June 3, 2025 • 19 mins
Discover the pros and cons of writing a novel from multiple POVs—including how to avoid the #1 mistake that kills multi-POV novels.
Are multiple point-of-view characters right for your story?
Will they create the kind of depth that keeps readers hooked, or will they just leave you with a tangled mess of voices that never quite click together?
Writing a multi-POV novel is one of the most challenging approaches to storytelling. When done well, it creates a rich, immersive experience that readers absolutely love. But when done poorly, it can completely derail your entire manuscript.
In today's episode, I'll explain what it means to write a multiple-point-of-view novel, how it differs from other narrative approaches, and if it's the right choice for your story.
You'll hear me talk about things like:
[03:05] Why most writers confuse multiple POV with omniscient POV and how this one mistake can sabotage your entire story.
[04:50] The surprising way multiple perspectives create story depth that makes readers think about your book long after finishing it (think Game of Thrones level complexity).
[07:15] My favorite "secret weapon" technique that uses contrasting viewpoints to create those jaw-dropping "aha" moments readers can't stop talking about.
[11:00] The #1 challenge that kills most multi-POV novels before they're even finished (hint: it's not plot structure, and it's definitely not what you think).
[15:25] Five make-or-break questions to ask yourself before committing to multiple POVs (because choosing the wrong narrative approach can derail months of hard work.)
If you've been wondering whether your story needs different character perspectives or if you're already writing from multiple points of view but feel overwhelmed by the nuances, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you need to move forward.
🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Writing from multiple points of view requires strict
discipline to avoid head-hopping, aka jumping between different
characters' thoughts within asingle scene.
When you do this, it creates ajarring experience for readers
and it weakens the intimacy thatthey feel with your characters.
So it's really important tomaintain clear boundaries
between each one of yourperspectives, and not only is
(00:22):
that technically difficult,sometimes it's especially
difficult when you have anemotionally charged scene where
you might be tempted to showeveryone's reaction, and this is
why learning when and how toswitch perspectives
appropriately is a skill thattakes practice to master.
Welcome to the Fiction WritingMade Easy podcast.
(00:43):
My name is Savannah Gilbo andI'm here to help you write a
story that works.
I want to prove to you thatwriting a novel doesn't have to
be overwhelming, so each week,I'll bring you a brand new
episode with simple, actionableand step-by-step strategies that
you can implement in yourwriting right away.
So whether you're brand new towriting or more of a seasoned
author looking to improve yourcraft, this podcast is for you.
(01:04):
So pick up a pen and let's getstarted.
Have you ever read a novel thatseamlessly shifted between
different character perspectives, giving you a panoramic view of
the story world that just leftyou in awe.
Or maybe you've attempted towrite a story with multiple
point of view characters, onlyto end up with a confusing
jumble of voices that didn'tquite work together.
(01:26):
If you're nodding your head,yes, to either scenario, then
today's episode is for you.
As a developmental editor andbook coach, I've worked with
countless writers who'vewondered if multiple point of
views are right for theirstories, and this is a really
important decision that willshape every aspect of your novel
, from structure to pacing tocharacter development.
So in today's episode, I'mgoing to break down exactly what
(01:48):
it means to write a multi-pointof view novel, how it differs
from other narrative approachesand the key benefits and
challenges you'll face.
By the end of the episode,you'll have a clear
understanding of whether writinga novel with multiple point of
view characters is the rightchoice for your story.
But before we dive into the prosand for your story, but before
we dive into the pros and cons,let's clarify what we're talking
about here.
So what does it mean to write astory with multiple point of
(02:11):
view characters?
Well, writing a novel withmultiple point of view
characters just means telling astory from the perspective of
two or more characters and thenweaving their individual stories
together by alternating theirviewpoints.
Think about books like Six ofCrows by Leigh Bardugo with its
ensemble cast, or Gone Girl byGillian Flynn with its dueling
(02:32):
narrators, or even Game ofThrones by George RR Martin with
its sprawling range of point ofview characters across the
world.
These are the kind of bookswe're talking about in today's
episode, and these viewpointscan be written in several ways,
so they can all be written inthird person limited.
They can all be written infirst person, or you can do a
combination of both.
(02:52):
Now, in case you're not reallysure what I mean by third person
or first person point of view,I have an episode called how to
Choose the Best Point of Viewfor your Story.
It's episode number 90, and Iwill link to that in the show
notes in case you want to go alittle deeper or learn about
that topic.
