Multiple POV’s and switching

[pelwrath]

This is one of my pitfalls yet, as I look at my writing, also part of my writing style. I’ve read books and stories by other authors who do this, so it doesn’t seem to be a rule but a strong suggestion.
How is it done so as to minimize any confusion for the reader?

[pelwrath]

Found this:

So how do you shift between POV characters?

At the beginning of this article, we stated you should avoid head-hopping. Now we’re going to give you some tools you can use that will having you shifting POV characters with ease.


Paragraph break. At the very least, always use a paragraph break when shifting between two characters.
Chapter break. Each chapter in a story can be from a different character’s POV. The most common way to do this is to head the chapter with the name of the character being profiled.
Line break. If you don’t want whole chapters dedicated to a single character, you can use a line break (three blank lines) in your chapter to signify a switch between POV characters. A line break lets the reader know that something is changing and they should look for indications of a new POV.
Scene break Some authors use a symbol or * * * to indicate a change of character POV. Others use a transition like:

While across town
The next day
After the storm abated
Two weeks later

Quoted from: prowritingaid.com/art/398/How-to-Seamlessly-Shift-Between-POV-Characters-.aspx

So, if you're going to do this, do it the best was possible.

[Alatariel]

I switch POVs in my current novel. Generally, I try to stay within one POV per chapter. I have two main characters who do most of the narration but then I also have chapters from the POV of my antagonist plus a side plot character. Each one adds something different and essential to the story. When my two main characters are together, one of them takes the majority of chapters but when my other character will be more impacted by story events, then he gets the chapter. One of the MCs is from this mysterious fantasy world, and the other is from Earth. 

Dunno if that helped with your question, but I like the cleanliness of switching with a chapter break.

[RAVENEYE]

Jun 19, 2021 19:36:46 GMT -6 pelwrath said:

Found this:

So how do you shift between POV characters?

At the beginning of this article, we stated you should avoid head-hopping. Now we’re going to give you some tools you can use that will having you shifting POV characters with ease.


Paragraph break. At the very least, always use a paragraph break when shifting between two characters.
Chapter break. Each chapter in a story can be from a different character’s POV. The most common way to do this is to head the chapter with the name of the character being profiled.
Line break. If you don’t want whole chapters dedicated to a single character, you can use a line break (three blank lines) in your chapter to signify a switch between POV characters. A line break lets the reader know that something is changing and they should look for indications of a new POV.
Scene break Some authors use a symbol or * * * to indicate a change of character POV. Others use a transition like:

While across town
The next day
After the storm abated
Two weeks later

Quoted from: prowritingaid.com/art/398/How-to-Seamlessly-Shift-Between-POV-Characters-.aspx

So, if you're going to do this, do it the best was possible.

Yep, all of those are good tactics to employ.

If you're having trouble keeping your text focused tight on the POV character, perhaps practice by writing stories in 1st Person for a while. The "I" character can only experience what the "I" has access to, and can only think about what they know.

Then apply those same techniques of observation/thought to characters in a 3rd Person story.

[pelwrath]

The problem is that I use a lot of dialogue and in that vein, will have such POV issues. My option is far less dialogue and more narration. I remember so well being dumbed The Master of Periods when I did that. Describing the movie in my mind. Using Dialogue helps reduce that and using dialogue that way is a common thing.

[RAVENEYE]

Jun 21, 2021 15:20:38 GMT -6 pelwrath said:

The problem is that I use a lot of dialogue and in that vein, will have such POV issues. My option is far less dialogue and more narration. I remember so well being dumbed The Master of Periods when I did that. Describing the movie in my mind. Using Dialogue helps reduce that and using dialogue that way is a common thing.

Why does a lot of dialog equal POV issues?

My stories are usually dialog-heavy, but I can keep a scene in a single character's POV. So... I'm not sure why the two would be considered incompatible... Elaborate a bit?

[pelwrath]

“Show, Don’t Tell” is for Beginners: Thanks to “show don’t tell,” I find writers in my workshops who think exposition is wicked. They’re afraid to describe the world they’ve invented.… This dread of writing a sentence that isn’t crammed with “gutwrenching action” leads fiction writers to rely far too much on dialogue, to restrict voice to limited third person and tense to the present.


From this article:
https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/3a1bse/ursula_k_le_guins_rules_to_break_and_rules_to/

[ScintillaMyntan]

Jun 21, 2021 16:05:19 GMT -6 pelwrath said:

“Show, Don’t Tell” is for Beginners: Thanks to “show don’t tell,” I find writers in my workshops who think exposition is wicked. They’re afraid to describe the world they’ve invented.… This dread of writing a sentence that isn’t crammed with “gutwrenching action” leads fiction writers to rely far too much on dialogue, to restrict voice to limited third person and tense to the present.

I'm really confused by what you're saying— If you describe the world using dialogue rather than narration, doesn't that make it easier to stay within point of view because the people talking can only say what they know? Dialogue could help convey things from different characters' points of view I guess, but that's not a problem. You're not leaving your main character's point of view just because another character voices disagreement with them.

[pelwrath]

That's from an article by Ursula K. LeGuin. The link I provided if you copy/paste takes you to it.

I'm so gun shy about not using dialogue. I avoided exposition/narration unless I have to use it, then I keep it short and simple and end up using tell over the show. Yes, some light action or description tags or lines are woven in. I also end up either slipping out of a character's POV with no warning or indication.