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Multi POV fics

[(Anonymous)]

Fellow writers, how do you deal with fics that have multiple POV (point of view) characters?

Is it weird to have multiple points of view within one chapter?

Re: Multi POV fics

[(Anonymous)]

Relying mostly on what I like reading: I find that third person POV with switching focus still flows well, as long as the POV changes are clearly delineated. I personally find first person POV changes to be a little disorienting and jarring even if the changes occur across chapters, because I always forget whose POV it is.

Re: Multi POV fics

[(Anonymous)]

I think it depends on the length of the chapter, and also the style of writing. Imo multiple POVs can be confusing unless you either spend a decent amount of time with each POV, or clearly mark where the POV changes (by either putting the names or just line breaks??) But then again, a story can be super amazing if there are lots of intertwining POVs, even if you only spend a very short amount of time with each one. I wouldn't write something where the POV changes from sentence to sentence or anything like that, without the changes being marked out, because I think it's just off-putting (unless you're doing something stylistic with it/it's specifically linked to the plot - like idk the POV characters have a psychic link or whatever).

Also about what the anon above said - I agree that first person POV can be a bit more confusing, unless you actually tell us whose turn it is each time OR give them each a different medium?? Like letter writing/blog/standard narrative/blah.

um sorry idk if this is helpful XD these are just my thoughts about POVs :')

Re: Multi POV fics

[(Anonymous)]

Okay, that makes sense.

I was worried because I had originally planning on writing from just one character's POV, but then I realized there are things that I want the readers to actually "see" that don't involve that character.

Re: Multi POV fics

[(Anonymous)]

DA

The 3rd person perspective can be sub-divided into "3rd person limited" and "3rd person omniscient". The former is basically 1st person with the pronouns changed. The audience knows only what the POV character knows and that includes their internal environment and thought processes. As the name suggests, 3rd person omniscient is where everything is known (including all characters' internal environments) to the story-teller.

If you're used to writing from a limited perspective, weaving in broader information can be a challenge, but your audience should pick it up fairly quickly, especially if you establish omniscience early. If you're worried about the smoothness of your transitions, try reading you work out loud. I find that's one of the best test for flow.

Re: Multi POV fics

[(Anonymous)]

I know most people would say to keep the chapter to one POV only, but I've switched POVs in chapters before, and the only confusion I've gotten over it was when I did it for a 616/MCU story--which could be easily solved, I suppose, by switching from one character to anyone who isn't, like, their alternate version or something. otherwise, switching POVs in the middle of a chapter is fine, so long as you indicate it somehow, maybe with a line break or something, and you're consistent throughout the section with your POV. don't switch POVs every line, for example.