All right now, somethingimportant to understand is that
a story written from multiplepoints of view is not the same
(03:12):
as stories written in thirdperson omniscient, although both
techniques do allow you to showmore than one character's
perspective.
The key difference in these twoapproaches lies in how each one
of these options handlescharacter interiority or the
inner thoughts and emotions ofyour character.
So, for example, inthird-person omniscient these
are stories like Dune, or Prideand Prejudice or the Name of the
(03:35):
Wind readers can see the innerthoughts and emotions of any
characters at any time.
One sentence might reveal thehero's escape plan, while the
very next could show what theantagonist is thinking all in
the same paragraph or scene.
Now compare this to storieswith multiple point-of-view
characters, like Harry Potter,six of Crows or the Invisible
(03:55):
Life of Addie LaRue.
In these stories, readers canonly see the inner thoughts and
emotions of one character at atime and that's the point-of of
view character for that scene orchapter.
So, even if another point ofview character is present in
that scene, we only experiencethat scene through the current
point of view character'sperspective.
And this distinction is really,really important because it
(04:18):
impacts how you'll structureyour story and craft your scenes
.
With multiple characterperspectives or multiple point
of view characters, you'reessentially creating separate
windows into your story world,each with its own unique view,
rather than one all-seeing eyethat can float freely between
characters.
Okay, so now that we understandwhat writing a story from
(04:39):
multiple point of views lookslike, let's talk about why you
might choose this storytellingapproach.
So I'm going to go through fivepros or five benefits of
writing a novel from multiplepoints of view.
And the first pro is thatmultiple point of views can
create depth and complexity inyour story.
So telling a story frommultiple point of views allows
(05:00):
you to explore your subjects,settings, themes and moral gray
areas from a wider variety ofperspectives.
By giving different charactersopposing viewpoints, you can
create a more nuancedunderstanding of your story
world and the conflicts withinit.
Think about something likeGeorge RR Martin's A Song of Ice
and Fire series.
The complexity of thatpolitical landscape and the
(05:23):
moral ambiguity of the worldcomes alive precisely because we
see it through so manydifferent eyes and each person
has their own biases and theirown limited understanding of
events.
The other thing is thatmultiple character perspectives
also helps readers get to knowyour different characters'
voices and backstories, which isespecially useful in stories
(05:43):
with intersecting storylines.
And this is because whenreaders understand the
motivations driving each one ofyour characters, their eventual
collision becomes all the morepowerful.
Okay, so that's benefit numberone.
Multiple points of view canhelp you create depth and
complexity in your story.
The second pro is that differentperspectives can help you build
(06:03):
suspense.
So one of the most powerfulaspects of multi-point of view
storytelling is the ability tocreate dramatic irony, and this
just refers to situations wherethe reader knows something that
a character doesn't.
So, for example, you mightchoose to write a scene from the
perspective of a secondarycharacter who maybe doesn't have
(06:24):
all the information thatanother character has.
Their curiosity or confusioncan guide readers to ask the
kind of questions that you wantthem to ask.
Or maybe you have a situationwhere your main character knows
something critical that youdon't want readers to learn.
Yet being able to switch intoanother character's perspective
will allow you to withhold thatinformation in a plausible way,
(06:46):
and all of this helps createtension and helps to keep those
readers turning the page.
A great example of this is inGone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
In that story, the alternatingpoint of views build suspense as
readers try to determine whichcharacter is telling the truth
and which ones have a moremuddled version or are just flat
out lying.
All right.
(07:06):
So that is pro number two, orbenefit number two Different
perspectives can help you buildsuspense.
Pro number three is thatcontrasting viewpoints can help
you reveal unreliable narrators.
If your story includes anunreliable narrator, multiple
point of views can be anexcellent tool for gradually
revealing this unreliability toyour readers.
(07:27):
And that's because, byswitching to another character's
perspective later in the story,you can show cracks in the
first character's version ofevents.
This approach can lead toreally powerful aha moments for
your readers as they realizethey've been seeing a distorted
version of reality.
And not only does this createan exciting plot twist, but it
(07:49):
also adds depth to the characterdevelopment, as readers
understand why a character mightperceive or present events
inaccurately.
So, for example, in the Girl onthe Train by Paula Hawkins, she
uses this technique brilliantly, revealing how alcohol affects
the protagonist's memories andperceptions by contrasting her
account with other characters'perspectives.
