Alida, Kathryn, and returning guest Carlee discuss the pros and cons of using multiple points of view in your work. What does it take to craft a solid multiple POV story? How do you know whether or not to include that POV? Recommended reading for those interested in multiple POV.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What do we think about multiple points of view? And when should you cut them? What does a point of view character need to have? And when should you add another? We talk about the difference between dual, multiple, and ensemble casts and how it should affect your point of view character choices.
Check out our other episodes with Carlee:
SWRT 091 Going Deeper into Emotional Risks part one
SWRT 092 Going Deeper into Emotional Risks part two
SWRT 093 5 Steps to drafting with Motivation & Momentum
Check out some of Carlee’s work:
The Farmer and I: In the Middle of it all
The Farmer and I: A Rookie’s Field Guide to Farm Speak
What we talked about:
What do we think about multiple Points of View? (1:18)
Is there a benefit to writing more Points of View than you will end up using? (2:40)
Multiple points of view have to be done well, and in a way that is organic and essential to the story. (3:50)
Is there a unique story to be told by that point of view character? (4:42)
Have you assigned the scene to the best point of view character? (5:35)
Can your larger story support all of these points of view. (9:50)
Dual versus multiple point of view stories. (10:35)
Common pitfall: no one character gets the reader’s buy in. (13:52)
Are you representing multiple kinds of characters (perspectives) within your multiple points of view? (15:35)
What about ensemble casts? (17:44)
Watch the difference between television/film and novels. (19:50)
What about the omniscient narrator? (21:38)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
A Defense of Omniscience by Richard Russo
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 26: Introduction to Point of View
SWRT 27: First Person Point of View
SWRT 28: 3rd Person Point of View