tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post4644345629753712224..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How Many POV Characters Should My Novel Have?Stephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64635147888990817232015-08-13T17:44:51.541-05:002015-08-13T17:44:51.541-05:00I love first person. I feel as though we get into ...I love first person. I feel as though we get into the character's head better. And though I've read many books in third that disprove that, I still think it.<br />So I usually write in first. My current work has two POVs, the two main characters. Though I sometimes add in a short chapter in third revealing a plan or to add suspense.Insight from the Sight Impairedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00897403398373805431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-50632207815315753462015-08-12T13:06:19.936-05:002015-08-12T13:06:19.936-05:00I have done something where I had the villain in f...I have done something where I had the villain in first person as the main character, but I switched back and forth between him and the hero. The hero was in third person would this be confusing?pgacnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01868397677690901418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48298228418608270522015-08-11T18:42:39.901-05:002015-08-11T18:42:39.901-05:00I usually stick with one or two POVs. Usually thir...I usually stick with one or two POVs. Usually third person, though I've done a few things with first person. I don't switch POVs when I'm doing it in first person, though. :-PCarrie-Anne Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840611324784474990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-52611464969164883992015-08-11T16:02:10.360-05:002015-08-11T16:02:10.360-05:00Thanks for the tip, Jada! :)Thanks for the tip, Jada! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05179790071237632706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28260887996506642182015-08-11T12:28:51.022-05:002015-08-11T12:28:51.022-05:00I have a story with four main characters and I lik...I have a story with four main characters and I like to think they all bring something unique to the story. Each girl has a chapter in the beginning of the story, but after four chapters, I character hop in the remaining as scenes change. <br />Is this smart or is there a tip to make it work? I think I handle it pretty well, but do you have any advice about this?<br />To Charlotte Feechan: Cassandra Clare wrote her novel (City of Heavenly Fire) with the occasional villain POV and it spiced up the story tons. I was anxious to see the big picture of his secret plan and also, there is added tension when you read if you know what the villain is up to and you see the heroes are falling into the trap.<br />Thanks for the post!!!Jada Reneenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-58047895840079526622015-08-11T09:14:29.144-05:002015-08-11T09:14:29.144-05:00Great post! I've been struggling with this fo...Great post! I've been struggling with this for awhile, so thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18392447732699639197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-18694833644191038322015-08-11T03:30:10.906-05:002015-08-11T03:30:10.906-05:00Hi, thanks for writing this post, really amazing p...Hi, thanks for writing this post, really amazing post, keep sharing<br />varun mishrahttp://www.onlinegatha.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90076686727095730862015-08-10T23:10:22.664-05:002015-08-10T23:10:22.664-05:00That's good to know. =) Thanks for the reply!That's good to know. =) Thanks for the reply!Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-41615725934745803812015-08-10T18:09:53.631-05:002015-08-10T18:09:53.631-05:00Thank you for this post! It was very useful to me ...Thank you for this post! It was very useful to me at the moment! My WIP is a fantasy novel and it's taken me a long while to figure out what style to write in. My first draft was written in three characters' POV changing each chapter. In the end I decided not to use that technique since it was hard to make the story flow and keep the chapters consistent with just those three. I kept going like that for the first draft, though, and I ended up with over 2000 pages (that's quite a lot, I know, but I'm certainly going to chop it into several books). <br /><br />Now I'm completely rewriting my WIP for several reasons (one being that the beginning of th plot changed completely). However one of the main reasons I'm rewriting is that style. Now, I'm telling the story through the eyes of a character who almost acts like the story teller called Morath Morlarnus. He isn't particularly involved in the story until the very end where his true identity is revealed. Morlarnus tells the story in deep third person, though, so I'm hoping that will help the reader become more attached to the main characters. <br /><br />One question: would you say that writing the occasional chapter in the antagonist's point of view is a bad thing? I'd like to show what he's up to, but I'm worried abou giving too much of the plot away and backtracking from the main characters. <br /><br />Again, thank you very much for this post! Helped me a lot!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05179790071237632706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-63703196111725737272015-08-10T17:35:47.125-05:002015-08-10T17:35:47.125-05:00I'm realizing now, like 5 drafts in, how fun i...I'm realizing now, like 5 drafts in, how fun it would be to add a bunch of chapters from another character's perspective. I could really fatten up backstory and storyworld. And it would really change the whole...essence of the series. But it's such a big change that I don't think I'd make it without an agent or editor telling me they think it really needs it.jstarickahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08182648047265536102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-70726927422494297342015-08-10T16:57:39.342-05:002015-08-10T16:57:39.342-05:00Another thing to consider: make sure each POV char...Another thing to consider: make sure each POV character has his/her own struggle and role in the story. I and others have made that mistake before, and it generally doesn't end well.Sarah Penningtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377945004067760298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84498177910989314302015-08-10T16:36:26.340-05:002015-08-10T16:36:26.340-05:00Choosing a POV for a story is sometimes hard for m...Choosing a POV for a story is sometimes hard for me. I still haven't exactly chosen what POV I will use in my current WIP. As of right now, there are two main characters (both girls) in that story, and I'm considering writing it in first person, having the chapters switch between the two girls. One question that I have, how do you make a character's voice recognizable enough that, even if a name wasn't mentioned, you would know which girl you're with? Hopefully that all made sense :). ~SavannahAnna Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690260231019336738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-42485502143935497722015-08-10T15:36:02.592-05:002015-08-10T15:36:02.592-05:00This post was incredibly helpful. Thank you, Mrs. ...This post was incredibly helpful. Thank you, Mrs. Morrill!