(08:10):
Okay, so that is pro numberthree, or benefit number three
Contrasting viewpoints can helpyou reveal unreliable narrators.
Pro number four is that multipleviewpoints allow you to tell
bigger, sprawling, epic type ofstories.
So some stories are just soexpansive meaning they span
multiple locations, time periodsor social circles that they
(08:32):
simply can't be effectively toldthrough one single perspective.
So being able to write frommultiple perspectives or
multiple points of view isperfect for these type of
sprawling narratives.
So a great example of this issomething like Brandon
Sanderson's Stormlight Archiveseries, or even a historical
fiction novel like AnthonyDoerr's All the Light we Cannot
(08:52):
See.
Both of these stories rely onmultiple point of views to
capture the scope of the worldand the conflicts within that
world.
Now, this may or may not applyto you, but let's say that
you're writing a story and thereisn't enough happening in your
one main storyline to carry anentire novel.
In this case, you could useadditional interesting
characters or timelines to fleshout your story.
(09:14):
This kind of approach wouldallow you to create a rich
tapestry of interconnectednarratives that converge in a
satisfying way.
So not only do multipleviewpoints allow us to tell
these bigger types of stories,they can also help us flesh out
our stories as well.
So that is pro number four, orbenefit number four.
Multiple viewpoints allow youto tell bigger, sprawling, more
(09:36):
epic stories.
Pro number five is that multiplecharacters help you create
deeper emotional connectionswith your readers.
So multiple point of viewsallow readers to form emotional
connections with severalcharacters rather than just one
protagonist, and when readersexperience a story through
multiple perspectives, theydevelop a deeper investment in
(09:56):
more characters and theiroutcomes.
This approach helps you buildstronger empathy in readers as
they come to understand all thedifferent conflicting viewpoints
and motivations from the inside.
And not only that, but theemotional stakes also intensify
when the characters readers careabout come into conflict with
each other.
So, instead of simply justrooting for one protagonist
(10:19):
against one antagonist, readersmight feel torn between all the
different characters they'veconnected with, which helps you
create a richer, more complexreading experience.
So, for example, kristenHanna's the Four Winds and
Celeste Ng's Little FiresEverywhere.
These stories both use multiplepoint of views to explore
complex family dynamics andgenerate profound emotional
(10:42):
impact.
Right, so that is pro numberfive multiple characters can
help you create deeper emotionalconnections with your readers.
Now, while writing a story frommultiple perspectives offers a
lot of benefits, this type ofstorytelling also comes with
some unique challenges.
So here are some potentialdrawbacks that you should
consider.
The first con is that eachcharacter voice requires
(11:04):
development.
So one of the biggestchallenges when it comes to
writing a story told frommultiple point of views is
creating and maintainingdistinct voices for each
character.
Not only must each character befully fleshed out and fully
developed, they must also havetheir own unique way of seeing
the world, speaking and thinking, and this is a challenge that
(11:25):
multiplies with each point ofview character that you add.
If your characters end upsounding too similar, then
readers will struggle to connectwith them as individuals and
they might become confused aboutwhose perspective they're
reading at any given time.
So creating these distinctvoices and these distinct
characters requires a lot ofdeep character development work
(11:46):
and consistent executionthroughout your manuscript,
which can be a pro or condepending on how you look at it.
So that is challenge number one.
Each character voice requiresdevelopment.
Con number two is that it's easyto head hop, and this creates
confusion and weakens theconnection you have with readers
.
Writing from multiple points ofview requires strict discipline
(12:07):
to avoid head hopping, akajumping between different
characters thoughts within asingle scene.
When you do this, it creates ajarring experience for readers
and it weakens the intimacy thatthey feel with your characters.
So it's really important tomaintain clear boundaries
between each one of yourperspectives, and not only is
that technically difficult.
(12:28):
Sometimes it's especiallydifficult when you have an
emotionally charged scene whereyou might be tempted to show
everyone's reaction, and this iswhy learning when and how to
switch perspectivesappropriately is a skill that
takes practice to master.
So that is con number two.
It's easy to head hop, and thiscan create confusion and weaken
the connection that yourreaders feel to your story and
(12:50):
your characters Right now.
Con number three is that pointof view transitions can disrupt
the flow of your story if nothandled skillfully.
So every time you switch fromone point of view character to
another, there is a risk ofdisrupting the flow of your
story, and that's becausereaders need to mentally shift
gears which can pull them out ofthe narrative if not handled
(13:11):
smoothly.
