Question about having two MC's and two separate POV's

AlishaS · Nov 26, 2009

Ok so I am combining some previous works, I don't have chapters really instead where a chapter would start it is headed with a name.
I have two main characters which the story follows them separately in first person POV, and eventually they will meet up in present time but still go on with separate POV's per "Chapter", if that makes sense. I am sure there is a name for that type of writing and have noticed that it is becoming more popular.

Anyways question is, since I am combining two stories together to make one, with two separate POV in the beginning the time frame for each character doesn't quite add up. In one "Chapter" for one MC two days might pass, whereas only on might pass for the second.

Is this a major problem? Will people find it annoying? Eventually the two MC's will meet up and what goes on with both will be in the present time, and the same place. But to get there the story takes on a different path for each MC.

Am I even making sense lol? Any advice would be great.

job · Nov 26, 2009

If I understand you correctly ... you want two timelines running side-by-side, but at different rates.

So when you finish one scene on June 7, you'll go to the next, in a different pov, only it will be June 3.
Then you'll switch timelines again and and it'll be June 9.
Then you'll switch and it'll be June 8.

There are no rules, of course, and a writer can do anything he can get away with.
But I'd find this terribly disconcerting.

Is there some particular reason you don't change the timelines so they fit each other?

Charlie Horse · Dec 1, 2009

Write it how you feel it needs to be written. If it's a compelling story, the reader will keep reading. As long as it's clear what you're doing, most people are smart enough to follow along.

Question about having two MC's and two separate POV's

AlishaS

Is swimming with creativity frogs

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Charlie Horse

Speaking in metaphors