<br />I write in first person POV. My dystopian/sci-fi WIP has two POV characters, and I love working with them. Both face different challenges within the same setting, and give unique perspectives on the events. I have a few questions about POV:<br />1) How should one plot for multiple POVs? Each character needs his or her own arc, but how should I time the elements of plot (inciting incident, midpoint twist, dark night of the soul, climax and such) for each POV so they form a smooth progression?<br />2) Is there a "better" place for the POV characters to officially meet (and be given a reason to stick together) over the course of the book? Mine collide around the climax of Act Two. Is that too late in the story, and would this bore the reader?<br />Again, thank you so much for this post (this entire series, too)!Carter Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-25259806321753941502015-08-10T15:01:54.428-05:002015-08-10T15:01:54.428-05:00Lil, it sounds like you're being intentional w...Lil, it sounds like you're being intentional with the POV characters you've chosen, so I bet it turns out great :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-34554818328967130162015-08-10T15:00:51.777-05:002015-08-10T15:00:51.777-05:00I think it's bound to get a little messy, hone...I think it's bound to get a little messy, honestly. You would plot the character arcs the same as you would the main characters (without requiring as much stage time), do your best writing it, and then fix what's rushed or too slow in your edits.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-18380769748862559352015-08-10T14:59:19.409-05:002015-08-10T14:59:19.409-05:00Tracey, that's a great question. I've neve...Tracey, that's a great question. I've never done it myself, but I've seen it work well in books. I think so long as you're being intentional about the POV characters you use, you're probably fine.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20210272533937427002015-08-10T14:57:13.867-05:002015-08-10T14:57:13.867-05:00Sounds like you've done a lot of experimenting...Sounds like you've done a lot of experimenting! How great!<br /><br />Yes, that's the danger/stumbling block with multiple POVs. If a reader doesn't connect to one or two of them, they might start skipping those chapters - yikes!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9769605888371343912015-08-10T14:54:10.045-05:002015-08-10T14:54:10.045-05:00Ellie, I have often bitten off more than I can che...Ellie, I have often bitten off more than I can chew with a storytelling technique! If you have the interest to write stories like that, I bet you'll grow into it. It's important to keep pushing ourselves and trying new things.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-16155777029864954212015-08-10T14:50:57.371-05:002015-08-10T14:50:57.371-05:00Sounds like a great plan, Ashley. I agree that the...Sounds like a great plan, Ashley. I agree that they need their own unique voices, and that's definitely something we grow into as writers.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13494822324125977762015-08-10T14:49:56.292-05:002015-08-10T14:49:56.292-05:00I definitely think it's a story-to-story decis...I definitely think it's a story-to-story decision. Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36250575581295222582015-08-10T14:43:04.588-05:002015-08-10T14:43:04.588-05:00POV is a surprisingly tricky thing. Handling it in...POV is a surprisingly tricky thing. Handling it in the rewrite sounds like the way to go.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84700519629232254932015-08-10T14:42:10.909-05:002015-08-10T14:42:10.909-05:00Sounds great!Sounds great!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-11933245405259091932015-08-10T14:41:45.918-05:002015-08-10T14:41:45.918-05:00That sounds like a great amount, Sarah!That sounds like a great amount, Sarah!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20522394987977485682015-08-10T13:56:33.125-05:002015-08-10T13:56:33.125-05:00I have so much trouble writing in third person, so...I have so much trouble writing in third person, so it's almost always first for me! I'm working on two books right now; one is a dystopian trilogy, with two POVs-- they're brothers. I was thinking of adding one of the love interests, too, because she's on the opposite political side, but decided against it.<br />My other one is a fantasy (I think that one will be a trilogy, too) with five POVs. They are all super different, and I have no trouble writing them (thank goodness!). Four aren't even human, but the last one is. The first two are brothers, the second two are brothers, and then the last one is on his own. They each have their own quests in the books, and it would be impossible to understand the story without knowing what's happening in different places at the same time--hence five POVs! I was worried it would still be difficult to follow, but it's working out really well so far.<br />Thanks for the post! I really needed it.Lil Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-21510974929100393332015-08-10T12:31:41.189-05:002015-08-10T12:31:41.189-05:00Hi, thanks for writing this post. It really helpe... Hi, thanks for writing this post. It really helped my writing. However, I have a question: do you have any advice for plotting multiple character arcs for multiple POVs? I'm working on a trilogy with four POVS, and I want them each to have their own distinct character arcs but working it all out is getting a little messy. Any advice? Thanks again for writing this amazing post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com