Introduce crucial background information or create intrigue
• Epilogues: Provide closure or hint at future developments
• Interim chapters: Offer additional perspectives or information outside the main narrative

Strategic use. These elements should be used judiciously to enhance the story without disrupting its flow. They can provide context, broaden the narrative scope, or offer insights that wouldn't fit within the main POV structure. However, they should be clearly differentiated from the main narrative and used only when their addition significantly enhances the overall story.

Last updated: December 5, 2024