Writing in Multiple POVs: Do’s and Don’ts
Choosing to write a book from multiple points of view (POVs) can be both a creative thrill and a structural challenge. When done well, it can deepen the reader’s experience, expand the story’s emotional range, and offer nuanced perspectives that a single narrator can’t provide. But writing in multiple POVs requires clarity, precision, and thoughtful intention—otherwise, your story may feel fragmented, confusing, or emotionally disconnected.
If you’re considering writing your novel or memoir using multiple perspectives, here are some key do’s and don’ts to guide your process.
DO: Give Each POV a Clear Purpose
Every POV character should serve the story in a distinct and meaningful way. Ask yourself:
What does this character know that others don’t?
How does their perspective shape or complicate the central tension?
What unique emotional arc can they offer?
If you could remove a POV and the story still works, consider whether that perspective is essential or just interesting.
DON’T: Overwhelm the Reader with Too Many Voices
More isn’t always better. Introducing too many POVs can dilute emotional resonance and confuse your reader. Most effective multi-POV stories balance two or three voices at most. Each voice should be memorable, consistent, and emotionally anchored.
DO: Distinguish Each Voice
Voice differentiation is critical. Even in third person, each POV should feel distinct through vocabulary, rhythm, tone, and internal thoughts. If every character sounds the same, the shift in perspective loses impact.
Take a paragraph of internal thought from each POV character and read them aloud. Can you tell who’s speaking without any identifiers?
DON’T: Head-Hop Within a Scene
Jumping between POVs within the same scene (especially within the same paragraph) is disorienting. Even if you’re writing in third person, clarity is key. Stick to one character’s interiority per scene or section and make shifts with clear transitions such as chapter breaks or line breaks with visual markers.
DO: Anchor the Reader in Each Switch
When switching POVs, ground the reader early in the new perspective. Use sensory cues, emotional orientation, and narrative focus to immediately signal whose lens we’re in. The sooner we know where we are, the easier it is to follow the emotional thread.
DON’T: Rehash the Same Scene from Different Angles
Retelling the same scene from multiple perspectives can work beautifully but only if it reveals new information, emotional layers, or deepens conflict. If it’s just a replay, readers may grow impatient. The except here is if understanding a scene from multiple angles adds depth to the story, then it is okay to embrace that. Just pick and choose which scenes are the most important to do this with.
DO: Give Each POV Character an Arc
Each POV character should have their own transformation not just serve the protagonist’s journey. Consider how the events of the story impact them and how they evolve by the end. This ensures every voice carries weight and contributes to the thematic whole.
Writing in multiple POVs invites you to explore the human experience through many lenses but it also demands greater discipline. With clear purpose, strong character voices, and well-structured transitions, your story can bloom into something richer than one voice alone could tell.
Are you writing a novel or memoir with multiple POVs? I’d love to hear how you’re approaching it! Join the Her Narrative Collective to work on your book in community with other authors.
