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Questions about switching viewpoint characters rapid fire
Hi everyone, I'm new to the site and have recently revisited The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing. I bought it nearly 10 years ago when I was in high school, but I'm finally resolving to apply it and complete my first novel (or rather, complete a novel for the first time).
I've plotted an 80-section (100k word) Sci-Fi novel with four VP characters:
Lead: Adam
Romantic Inv.: Toki
Confidant: Cedric
Opposition: Karly
I've upheld the 10-11 sections per non-lead VP character, but there's a point in the story, right before Surprise #2, where all four VP characters have sections one after the other. Section 37 is about Toki, 38 Cedric, 39 Karly, and 40 is about Adam and surprise #2.
I intended to build suspense by switching from one VP character to another to another, their actions setting up a big failure for the lead, but I realized that this might be too much non-lead action at once -- 15 pages before we get back to Adam again. Is it a risky (or just plain bad) idea to do this? Would the reader likely be thrown off or confused?
In other instances of the story, there is a VP character section, one lead section, then a section about another VP character. Again, is this too much switching?
Also, I'm trying to make sure I don't wait too long to pick up a VP character's storyline again, but how long is too long? Sometimes there are as many as 13 sections between a VP character's previous and next sections, and as few as 3 for another VP character. Both extremes seem problematic, but I'd like to have some opinions on this, too.
Thanks!
I've plotted an 80-section (100k word) Sci-Fi novel with four VP characters:
Lead: Adam
Romantic Inv.: Toki
Confidant: Cedric
Opposition: Karly
I've upheld the 10-11 sections per non-lead VP character, but there's a point in the story, right before Surprise #2, where all four VP characters have sections one after the other. Section 37 is about Toki, 38 Cedric, 39 Karly, and 40 is about Adam and surprise #2.
I intended to build suspense by switching from one VP character to another to another, their actions setting up a big failure for the lead, but I realized that this might be too much non-lead action at once -- 15 pages before we get back to Adam again. Is it a risky (or just plain bad) idea to do this? Would the reader likely be thrown off or confused?
In other instances of the story, there is a VP character section, one lead section, then a section about another VP character. Again, is this too much switching?
Also, I'm trying to make sure I don't wait too long to pick up a VP character's storyline again, but how long is too long? Sometimes there are as many as 13 sections between a VP character's previous and next sections, and as few as 3 for another VP character. Both extremes seem problematic, but I'd like to have some opinions on this, too.
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Evan Marshall on -
Hi Stephen,
I don't think you can do too much switching. The danger lies in going too long without checking in with one of your VP characters. When you do that, you lose momentum. I would say to switch as often as your instincts tell you to, remembering of course to keep an eye on the story's timeline--this can often dictate who you switch to and when.
I would say 13 sections between sections for a VP character is too long and should be broken up. Three sections between a VP character's sections is not a problem.
I hope this helps.
All the best,
Evan
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