Behind the Scenes: Building Quaraun's Universe - A Worldbuild Guide For Fantasy Writers
Do readers prefer Multi PoV or Single PoV?
Do readers prefer Multi PoV or Single PoV?
Jan 04, 2022
The Question:
hi so I'm writing a book and it changes between characters' perspectives, specifically, 3 characters at the moment, and I've seen so many mixed reviews about whether people like this or not, please let me know your opinions!
My Answer:
I think a good thing to consider is this:
>>> Harry Potter is a single character PoV following just one character straight through, and it has sold millions, is loved by millions, and went on to become a movie franchise with toys and action figures and collectables and droves of screaming fan girls and fan boys.
>>> Game of Thrones is a multi character PoV following who knows how many dozen or so characters back and forth forward and backward and sideways, jumping here, jumping there, this character then that character, probably more PoV characters than any series ever written, and it has sold millions, is loved by millions, and went on to become a TV show franchise with toys and action figures and collectables and droves of screaming fan girls and fan boys.
Clearly there are just as many people who enjoy multi PoV as there are people enjoy single PoV
I believe you should write what you most enjoy reading. So, look at the last 10 or 20 novels you read, and pay attention to the PoV shifts in each. Are they predominantly single PoV with only minor shifts? Or are they predominantly multi-PoV?
Like for example, me? I most enjoy reading single PoV with a very limited 3rd person persecution. Neverly all of my top 500 fave novels I ever read, have this PoV. Only a few have multiPoV or first person or 2nd person. So, with this in mind, I write predominantly limited narrow focused 3rd PoV with just one character, simply because this is my personal fave PoV to read, and I feel that we as authors should write books we ourselves would read. I mean, if the author writes a book they themselves wouldn't buy and read, than how should they expect anyone else to want to buy and read it, right?
But, say someone who loves reading 1st person, they will likely write mostly 1st person. And someone who read mostly multiPoV, would likely writing mostly multiPoV.
I don't feel that there is a right or wrong way to go. There are readers every PoV, and there are readers who dislike each PoV. There is an audience for them all. It really doesn't matter which way you write it, because there is always going to be someone who loves reading that PoV you write no matter which one you write.
Just write what you most read, because it'll feel most natural and comfortable for you to write.
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