So to avoid this happening inyour story, you'll just need to
establish clear patterns forwhen those point of view shifts
occur, which is typically at achapter or a scene break, and
then ensure that each shiftfeels purposeful rather than
random.
And this will require carefulplanning of your story structure
and how you're going to lay outyour narrative from the onset.
(13:32):
So just something to keep inmind, and that is con number
three.
Point of view transitions candisrupt story flow if not
handled skillfully.
Con number four is that yourcharacters will get less page
time than they would in a storywhere they're the only point of
view character.
This means that you'll haveless space to develop each
character's arc, theirmotivations and their growth,
(13:53):
and finding the right balance ofpage time for each character
can be tricky.
Some readers might becomefrustrated if they have to wait
too long to get back to theirfavorite character, while others
might find certain characters'point of views less engaging and
be tempted to skim thosesections.
So again, this is not meant toturn you off of writing a story
from multiple perspectives.
(14:14):
It's just something to thinkabout because it requires some
extra care and thought.
All right, so that is connumber four your characters will
get less page time than theywould in a single point of view
novel.
All right, and con number fiveis that multiple point of views
often create longer books.
That can be harder to sell, andthis makes sense, right?
Multiple point of view novelstend to be longer than single
(14:36):
point of view stories becauseyou're essentially telling
multiple interconnected stories.
This increased length and theadded complexity can make your
book harder to sell, especiallywhen you're a debut author.
I think it's no secret that thepublishing industry often
favors tighter, more focusednarratives for new writers.
So if you're writing your firstnovel with traditional
(14:58):
publication in mind, the addedcomplexity of multiple point of
views might be a factor todeeply consider.
Alright, so that is con numberfive.
Multiple point of views oftenlead to longer books that can be
harder to sell.
Now we just talked through fivepros or benefits, and five cons
or challenges, and you might bethinking okay, I understand all
(15:19):
of this, but how do I decide ifmultiple point of views is right
for my particular story?
Well, here are five questionsyou can ask yourself.
Number one does your storytruly require multiple
perspectives or could it be toldeffectively from a single
viewpoint?
Number two do you have thepatience and skill to develop
multi-fully realized characters,and are you ready to create
(15:41):
distinct voices and arcs foreach one?
Number three is your storycomplex enough to warrant
multiple point of views?
Does it involve separatestorylines, conflicting agendas
or events that are happeningsimultaneously in different
locations?
Number four does your genretypically support multiple point
of views or not?
And number five will multiplepoint of views enhance the
(16:04):
themes and emotional impact ofyour story, or might they dilute
the focus and connection toyour main character?
Now it's really important to behonest with yourself about your
answers.
There's no one better approachto this.
It's all about what best servesyour ideas and your story.
All right, so, as you can see,writing a novel with multiple
point of views is undoubtedlychallenging, but it can also be
(16:27):
incredibly rewarding when it'sthe right choice for your story.
Before I let you go, I want togo through the pros and cons one
more time, really quickly, justto recap.
So pro number one is thatmultiple point of views can
create depth and complexity inyour story.
Pro number two is thatdifferent perspectives can help
you build suspense.
Pro number three is thatcontrasting viewpoints can help
(16:49):
you reveal unreliable narrators,if you have them in your story.
Pro number four is thatmultiple viewpoints allow you to
tell bigger, sprawling, moreepic stories than one single
point of view can do sometimes.
And then pro number five isthat multiple characters can
help you create deeper emotionalconnections with your readers.
Now on to the cons.
Con number one is that eachcharacter voice requires
(17:11):
development.
Con number two is that it'seasy to head hop and this
creates confusion and weakensthat connection between readers
and your characters.
Con number three is that pointof view transitions can disrupt
the flow of your story if nothandled skillfully.
Con number four is thatcharacters get less page time in
multiple point of view storiesthan they would in a story with
(17:32):
just one point of view.
And con number five is thatmultiple point of views often
lead to longer books that can bemore difficult to sell.
All right, so the key takeaway Iwould say is that if you do
decide to pursue a multiplepoint of view approach to your
story, just remember that itrequires careful planning, deep
character development anddisciplined execution.
(17:53):
I'd say, if your story iscalling for multiple point of
view characters, honor thatimpulse and trust your creative
instincts.
Just make sure to give yourselfthe time and tools needed to
execute it effectively.
All right, so that's it forthis episode of the Fiction
Writing Made Easy podcast.
