May 2023
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vapidink
May '23

I'm working on a story where I'm trying out an unusual structure. There are three characters that are the main focus, we'll call them A, B, and C. Most of the story is from character A's POV, but the story is sort of split into three story arcs and at the end of each arc there is an interlude chapter where we switch to character B or C's POV and we get some background info before starting a new story arc.

At the end of the book, a couple of the chapters switch from A's POV to B or C's. So, one chapter is from B's POV, the next from A's, then to C's, then back to A's, then back to B's, then back to A's for the remainder. Each chapter is entirely in one character's POV, so there is no jumping around in one chapter.

I've done it this way because they split up for a bit and I need to switch POV's to show what's going on, and even when they reunite, I think differing POV's get the point across better. This is all during a climactic fight. I'm wondering if this is something that would work, or if you guys--as readers--would dislike it.

I've written two drafts and am on the third, so I think it's really the best way to tell the story, but my opinion is obviously biased, lol. I ended up restructuring the beginning because it had a slow start during the previous drafts, so I'm okay with switching the end around. Thanks to anyone who chimes in!

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    May '23

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Ordinaryaverageguy
May '23

I don't recall reading a traditionally-published story that used that format. I think stories that could use that will instead use the common "3rd person omniscient" (I think that's the term) where the writer tells the reader what each character did, saw, heard, thought, etc. I feel sure you can make it work for you & as you say, you're trying something out, experimenting, so that alone is worthwhile.

vapidink
May '23

Sorry, should have clarified the story is in 3rd person, but the focus is on a single character per chapter, with most of the story focused on the MC. Kinda like Game of Thrones but I don't alternate POV's as much. Yeah, it's a more experimental structure so I was just wondering if people would be put off by it, haha.

AxemanRifflord
May '23

It’s sounds more conventional than Rick Riordan’s Hero’s of Olympus, which weren’t particularly hard for me to follow as a kid.

vapidink
May '23

I'll have to take a look at that one, thank you for your input!

cherrystark
May '23

I think it could work if you give each character a significant chunk of the story to tell. As a general rule, I am not a fan of constantly shifting POVs, especially when it comes to first-person POV. It gets really confusing to hop back and forth and you run the risk of repetition. This would be like doing a chapter for each character to describe them going to school that morning.

But since you mentioned it was in third person, changing POV does work if you treat the story like a TV show/movie. For example, if A is going to the coffee shop, B is on their way to work, etc. Each scene change carries the story forward. Or if A's chapter introduces the plot, B's will introduce an important side character, and C's will tie everything today.

3rd person is not hard to write. I'm sure you know how to do it. As a reader/writer, I am admittedly picky because, for me, a lot of the time "tricks" make it harder for me to understand. If you are showing us a scene on the page, the scene should carry the plot forward. Potentially reading the same scene multiple times to catch everyone's POV.

Lensing
May '23

I think it can work and can also be interesting to read.

There is one thing that you mentioned about switching POV between the different characters, it depends
on how this is excectued, but that sounds a bit difficult.

darthmongoose
May '23

The "His Dark Materials" trilogy is structured a bit like that, and it's a trilogy written for teens. The first book largely focuses on the character of Lyra, the second introduces and spends a long time with a new character, Will, before bringing their stories together, and then the third introduces Mary and follows her for large chunks, while jumping back to Lyra and Will and bringing all the story threads together at the end. It's really good and worth a read. The BBC TV adaptation is excellent, but played around with the structure a fair bit to bring in Will's story earlier; it's interesting to compare the two.

powerplantanimations
May '23

Mortal Kombat and Injustice are structured like that from what I recall. Each chapter is a character before cutting to the next individual. I don't think it loops back? But it does shift between different POV's like you say. As a kid, I was obsessed with this type of story format.

Smash Bros. did it for example? Sorta during Subspace Emissary where it cuts to different characters.

Anyway, any story structure can work. As long as it's consistent enough. This seems pretty organized so you should be in the clear.

vapidink
May '23
cherrystark

That's kind of how I'm treating it, with each chapter showing different events, even if they happen simultaneously. It's really just about five or six chapters total that would be written in B or C's POVs, the rest of the thirty or so would be in A's POV.

@Lensing It's not really difficult because I wouldn't be changing POV's in a single chapter, I'd be sticking to one character per chapter. I'm trying to be as straightforward with the story as I can, lol.

@darthmongoose I've heard of the show, but I never checked out the books. Will probably do it now though, sounds interesting!

@powerplantanimations It's been so long since I played Injustice or MK, haha. From what I remember of Injustice it was because they were telling the same story through different perspectives, which is kinda what I'd be doing but just for a couple of chapters at the very end. I'll definitely keep in mind how easy to follow it'll be for readers.

Thank you all very much for your input! I think I'll go ahead with this and just be sure to keep it easy to follow, maybe get a couple beta readers.