Learn how to write books with a number of views
Writing a book from a person's perspective is hard enough. Writing books with multiple perspectives can seem downright impossible. But it can be done.
I wrote my last novel from three different perspectives. It was hard. Sometimes it stagnated creatively. But sometimes it was fun and kept me busy with my own book when I wanted to give up.
So if you're up for the challenge, here's how to write a book from different perspectives.
Would you like to learn how to write a book from start to finish? Read How To Write A Book: The Complete Guide.
Is it necessary to write a book from multiple perspectives?
First you need to think about why you need more than one point of view. Like everything else in your story, writing this way needs to make sense and have a purpose. It's also a little easier once you're familiar with the options available. For a refresher, see our Point of View manual here.
I wrote about 55,000 words of my last novel from a person's perspective before realizing I had to add more points of view to refine my world and characters. Simply put, my main character was no longer (literally) in the same area as the sub-characters, and I needed a way to continue her plots and subplots while she galloped elsewhere.
Basic geographic logistics brought me to multiple perspectives, but there are a few other reasons you might want to do the same thing. Writing in more than one perspective can lead to deeper subplots, a richer world, and a counter perspective of your protagonist.
(One of my points of view is the villain of the story, and it was fun exploring his character, specifying his backstory, and making him personable from his perspective by writing.)
If you can accomplish all of these goals from a character's perspective, DO NOT write in multiples. It's not necessary and some readers hate it.
Would you like to see how I dealt with multiple aspects? My book Surviving Death is out now, and you can see for yourself how I've switched between viewpoints. Get the book here ยป
7 tips for writing a book with multiple perspectives
If you think having multiple perspectives is the way to go for your novel, here are my top tips to stay healthy and keep your readers happy during the process:
1. Use chapter breaks for the switch.
Use at least line breaks. Your reader will be confused if you bounce around too often or without notice on a switch. It is possible to switch to a new paragraph, but I do not recommend it as it will be too confusing for your reader and you will likely take a dive if you don't want to.
2. Distinguish the character voices.
All of your characters should be unique, but it's even more noticeable when they aren't when they get their own perspective. Mix it up.
3. Think about your reader.
You should be able to see immediately from which perspective you are reading. You can clarify this in several ways:
- Name the chapter with the character name.
- Write in the third person.
- Distinguish the character voice so much that it is obvious.
You don't have to do all three of these steps, but you do need to make sure that the perspective changes are absolutely clear.
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Writing from multiple perspectives? Make sure it is clear whose perspective we are reading right away.
4. Each character is the hero of their own story.
That means they have to have a story. You need conflicts and your own character arc. They need their own backstory and motivation.
Don't cheat her for a lifetime because you focus too much on your main character.
5. Don't heat the same scene.
When your characters are together, you need to choose which one is best to tell the scene. If you switch to another character, you don't have to go back through the same scene from his point of view. This is unnecessary and boring for your reader.
If you need to add what the new character was thinking during a scene, do so in a meditative manner in a new scene.
6. Do not switch between multiple perspectives in a writing session.
You have to get personal with each character and it's difficult to get that deep with one character and instantly switch to another. You lose your voice and motivation and lose your mind trying to keep things clear.
I recommend either devoting each day to a different character or writing multiple chapters from a character's point of view before tracking back another character. This will help you stay true to your characters and make them sound and act differently.
7. Track where your characters are.
Pantsers, I hate to tell you this, but you need to take notes and make plans if you want to write a book from multiple perspectives. Otherwise, your characters will strangely teleport from one place to another, or you will explain something that they already told a few chapters ago.
This is especially true if you are writing multiple chapters from one character's perspective before moving on to another.
You don't have to go into the incredibly detailed notes that planners sometimes take, but you do need to have a plan to keep track of things.
Multi-perspective books aren't as scary as they sound
Writing books from different perspectives can be intimidating, but it is possible and often fun. I had some problems along the way, but it was exciting to see how the plots and characters were woven together as I read through the entire manuscript.
Take notes and think about your reader. I think you will be amazed with the finished product.
What do you find the hardest part about writing multi-perspective books? Let me know in the comments!
WORK OUT
Take fifteen minutes to practice writing from different perspectives.
Here's the scenario: A mother and her teenage son have breakfast together, which they have been doing every Saturday for fourteen years.
Write from the mother's perspective when they walk in and sit down. Then write from the teen's perspective as he orders and eats.
When you're done, share your writing in the comments. Don't forget to comment on your colleagues' work!
Sarah Gribble
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