Multiple perspectives in fiction
Using multiple perspectives in your novel can help to introduce complexity and allow you to craft a layered and compelling story. Suspense, tension, and intrigue build with each and every chapter, and once a reader is caught in the tangled web you’ve woven for them, they won’t want to put your book down.
But this narrative style can quickly become unwieldy and, when mismanaged, can lead to readers losing interest in your characters, or even skipping entire chapters to avoid them! So how can you overcome the inherent challenges — how can you keep track of all your characters, as well as the different timelines, plot revelations, and story beats? And how can you ensure the voices of your characters remain distinct and consistent throughout?
Ber Carroll (also known as B.M. Carroll) has written twelve novels, several of which feature dual- or multiple-narratives. In this one-hour session, Ber will talk you through her own process for successfully writing multiple perspectives and share:
- What can be achieved through writing multiple perspectives
- When to employ multiple perspectives
- How to determine your primary perspective
- How to differentiate your POVs
- Why your POV characters need their own goals, purpose, and story arc
- How to play with pace and structure to maximise suspense and tension
If you’re planning on trying out this narrative style in your next novel, or you’ve got a manuscript with multiple perspectives underway and you’re struggling, join us for this session for the guidance and specific tools you’ll need to tackle perspective in your novel.
This session will include a short practical task, and there will be time for questions.
Who is this for?
- Authors looking to employ multiple perspectives in their current or future fiction manuscript
- Authors wanting to explore a new narrative style
Can't make it to the live session?
No problem! Everyone booked in to this event will be emailed a link and passcode to access the recording afterwards. This recording will be available to view for 10 days after the live session. This also means that if you wish to revisit the session after attending it live to take further notes, you can do so!
After 10 days, the link will expire and the recording will no longer be available to view.