A Beginner’s Guide to Multiple Point of View
(Just starting out with point of view? Read How to Choose the Right Point of View for Your Story for an introduction to the five basic points of view.)
What is multiple point of view?
In multiple point of view, we get the perspectives of multiple characters within a single story. You have three options with multiple point of view:
Multiple first person (The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver)
Multiple third person (Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin)
Mixed multiple, which uses both third and first person (Strange as This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake)
Unlike third person omniscient, stories written with multiple point of view don’t shift viewpoint characters within a chapter or section. Instead, each part is written entirely from the perspective of a different character.
When to Use Multiple Point of View
Multiple point of view is great for novels where you need to cover a lot of ground, either metaphorically or literally speaking. It can work well for thematically complex work, mysteries, and sprawling epics of all genres.
Multiple points of view doesn’t work so well for short stories. That’s because in a short story you don’t have enough time to fully explore multiple perspectives. If you need a wider view for a short story, third person omniscient is probably a better choice.
When used well, multiple point of view can allow you to widen and complicate your story world. It’s not the right choice for every story, but if you decide it’s the right choice for yours, here are 5 tips for success.
5 Tips for Success with Multiple Point of View
1. Use a separate chapter for each point of view character
Not only will this keep readers from getting confused, it allows them to more distinctly bond with each character or narrator.
