Another question regarding multiple POVs

Hey, guys. Long time no see.

Let me start from stating that as a reader, I'm not overly fond of summaries, where important things happen but the POVs aren't there to witness them, and I thought I'd managed to avoid having to use those in my book. The question I'm about to ask pertains to multiple POVs, a yes/no/why-not in regards to my WIP. Bear with me, please.

I originally wrote draft #1 of the novel using two POV characters. I went fairly deep into each POV and tried to guide the storyline in such a way that everything relevant to the plot would be right there on the page.

Until I got to draft #2. One of the problems I realized I had was that the nearer to the climax I got, the more confusing it became. Now the story itself wasn't so, except what was on the page was a different thing entirely. The reason was that my group of characters split so they could do what had to be done, and I couldn't show what I felt was important but happened where my POVs didn't go (because they had their own tasks to complete during the same time).

Another problem I discovered was slightly different but related: there are two worlds in my novel. The MCs happen to be all from one of them. Initially, they don't care a whole lot for the other world, but it changes towards the end of the novel. My idea of making the reader give a damn about it is to show that it matters to someone, that it's someone's home, etc. But none of my POVs would naturally present it that way, because to them, it simply... isn't.

Now the way I've seen it done, as a possible solution for both problems above, a temporary POV would be introduced solely for the purpose of showing one particular bit of action that happens in the absence of the MCs. My question: is it worth it? Do you find it jarring? For a long time, I wasn't big on that - until I saw it done well (or I thought it was done well, in any case) in a way that advanced the story and made it easy to follow, by getting all the important things on the page in a more or less chronological order, and avoiding those "now we've done things, let's fill everyone in on the details" conversations I happen to dislike.

Now doing that would mean the structure of the novel as I've been writing it so far would have to be changed... I'm not against it, but I'm also not convinced I should do this.

For the record, I write fantasy, and while the story isn't necessarily epic, it's fairly large in scope despite unfolding over the course of four days in story-time. I suppose what I'm asking is - should I stick to my MC-POVs no matter what, or is it okay to use multiple, one-time POVs for the sake of the story? I admit that kind of feels like taking the easy way out to me, for some reason.

I'll be glad for any and all pointers you guys can give me on this.

blacbird said:

Most novel writers, especially beginning novel writers, would benefit greatly by adopting a "standard" POV for narration (either first- or third-limited), and soldiering diligently onward within the discipline imposed by that POV. Experimenting with POV is almost always a journey into quagmire for a beginning writer. Especially if the only reason is curiosity, or "because I can". Spend your energy on more productive aspects of your writing. Like, character and story.

caw

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I'm not quite sure if you haven't read my post carefully or you were just making general statements about approaching POV, but I asked my question precisely because I'm trying to find the best way to tell the story, not because I want to experiment out of curiosity or "because I can".

As a general comment, what you said is, of course, very much correct and worth to remember. I don't quite see how it applies, though.

Thanks, anyway.

Liosse de Velishaf said:

First, you need to consider why you've brought these characters to this other world. What is their purpose there? How does this purpose affect their feelings towards the world?

Finally, how much effect do these feelings have on the characters' motivations to do whatever it is they are doing in/for this other world? How important to a reader enjoying/believing in the story is the reader caring about the world? Finally, how would connecting this caring perspective to the off-stage action affect those two aspects of the story?

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Yeah, explaining everything in detail might be tricky - you'd probably have to read the novel for that... ;-) Anyway,

They created that world, out of necessity (that's a huge oversimplification here). That's why it's important. But the fact they're not fond of it doesn't mean they can avoid taking responsibility for what they made. Their society/culture as a whole has a bad attitude towards it, something that makes sense to them but is, from the objective standpoint, simple ignorance and fear.

The issue lies in the fact that they (the characters) are wrong, but there's no way to show that. And I think it's important to show before my MCs notice it, mostly because it raises the stakes. If the reader isn't shown any decent reason to care, they won't care when someone goes, "oh, we don't care if that world survives or not". But if they can see what it's really like...

In any case, you ask good questions and they definitely made me think. So, thank you.

Dale Emery said:

If the third POV shows up for just a short bit, that can be annoying.

Can you give the third POV character a small arc that's interesting on its own? The idea is to introduce the third character's arc early, before the other two have reached the midpoint, then drop a scene in now and then. That way, the POV character is not just delivering information, but also carrying a plot of her own, with conflict and action and all.

Dale

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Thanks to your question about the small arc, I think I've just solved at least part of this problem. In the second half of the story, one of my MCs meets two people from that other world, and they stay with him until the climax. Might as well introduce them earlier and let them narrate if something important in their part of the millieu comes up.

Thanks for helping me think! ;-)

Liosse de Velishaf said:

It should be noted that you're putting your MC's at a possible disadvantage by undercutting the reader's trust in them. Sounds like a real challenge to keep their motivations believable in the face of superior knowledge. Hope it turns out well.

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Yes, yes. And I like it that way. It is somewhat risky, and if it ends up not working very well, I'll tweak it until it does... or such is the plan, anyway, but one of the key points to this novel is that everything is shades of grey (the villain is very much the hero of his own story, etc). So I hope it works out.

Thanks again, Liosse.