Head over to savannagilbocomforward slash podcast for the
complete show notes, includingthe resources I mentioned today,
(18:16):
as well as bonus materials tohelp you implement what you've
learned.
And if you're ready to get morepersonalized guidance for your
specific writing stage, whetheryou're just starting out, stuck
somewhere in the middle of adraft, drowning in revisions, or
getting ready to publish, takemy free 30-second quiz at
savannahgilbocom forward slashquiz.
You'll get a customized podcastplaylist that'll meet you right
(18:37):
where you're at and help youget to your next big milestone.
Last but not least, make sureto follow this podcast in your
podcast player of choice,because I'll be back next week
with another episode full ofactionable tips, tools and
strategies to help you become abetter writer.
Until then, happy writing.
Writing from multiple points of view requires strict
discipline to avoid head-hopping, aka jumping between different
characters' thoughts within asingle scene.
When you do this, it creates ajarring experience for readers
and it weakens the intimacy thatthey feel with your characters.
So it's really important tomaintain clear boundaries
between each one of yourperspectives, and not only is
(00:22):
that technically difficult,sometimes it's especially
difficult when you have anemotionally charged scene where
you might be tempted to showeveryone's reaction, and this is
why learning when and how toswitch perspectives
appropriately is a skill thattakes practice to master.
Welcome to the Fiction WritingMade Easy podcast.
(00:43):
My name is Savannah Gilbo andI'm here to help you write a
story that works.
I want to prove to you thatwriting a novel doesn't have to
be overwhelming, so each week,I'll bring you a brand new
episode with simple, actionableand step-by-step strategies that
you can implement in yourwriting right away.
So whether you're brand new towriting or more of a seasoned
author looking to improve yourcraft, this podcast is for you.
(01:04):
So pick up a pen and let's getstarted.
Have you ever read a novel thatseamlessly shifted between
different character perspectives, giving you a panoramic view of
the story world that just leftyou in awe.
Or maybe you've attempted towrite a story with multiple
point of view characters, onlyto end up with a confusing
jumble of voices that didn'tquite work together.
(01:26):
If you're nodding your head,yes, to either scenario, then
today's episode is for you.
As a developmental editor andbook coach, I've worked with
countless writers who'vewondered if multiple point of
views are right for theirstories, and this is a really
important decision that willshape every aspect of your novel
, from structure to pacing tocharacter development.
So in today's episode, I'mgoing to break down exactly what
(01:48):
it means to write a multi-pointof view novel, how it differs
from other narrative approachesand the key benefits and
challenges you'll face.
By the end of the episode,you'll have a clear
understanding of whether writinga novel with multiple point of
view characters is the rightchoice for your story.
But before we dive into the prosand for your story, but before
we dive into the pros and cons,let's clarify what we're talking
about here.
So what does it mean to write astory with multiple point of
(02:11):
view characters?
Well, writing a novel withmultiple point of view
characters just means telling astory from the perspective of
two or more characters and thenweaving their individual stories
together by alternating theirviewpoints.
Think about books like Six ofCrows by Leigh Bardugo with its
ensemble cast, or Gone Girl byGillian Flynn with its dueling
(02:32):
narrators, or even Game ofThrones by George RR Martin with
its sprawling range of point ofview characters across the
world.
These are the kind of bookswe're talking about in today's
episode, and these viewpointscan be written in several ways,
so they can all be written inthird person limited.
They can all be written infirst person, or you can do a
combination of both.
(02:52):
Now, in case you're not reallysure what I mean by third person
or first person point of view,I have an episode called how to
Choose the Best Point of Viewfor your Story.
It's episode number 90, and Iwill link to that in the show
notes in case you want to go alittle deeper or learn about
that topic.
All right now, somethingimportant to understand is that
a story written from multiplepoints of view is not the same
(03:12):
as stories written in thirdperson omniscient, although both
techniques do allow you to showmore than one character's
perspective.
The key difference in these twoapproaches lies in how each one
of these options handlescharacter interiority or the
inner thoughts and emotions ofyour character.
So, for example, inthird-person omniscient these
are stories like Dune, or Prideand Prejudice or the Name of the
(03:35):
Wind readers can see the innerthoughts and emotions of any
characters at any time.
One sentence might reveal thehero's escape plan, while the
very next could show what theantagonist is thinking all in
the same paragraph or scene.
Now compare this to storieswith multiple point-of-view
characters, like Harry Potter,six of Crows or the Invisible
(03:55):
Life of Addie LaRue.
