Another pesky multiple POV question!

[Juliana]

There are lots of threads on multiple POV already (including one very useful recent one), but I have a question specific to my WIP.

Would you find it annoying if some chapters were entirely one POV and others had two or three? The ones with different POVs would have clearly defined scene changes, with each POV lasting from a few paragraphs to a couple of pages.

OR should I just do 1 POV per full-length chapter for the main three characters to keep it consistent, and have a few very short chapters (around a page) here and there for a couple of one-off POV characters that need to appear, as well as for my villain, who needs his own POV although we only get short glimpses of him and his nefarious knuckle-cracking schemes?

This is my first attempt at multiple POV and its haaaard!

 

[thaddeus6th]

It would not annoy me if, as you indicate, the changes were clear. Sometimes it could be an advantage (if a chapter was about a certain event and we saw it from multiple perspectives that would make perfect sense).

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I don't think I would notice. As long as POV changes aren't head-hopping, I don't pay any attention to them. So, as usual, my advice on POV is "do it well, and nobody will care."

 

[Mouse]

Do it, Juliana. Do iiiiiiiittt.

It's fine. I did it in TBM. Basically, what TDZ said.

 

[prizzley]

I used multiple POVs in my first novel, but my second and third have fewer. It doesn't bother me to read chapters where the POV changes, as long as it clear, which you've done. I just find it easier to stick to a small number of POV characters now.

Is the villain's POV needed, or can other POV characters present his actions? None of the villains in my current stories are POV characters. I made the villains in my first novel POV characters and I'm not sure it was the right decision.

All this rambling is leading to - go with your gut instinct!

 

[Juliana]

Mouse, . Thanks everyone, I think I'll continue as I'm doing at present. I can always reevaluate further down the line. The whole beginning will probably be completely redone, anyway, as way too infodumpy at present. I think I just need to get into my stride with the different POVs.

Amending: just saw prizzley's post. I think the villain POV seems to work, its just short bits, two or three paras, more like glimpses of 'up to no good' things going on. Can always cut later....

 

[The Storyteller]

I'm reading Tadd Williams right now, and he does that all the time. Some chapters are completely in one POV, and others are divided between several. (The changes are, of course, clearly indicated.) As mentioned above, if it is done right there will be no problem.

 

[Laeraneth]

I sure hope it doesn't put people off. I have some solely in one of my two main characters, one in the other, and some that go back and forth as the action moves around

So, in short, I think it works fine. I'd say that having one chapter with multiple short sections for each PoV would be much neater than having five sub 1000 word chapters!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I've read many books where the POV changed one or twice in a chapter, and it never bothered me. So long as there are scene breaks to show the change in viewpoint, I don't mind. Even if it's a continuation of the same scene, with the break to show that we're seeing what comes next through a different pair of eyes. It's a lot less distracting for me than head-hopping throughout the scene.

And, also, I do it in my own writing, which I wouldn't do if I didn't like it when other writers do it.

Anyway, if you make it work, no one will notice that you didn't start a new chapter for the scene with a new POV.

 

[Helix]

As long as the transitions are clear I'd go for it. They don't bother me, and they can really enhance a scene. Nothing annoys me more when it changes and I don't know it though.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I do it all the time, Juliana. Did it bother you whren you betaed any of mine? If not, you have your answer. i also write the bad guys' pov and, if handled well, it can be an enhancement.

 

[Juliana]

I didn't even notice when reading Teresa and springs' work. So I guess thats my answer right there.

Thanks everyone, over-thinking this as usual.

Storyteller, I've had Tadd on my tbr list for a while, thanks for the tip. The local library has some of his work, I'll have a look.

 

[tinkerdan]

I think it works just fine as long as you don't get too free wheeling with it.

I recently read a piece that was close to head hopping and would not have been a problem except that the reader was drawn into the head of people who were only going to be there for those one or two paragraphs and they really didn't contribute to moving the plot forward.

On the other hand I appreciate that in some of the horror genre it amps up the action to have a brief narrative from the POV of the next victim. It always strikes me as token violence mostly.

But when the best way to express something is from a different POV it makes sense and more so when it's moving the plot and the story along.

So have at it.