 Drama: November 15, 2017 Issue [#8585] |
  Drama
This week: Can Several Characters Tell Your Story? Edited by: Joy  
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“We write our personal story as intermittent authors; the narrator is always searching for a unitive point of view. We strive to perceive oneself from a unified perspective, but it is virtually impossible to do so. Human perception of the self is an illusion. We constantly sift through shifting memories. We experience the present under the fragrance cast by the past and under the illusionary aura of the future.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls
“First-person narrators is the way I know how to write a book with the greatest power and chance of artistic success.”
― Anne Rice
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.”
― Harper Lee
“Understanding is not absolutely final.
What's now right could be wrong later.”
― Toba Beta, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut
“Moreover, the more deeply a view is ingrained, the less likely we will see it as influencing us—or see it at all. If you want to know what water is, don’t ask the fish.”
― Mitch Stokes
Hello, I am Joy , this week's drama editor. During NaNo Prep, the question of using multiple POV characters came up. This issue is about that concern.
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Welcome to the Drama newsletter
A character’s Point of View, POV for short, is seeing the events from only that character’s point of view. It is the position from which something or someone is observed. We are all familiar with the different points of view as first, second, third, and omniscient. In this newsletter, however, we are going to examine the pros and cons of the popularity of using multiple point-of-view characters. I actually think this is a good practice, and I have used it several times in novels that are yet to be revised  .
Still, writing a novel using multiple points of view can be perplexing, and it may hurt the pacing due to the different characters’ perspectives. If not handled with care, verbosity, flow, and confusion of the story's events may occur.
On the positive side, multiple points of view can contrast, explain, and add to the protagonist’s perspective, and they can also enlarge a story to add to the texture and scope of it, akin to or together with the subplots. When using multiple points of view, choosing a specific character at a proper place in the plot is important. Otherwise, the readers may mix up the sequence of events.
To avoid these pitfalls, my rule of thumb is using only one point of view within one scene. Surely the other characters may refer to the scene if it is important, but the most detailed scene-presentation should be done from only one character’s POV per scene.
Another point is to signal the change when a different POV is used. I do it by giving each character his or her own chapter and by writing the name of the character at the beginning of the chapter. This creates a better understanding of each character’s psychology and motivations. Then, when characters contradict one another’s insights or have different views on the events, the readers will see the characters as human beings with complex personalities.
One advice most writing teachers give is not to rehash the same scene by different characters. I think, however, this may depend on the novel and the importance of a certain scene. After all, there is no one wrong way to write a story as each writer has the authority over his creation.
The question often asked is how many POV characters can be used in a medium-sized novel. Again, there is no clear-cut answer to that as this is left to the writer’s discretion; although, it may be wise to choose each point-of-view character with a good reason and according to the character’s importance to the plot and how much his insight and his way of seeing things can confirm the underlying theme of a novel.
One thing not to do is to give every character a voice without a good reason. If there are only three main characters in a story, then giving each one his voice will add to the presentation of the story. On the other hand, if there are a thousand characters, as in some war stories, picking the most important voices will make the action and the insights clearer rather than telling the story from their thousand POVs. Then, killing an important point-of-view character may disappoint the readers and cause them to stop reading; so, if we are going to kill off such a character, we must do it with utmost delicacy or refrain from giving a strong and likable voice to a character who will be done away with eventually.
Yet, another point is to give each point of view character a distinct voice, mannerisms, background, and descriptive details. This will help reorient the readers to the different voices.
Using multiple point-of-view characters can be a very good practice as this can drive the plot forward with a deeper understanding, but we must be very careful while using this tool.
Until next time, and Happy Thanksgiving!  |
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 This Issue's Tip: Make your protagonist and/or the main character in each scene anticipate something or other, negative or positive. This will provide small hooks and add to the tension and suspense.
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Feedback for "On Supporting and Minor Characters"
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Christopher Roy Denton 
Thank you so much for plugging Dying Love in your Drama Newsletter. Also, thanks for the advice on NaNoWriMo character development. I'm working on my NaNo prep right now! :)
You're welcome, and I am only too happy to plug it again.
Here: "Undying Love" by Christopher Roy Denton
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Osirantinous 
Great newsletter, Joy. I admit I don't tend to think much about my secondary characters, but that might be because I tend to have up to four main characters who share the limelight enough to be considered 'main'. But when I do have true secondary characters I do try to make them worth something, ie not just a 'crossing street in the background' kind of person. They have to help my MCs and plot, not distract from them. And... thanks for including my weird novel/blog thingy on Antinous
You're welcome and I'll be back to go after Antinous.  From what I have read so far, I think all your characters rock. You know how to handle them as well as the most noted authors, but then, I may be prejudiced where WdC authors are concerned, too. 
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