In these stories, readers canonly see the inner thoughts and
emotions of one character at atime and that's the point-of of
view character for that scene orchapter.
So, even if another point ofview character is present in
that scene, we only experiencethat scene through the current
point of view character'sperspective.
And this distinction is really,really important because it
(04:18):
impacts how you'll structureyour story and craft your scenes
.
With multiple characterperspectives or multiple point
of view characters, you'reessentially creating separate
windows into your story world,each with its own unique view,
rather than one all-seeing eyethat can float freely between
characters.
Okay, so now that we understandwhat writing a story from
(04:39):
multiple point of views lookslike, let's talk about why you
might choose this storytellingapproach.
So I'm going to go through fivepros or five benefits of
writing a novel from multiplepoints of view.
And the first pro is thatmultiple point of views can
create depth and complexity inyour story.
So telling a story frommultiple point of views allows
(05:00):
you to explore your subjects,settings, themes and moral gray
areas from a wider variety ofperspectives.
By giving different charactersopposing viewpoints, you can
create a more nuancedunderstanding of your story
world and the conflicts withinit.
Think about something likeGeorge RR Martin's A Song of Ice
and Fire series.
The complexity of thatpolitical landscape and the
(05:23):
moral ambiguity of the worldcomes alive precisely because we
see it through so manydifferent eyes and each person
has their own biases and theirown limited understanding of
events.
The other thing is thatmultiple character perspectives
also helps readers get to knowyour different characters'
voices and backstories, which isespecially useful in stories
(05:43):
with intersecting storylines.
And this is because whenreaders understand the
motivations driving each one ofyour characters, their eventual
collision becomes all the morepowerful.
Okay, so that's benefit numberone.
Multiple points of view canhelp you create depth and
complexity in your story.
The second pro is that differentperspectives can help you build
(06:03):
suspense.
So one of the most powerfulaspects of multi-point of view
storytelling is the ability tocreate dramatic irony, and this
just refers to situations wherethe reader knows something that
a character doesn't.
So, for example, you mightchoose to write a scene from the
perspective of a secondarycharacter who maybe doesn't have
(06:24):
all the information thatanother character has.
Their curiosity or confusioncan guide readers to ask the
kind of questions that you wantthem to ask.
Or maybe you have a situationwhere your main character knows
something critical that youdon't want readers to learn.
Yet being able to switch intoanother character's perspective
will allow you to withhold thatinformation in a plausible way,
(06:46):
and all of this helps createtension and helps to keep those
readers turning the page.
A great example of this is inGone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
In that story, the alternatingpoint of views build suspense as
readers try to determine whichcharacter is telling the truth
and which ones have a moremuddled version or are just flat
out lying.
All right.
(07:06):
So that is pro number two, orbenefit number two Different
perspectives can help you buildsuspense.
Pro number three is thatcontrasting viewpoints can help
you reveal unreliable narrators.
If your story includes anunreliable narrator, multiple
point of views can be anexcellent tool for gradually
revealing this unreliability toyour readers.
(07:27):
And that's because, byswitching to another character's
perspective later in the story,you can show cracks in the
first character's version ofevents.
This approach can lead toreally powerful aha moments for
your readers as they realizethey've been seeing a distorted
version of reality.
And not only does this createan exciting plot twist, but it
(07:49):
also adds depth to the characterdevelopment, as readers
understand why a character mightperceive or present events
inaccurately.
So, for example, in the Girl onthe Train by Paula Hawkins, she
uses this technique brilliantly, revealing how alcohol affects
the protagonist's memories andperceptions by contrasting her
account with other characters'perspectives.
(08:10):
Okay, so that is pro numberthree, or benefit number three
Contrasting viewpoints can helpyou reveal unreliable narrators.
Pro number four is that multipleviewpoints allow you to tell
bigger, sprawling, epic type ofstories.
So some stories are just soexpansive meaning they span
multiple locations, time periodsor social circles that they
(08:32):
simply can't be effectively toldthrough one single perspective.
So being able to write frommultiple perspectives or
multiple points of view isperfect for these type of
sprawling narratives.
So a great example of this issomething like Brandon
Sanderson's Stormlight Archiveseries, or even a historical
fiction novel like AnthonyDoerr's All the Light we Cannot
(08:52):
See.
Both of these stories rely onmultiple point of views to
capture the scope of the worldand the conflicts within that
world.
