What do you thing of POV changes across chapters?

[JDC_OnPaper]

I am currently writing a few chapters about a war the MC is involved in. I've currently prepped 3-5 chapters for it. This is an example of my distribution

Chapters:
Chapters X1- MC gets invited to talk with the local leaders about the war. But no strategizing, moreso on conversation about worldbuilding
Chapters X2- War suddenly starts, City is Besiege. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X3- City remains besiege but the tide suddenly turns of a strategy employed by the defenders. (POV remains on attacking forces)
Chapters X4- Leader of attackers is dumbfounded and goes panic mode, makes a shitty attack that virtually eradicates his forces. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X5- MC is the mastermind of the strategy and carefully explains the strategy he used.

What do you think about that? I mean, I plan consistent upload to make readers engage. Other than that, I don't' see much about it. I'm asking for any tips.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

It's okay.

 

[Domoviye]

As long as it's clear who has the POV, it's fine. It's only a problem when the POV character is unclear.

 

[LilRora]

POV changes are bad if you're writing a story that revolves around the character. A really good example of that is Azarinth Healer, following Ilea with very few POV changes through over 900 chapters as of now. In a story like that, showing things from another perspective is annoying, because readers expect to see the next thing the mc will experience, not what some other character is doing in the meantime.

But stories like I'm a Spider, so what? where the focus is on the events following the reincarnation of a group of people, further into the story affecting the whole world - this is something where POV changes are not just normal, they are even expected.

Based on what you wrote, I don't know which of those it is closer to, but if you want to focus on the war and on the battle, switching POVs is definitely good. If you wanted to focus on your mc, then you probably wouldn't write three chapters about the battle.

 

[Dieter]

Preferably use third person omniscient narrator.

 

[J_Chemist]

Do it smartly and it works. Do it stupidly and you'll be crucified.

Also, don't do 1st Person if you're going to be jumping around a lot.

 

[Tsuru]

2 advices

Read more
and let a complete nobody test

 

[lnv]

I am currently writing a few chapters about a war the MC is involved in. I've currently prepped 3-5 chapters for it. This is an example of my distribution

Chapters:
Chapters X1- MC gets invited to talk with the local leaders about the war. But no strategizing, moreso on conversation about worldbuilding
Chapters X2- War suddenly starts, City is Besiege. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X3- City remains besiege but the tide suddenly turns of a strategy employed by the defenders. (POV remains on attacking forces)
Chapters X4- Leader of attackers is dumbfounded and goes panic mode, makes a shitty attack that virtually eradicates his forces. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X5- MC is the mastermind of the strategy and carefully explains the strategy he used.

What do you think about that? I mean, I plan consistent upload to make readers engage. Other than that, I don't' see much about it. I'm asking for any tips.

POV changes are fine, the thing to generally avoid is POV changes within the same chapter. If you do plan to do it within same chapter, make it clear and do it only once per chapter (but do not make it a pattern over multiple chapters)

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Preferably use third person omniscient narrator.

I use this, but only focus on one character at a time. When it will give insight and build tension, I'll focus on another characters POV.

 

[Le_ther]

I am currently writing a few chapters about a war the MC is involved in. I've currently prepped 3-5 chapters for it. This is an example of my distribution

Chapters:
Chapters X1- MC gets invited to talk with the local leaders about the war. But no strategizing, moreso on conversation about worldbuilding
Chapters X2- War suddenly starts, City is Besiege. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X3- City remains besiege but the tide suddenly turns of a strategy employed by the defenders. (POV remains on attacking forces)
Chapters X4- Leader of attackers is dumbfounded and goes panic mode, makes a shitty attack that virtually eradicates his forces. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X5- MC is the mastermind of the strategy and carefully explains the strategy he used.

What do you think about that? I mean, I plan consistent upload to make readers engage. Other than that, I don't' see much about it. I'm asking for any tips.

I have read a story with multiple pov's called "running away from the hero" it really is quite annoying to have too much perspective but if done well.

It will help a lot in building up characters view and the perspective of the world to different individuals

 

[JayDirex]

I am currently writing a few chapters about a war the MC is involved in. I've currently prepped 3-5 chapters for it. This is an example of my distribution

Chapters:
Chapters X1- MC gets invited to talk with the local leaders about the war. But no strategizing, moreso on conversation about worldbuilding
Chapters X2- War suddenly starts, City is Besiege. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X3- City remains besiege but the tide suddenly turns of a strategy employed by the defenders. (POV remains on attacking forces)
Chapters X4- Leader of attackers is dumbfounded and goes panic mode, makes a shitty attack that virtually eradicates his forces. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X5- MC is the mastermind of the strategy and carefully explains the strategy he used.

What do you think about that? I mean, I plan consistent upload to make readers engage. Other than that, I don't' see much about it. I'm asking for any tips.

BE VERY CLEAR IN YOUR SYNOPSIS that this is Multiple POV.

there is a tag for it. Readers will grumble if the POV changes and it's not announced in your synopsis.

Do it! (put the multiple POV tag in as well).

 

[DiscoDream]

I am currently writing a few chapters about a war the MC is involved in. I've currently prepped 3-5 chapters for it. This is an example of my distribution

Chapters:
Chapters X1- MC gets invited to talk with the local leaders about the war. But no strategizing, moreso on conversation about worldbuilding
Chapters X2- War suddenly starts, City is Besiege. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X3- City remains besiege but the tide suddenly turns of a strategy employed by the defenders. (POV remains on attacking forces)
Chapters X4- Leader of attackers is dumbfounded and goes panic mode, makes a shitty attack that virtually eradicates his forces. (POV on attacking forces)
Chapters X5- MC is the mastermind of the strategy and carefully explains the strategy he used.

What do you think about that? I mean, I plan consistent upload to make readers engage. Other than that, I don't' see much about it. I'm asking for any tips.

Got my seal of approval. Pov shifts get annoying when they happen mid-chapter, so this setup looks good

 

[RepresentingCaution]

As long as you don't change POV every other paragraph, that's perfectly fine.

 

[Snusmumriken]

I have a few chapters with 3-4 separate POVs where each gets their own scene and usually titled by the name POV is narrated from.


100+ chapters and nearly 400k words and afaik no one complained about POV shifts. As long as your readers can quickly grasp who is who and immerse themselves into a scene it should be fine.