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This week: Oh the Voices: More than 1 POV Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Response to newsletter on avoiding head hopping brings up a discussion on when it is okay to have multiple character viewpoints and still suggests methods to help readers keep track. Brief focus on omniscient pov and changes in writing styles over the years. |
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Last month I wrote about point of view and the struggle with hopping between different characters. From that I got a few different responses including this one:
Comment by Detective 
What about if you have several groups of characters in different areas, doing different things and you move between them, like in Lord of the Rings?
This poses a good question and so I'm going to continue talking about POV for one more week here on the Fantasy newsletter. Last time focused on when it's difficult between first and third along with the struggles reader have when the change in POV feels at random. But there have been plenty of times when multiple characters have been used and many authors still write that way *cough* George RR Martin *cough*
To answer the question directly: It depends.
Okay, now to be more specific. Part of the issue here is that most of the examples of stories with many characters and viewpoints come from novels and series. It's going to be very different if you're writing just a short story. While some people on WDC do right novels and long series (including me) there are many short pieces and contests that have very short limits. It's going to be harder to get away with many character in less than 5,000 words compared to the novel length fantasy stories.
Another thing is that many of them do indicate when the POV is changing and those changes don't happen right away. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson) is a good example because it's an epic series that has thousands of pages and oh so many POV. However, in the first book published, before that weird prequel came out, the first part of the story doesn't hop around much. And most of the time when there is a POV change it's either with a new chapter or there is space to indicate the change. From what I read of Martin, it was similar except it changed POV more often even in the beginning but the changes were often separated, though I didn't make it far in the first book of Game of Thrones.
Omniscient is a slightly different animal. First, I should probably admit that I never read Lord of the Rings. I tried reading the Hobbit back in high school and couldn't get past the first chapter. While I write fantasy, I tend to keep to a very limited POV and only change in different chapters or with enough space to indicate the change, though I also don't do first person (third all the way). So, I may not be the best one to talk about omniscient. It can work, for sure, but comes with its own struggles. There will be readers who don't understand it or like it, just comes with the territory. Much like some readers don't like first person (me). Like any aspect of writing, will take development and practice to get the story written. Though for many, that style of writing may not be viewed as relevant or marketable anymore, but that's a different newsletter topic or two.
The main point and basic result is this: it's certainly not wrong to use different points of view in a story. How it is crafted will affect the reader's understanding of the story and one has to be aware of those factors. Even if you write just because you enjoy it, if you post on here and don't have the item as private, you just might get a reader. It's more of an issue when within a short number of paragraphs we get different thoughts from different character and in particular when it looks to be random and the reader starts to think the author made a mistake. Doing POV with purpose and having it look that way can be a challenge, but it can be done.
Also, one might want to research a little bit into what is considered a scene. Most of the writing books I've read have explained that if it's a different point of view or location (as mentioned in the question that sparked this newsletter) then it's a different scene. Scene have layouts and reasons for them, so might be worth considering beyond just a question of POV.
For me? I'll stick with limited third person and edit out any accidental head-hopping that occurs. But I'm just one reader/writer. Others will differ on what they prefer in POV.
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Have you tried writing in omniscient? Do you like changing POV in short stories or is it better for longer writing?
Here are the rest of the comments submitted from last month's newsletter on POV:
Comment by ENB 
I think the best way to voice other character's opinions when you have multiple people in a chapter is to do it through dialogue. Maybe they're arguing about something, so instead of jumping from one person's mind to another you can have a heated argument through dialogue where they can each shout out their own ideas and thoughts at the same time without the chapter making the reader go dizzy. Anyway... Great newsletter! 
Comment by brom21
I usually keep it omniscient POV because I may shift from scene to scene. J.R.R. Tolkien really did this. I think this method is good on account that it keeps curiosity. We are suddenly taken away right when we get to the big shebang. It also gives me in case I come to a snag or things are dragging-it freshens the narration when we are suddenly transported to something new. Thanks or the newsletter!
Comment by Winnie Kay 
Excellent article, Dawn. I've been ranting from my soap box for years about POV-change indicators like the extra line spacing you suggest or some asterisks to let the poor reader know whose head we are in. I like the simple way you explained a complex subject.
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Fantasy: January 07, 2015 Issue [#6760]
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