Now, this may or may not applyto you, but let's say that
you're writing a story and thereisn't enough happening in your
one main storyline to carry anentire novel.
In this case, you could useadditional interesting
characters or timelines to fleshout your story.
(09:14):
This kind of approach wouldallow you to create a rich
tapestry of interconnectednarratives that converge in a
satisfying way.
So not only do multipleviewpoints allow us to tell
these bigger types of stories,they can also help us flesh out
our stories as well.
So that is pro number four, orbenefit number four.
Multiple viewpoints allow youto tell bigger, sprawling, more
(09:36):
epic stories.
Pro number five is that multiplecharacters help you create
deeper emotional connectionswith your readers.
So multiple point of viewsallow readers to form emotional
connections with severalcharacters rather than just one
protagonist, and when readersexperience a story through
multiple perspectives, theydevelop a deeper investment in
(09:56):
more characters and theiroutcomes.
This approach helps you buildstronger empathy in readers as
they come to understand all thedifferent conflicting viewpoints
and motivations from the inside.
And not only that, but theemotional stakes also intensify
when the characters readers careabout come into conflict with
each other.
So, instead of simply justrooting for one protagonist
(10:19):
against one antagonist, readersmight feel torn between all the
different characters they'veconnected with, which helps you
create a richer, more complexreading experience.
So, for example, kristenHanna's the Four Winds and
Celeste Ng's Little FiresEverywhere.
These stories both use multiplepoint of views to explore
complex family dynamics andgenerate profound emotional
(10:42):
impact.
Right, so that is pro numberfive multiple characters can
help you create deeper emotionalconnections with your readers.
Now, while writing a story frommultiple perspectives offers a
lot of benefits, this type ofstorytelling also comes with
some unique challenges.
So here are some potentialdrawbacks that you should
consider.
The first con is that eachcharacter voice requires
(11:04):
development.
So one of the biggestchallenges when it comes to
writing a story told frommultiple point of views is
creating and maintainingdistinct voices for each
character.
Not only must each character befully fleshed out and fully
developed, they must also havetheir own unique way of seeing
the world, speaking and thinking, and this is a challenge that
(11:25):
multiplies with each point ofview character that you add.
If your characters end upsounding too similar, then
readers will struggle to connectwith them as individuals and
they might become confused aboutwhose perspective they're
reading at any given time.
So creating these distinctvoices and these distinct
characters requires a lot ofdeep character development work
(11:46):
and consistent executionthroughout your manuscript,
which can be a pro or condepending on how you look at it.
So that is challenge number one.
Each character voice requiresdevelopment.
Con number two is that it's easyto head hop, and this creates
confusion and weakens theconnection you have with readers
.
Writing from multiple points ofview requires strict discipline
(12:07):
to avoid head hopping, akajumping between different
characters thoughts within asingle scene.
When you do this, it creates ajarring experience for readers
and it weakens the intimacy thatthey feel with your characters.
So it's really important tomaintain clear boundaries
between each one of yourperspectives, and not only is
that technically difficult.
(12:28):
Sometimes it's especiallydifficult when you have an
emotionally charged scene whereyou might be tempted to show
everyone's reaction, and this iswhy learning when and how to
switch perspectivesappropriately is a skill that
takes practice to master.
So that is con number two.
It's easy to head hop, and thiscan create confusion and weaken
the connection that yourreaders feel to your story and
(12:50):
your characters Right now.
Con number three is that pointof view transitions can disrupt
the flow of your story if nothandled skillfully.
So every time you switch fromone point of view character to
another, there is a risk ofdisrupting the flow of your
story, and that's becausereaders need to mentally shift
gears which can pull them out ofthe narrative if not handled
(13:11):
smoothly.
So to avoid this happening inyour story, you'll just need to
establish clear patterns forwhen those point of view shifts
occur, which is typically at achapter or a scene break, and
then ensure that each shiftfeels purposeful rather than
random.
And this will require carefulplanning of your story structure
and how you're going to lay outyour narrative from the onset.
(13:32):
So just something to keep inmind, and that is con number
three.
Point of view transitions candisrupt story flow if not
handled skillfully.
Con number four is that yourcharacters will get less page
time than they would in a storywhere they're the only point of
view character.
This means that you'll haveless space to develop each
character's arc, theirmotivations and their growth,
(13:53):
and finding the right balance ofpage time for each character
can be tricky.
