parallel POVs + first person

Windcutter · Jan 4, 2012

This is something I see quite often in recent YA: two POVs running side by side, giving us the perspectives of both important characters in first person. Judging from the reviews, some readers see the similarity of voices as the main problem, but if I had to complain about some related issue, it would be the great big rehash. Not every book with dual POV suffers from this, obviously, but I've read quite a few where both characters kept describing the same events from two sides--the events that weren't really complicated enough to deserve such a thorough treatment.

Some say that's the wrong way to write dual POV--that it's meant to describe the events when they are not only experienced very differently by two characters but also interpreted by them in different ways. So we can see the whole picture only when we piece two narratives together, it must be like a puzzle being completed. Others say the purpose of dual perspective is to give us a deeper understanding of characters. There is also an opinion which I partially share--such stories tend to lack suspense, especially when the characters are interacting all the time and the plot hangs on one or both of them having secrets from each other. Finally, some cynical minds consider it to be just an easy way to beef up the word count.

I must say the best way I've seen it work in YA was in a book full of adventure and action where both characters stood on different sides of the law and had quite a lot of separate events happening to them. The worst one was in a typical YA paranormal in which a normal schoolgirl met a supernatural boy--his POV spoiled all the intrigue his appearance, nature and goals might have provided.

What do you think?

Becca C. · Jan 4, 2012

I wrote a book exactly like you're describing -- parallel POVs in first person. I think it works, and I'll tell you why

not to explain why I'm so awesome, but just to demonstrate some things I did and why I did them and what it does to the story.

One, the characters don't know each other in real life. They meet online. This gets rid of the vast majority of repetitiveness, since they never actually experience the same things at the same time. There are just a few online chat scenes where I wrote them from each side, and I split those scenes from the centre. One character's POV is from the beginning of the scene to the middle, then there's a chapter switch and the other POV takes it from the middle to the end. There are crucial things each character misses, and crucial things one picks up on that the other doesn't, etc.

Two, the characters are completely lying about who they are. One presents himself as a stylish, popular, gay emo boy, when he's really a girl from a reality TV fundamentalist family (think 19 Kids & Counting). The other is relatively true to his real life self, but he's in a wheelchair and online he hides that fact. The fake personas get in the way of the characters really getting to know each other, but each thinks they're in love with the other and each believes the other's story, even though they know that they themselves are lying.

It ties into the themes of the novel, but it also provides dramatic irony. The reader knows who's hiding what, but seeing someone swallow a lie so easily and get dangerously close to revealing themselves... it gets tense. I was on the edge of my seat writing it. It's like watching a train wreck.

Anyway... I like it

Sage · Jan 4, 2012

Yep, if there are multiple POVs (whether first or third), I think it's best not to overlap the same scene unless the two are actually seeing drastically different things. 99.9% of the time, we don't need to see the scene from both POVs, but some writers are convinced we do (an assumption that also causes new writers to want to be able to head hop. Really really we don't need to be in both their heads). But sometimes the perspectives are so unique that we do gain something significant by seeing what's happening through a different pair of eyes.

Most first-first dual POVs don't rehash the same scene. I agree that to pull it off, you need very different voices.

Jehhillenberg · Jan 4, 2012

Sage said:
Yep, if there are multiple POVs (whether first or third), I think it's best not to overlap the same scene unless the two are actually seeing drastically different things. 99.9% of the time, we don't need to see the scene from both POVs, but some writers are convinced we do (an assumption that also causes new writers to want to be able to head hop. Really really we don't need to be in both their heads). But sometimes the perspectives are so unique that we do gain something significant by seeing what's happening through a different pair of eyes.

Most first-first dual POVs don't rehash the same scene. I agree that to pull it off, you need very different voices.

I'm -- or was -- guilty of this. As Sage basically said, I wanted zero confusion on the reader's part and yeah I wanted the fully realized scene of both perspectives for the reader. I've cleaned up my stuff though. I especially agree with the bolded part because it better explains my intent sans cleaning up the MS.

There is a reason, quite a bit of them, I chose to write dual POV for one of my MSs. I wanted to try my hand at dual POV (I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon) and I felt it worked for the story. And characterization. I wasn't worried about voice, because my MCs' personalities are opposites and they are distinguished enough betas could tell whose POV they were in (maybe w/o the name title).

I've got a cheater for one MC and right off the bat there are those who are partial to cheaters. Like hate/despise 'em. Which is completely understandable. But his POV serves the title and his character arc wouldn't have progressed as it did without it. Mainly because my other MC hates him, doesn't really interact with him (willingly), and her sole perspective would kill his growth as a character to the reader. My MCs lack communication because one is too obstinate and the other is pretty clueless as to what's going on.

The dual/multiple POV's I've read didn't exactly rehash the same event [at the same time]. There was more reflection on the event and a decent bit of suspense. But... Though I enjoyed reading Sazuma's novel this past summer, I do think one of the POV's was kind of a throw-away. Didn't add much, but then again, I might as well make an argument about the character.

Silver-Midnight · Jan 4, 2012

Well, I think you can pull it off. William Faulkner technically did, even though he played with time a lot. So, I definitely think it is possible to do, but it just might be hard to do.

I think this is a good idea if your book is more character focused rather than plot focused, if you what I mean. If your book is meant to leave the reader feeling more affected by the character due to the plot rather than the plot itself, then this will probably be a good idea to use. For example, using Faulkner, As I Lay Dying has a simple plot: the family is going to bury their mother/wife in her hometown. However, what makes this story so powerful are the feelings of the characters, and how they are each individually affected by the death.

This is all just my opinion though.

missesdash · Jan 4, 2012

I hated dual POV's until I beta read a project that did it very well. Before that it just reminded me of lots of horrible fanfiction.

But the MS I read did a really great job creating two voices and the events never overlapped. One thing I don't love, however, is how it often slows the suspense because a lot of people hop heads at crucial points.

So going from a scene where MC1 is about to cross the grand canyon on a motorcycle, directly to a scene where MC2 is at a petting zoo—that drives me insane. I'd prefer parallel story structure.

Darkarma · Jan 4, 2012

I've actually been planning this exactly. Same story, two view points, and first person view. I am however dreading the part where I have to figure out how to ensure I don't have the same voice being used for both characters.

The only examples I can really draw upon are the Animorph's Megamorphs books and to some degree Jim Butcher's Urban Fantasy comparing Harry with Murphy and Thomas' PoV Novellas.

My own persoanl reason for doing this side to side PoV is simply it will also allow me to hide some clues as to each character's plans a bit easier without actually cheating.

parallel POVs + first person

Windcutter

Becca C.

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Jehhillenberg

N/A

Silver-Midnight

missesdash

You can't sit with us!

Darkarma

Master-Mage