Some readers might becomefrustrated if they have to wait
too long to get back to theirfavorite character, while others
might find certain characters'point of views less engaging and
be tempted to skim thosesections.
So again, this is not meant toturn you off of writing a story
from multiple perspectives.
(14:14):
It's just something to thinkabout because it requires some
extra care and thought.
All right, so that is connumber four your characters will
get less page time than theywould in a single point of view
novel.
All right, and con number fiveis that multiple point of views
often create longer books.
That can be harder to sell, andthis makes sense, right?
Multiple point of view novelstend to be longer than single
(14:36):
point of view stories becauseyou're essentially telling
multiple interconnected stories.
This increased length and theadded complexity can make your
book harder to sell, especiallywhen you're a debut author.
I think it's no secret that thepublishing industry often
favors tighter, more focusednarratives for new writers.
So if you're writing your firstnovel with traditional
(14:58):
publication in mind, the addedcomplexity of multiple point of
views might be a factor todeeply consider.
Alright, so that is con numberfive.
Multiple point of views oftenlead to longer books that can be
harder to sell.
Now we just talked through fivepros or benefits, and five cons
or challenges, and you might bethinking okay, I understand all
(15:19):
of this, but how do I decide ifmultiple point of views is right
for my particular story?
Well, here are five questionsyou can ask yourself.
Number one does your storytruly require multiple
perspectives or could it be toldeffectively from a single
viewpoint?
Number two do you have thepatience and skill to develop
multi-fully realized characters,and are you ready to create
(15:41):
distinct voices and arcs foreach one?
Number three is your storycomplex enough to warrant
multiple point of views?
Does it involve separatestorylines, conflicting agendas
or events that are happeningsimultaneously in different
locations?
Number four does your genretypically support multiple point
of views or not?
And number five will multiplepoint of views enhance the
(16:04):
themes and emotional impact ofyour story, or might they dilute
the focus and connection toyour main character?
Now it's really important to behonest with yourself about your
answers.
There's no one better approachto this.
It's all about what best servesyour ideas and your story.
All right, so, as you can see,writing a novel with multiple
point of views is undoubtedlychallenging, but it can also be
(16:27):
incredibly rewarding when it'sthe right choice for your story.
Before I let you go, I want togo through the pros and cons one
more time, really quickly, justto recap.
So pro number one is thatmultiple point of views can
create depth and complexity inyour story.
Pro number two is thatdifferent perspectives can help
you build suspense.
Pro number three is thatcontrasting viewpoints can help
(16:49):
you reveal unreliable narrators,if you have them in your story.
Pro number four is thatmultiple viewpoints allow you to
tell bigger, sprawling, moreepic stories than one single
point of view can do sometimes.
And then pro number five isthat multiple characters can
help you create deeper emotionalconnections with your readers.
Now on to the cons.
Con number one is that eachcharacter voice requires
(17:11):
development.
Con number two is that it'seasy to head hop and this
creates confusion and weakensthat connection between readers
and your characters.
Con number three is that pointof view transitions can disrupt
the flow of your story if nothandled skillfully.
Con number four is thatcharacters get less page time in
multiple point of view storiesthan they would in a story with
(17:32):
just one point of view.
And con number five is thatmultiple point of views often
lead to longer books that can bemore difficult to sell.
All right, so the key takeaway Iwould say is that if you do
decide to pursue a multiplepoint of view approach to your
story, just remember that itrequires careful planning, deep
character development anddisciplined execution.
(17:53):
I'd say, if your story iscalling for multiple point of
view characters, honor thatimpulse and trust your creative
instincts.
Just make sure to give yourselfthe time and tools needed to
execute it effectively.
All right, so that's it forthis episode of the Fiction
Writing Made Easy podcast.
Head over to savannagilbocomforward slash podcast for the
complete show notes, includingthe resources I mentioned today,
(18:16):
as well as bonus materials tohelp you implement what you've
learned.
And if you're ready to get morepersonalized guidance for your
specific writing stage, whetheryou're just starting out, stuck
somewhere in the middle of adraft, drowning in revisions, or
getting ready to publish, takemy free 30-second quiz at
savannahgilbocom forward slashquiz.
You'll get a customized podcastplaylist that'll meet you right
(18:37):
where you're at and help youget to your next big milestone.
Last but not least, make sureto follow this podcast in your
podcast player of choice,because I'll be back next week
with another episode full ofactionable tips, tools and
strategies to help you become abetter writer.
Until then, happy writing.
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