How does POV work for third person?

[Twin]

Okay so we all have read first person novels where the pov changes for time to time, which basically means changing the narrator from one person to another.

But how does this work for a third person?

Suppose the narrator was solely focusing on character X ( his actions, thoughts etc ) explaining it from a third person pov. Now, how does it makes the switch and moves to character Y without confusing the audience?

 

[Gryphon]

"It works like this." Gryphon said, typing the answer to a question.

"Get the fuck in here," his mother called for him with a belt in her hand. She waited patiently for the scared little boy to come out. He opened the door, and she handed the belt to him with a proud smile. "Beat the shit out of him."

Gryphon smiled and his mother watched as he began beating a punching bag with his father's face taped on the head. The sight brought a tear to her eye.

"Soon, Marshall. He'll be strong enough to beat your ass at belt whipping."

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Carefully, of course!

Paragraph structure is important. I've seen some authors who don't know they are supposed to start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes in dialogue.

 

[Southdog]

Okay so we all have read first person novels where the pov changes for time to time, which basically means changing the narrator from one person to another.

But how does this work for a third person?

Suppose the narrator was solely focusing on character X ( his actions, thoughts etc ) explaining it from a third person pov. Now, how does it makes the switch and moves to character Y without confusing the audience?

I write my stories with multiple third-person limited perspectives. It's my favorite style. I would say multiple perspectives in a third-person story is easier to write than in a first-person story, because instead of saying "me, myself, and I," you're specifying the character.

With that said, MARK PERSPECTIVE SWITCHES, even if it's with something as simple as a chapter break or a little squiggly line instead of a straight line for scene breaks. Unmarked perspective switching is horrendous to read and only confuses the reader. I swap perspectives on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

 

[Cipiteca396]

It's way easier in third than first person? In first, there's no way to say who's perspective it is without some awkward 'Oh, I'm Mark by the way'. In third, you can just state who is thinking/speaking/acting.

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

First Person POV is like your viewing it based on your own self. Experiencing everything through your own eyes and mouth.

'I felt warm in my mouth' or 'This smell good' is basically compared to your own experience while following a character.

Third Person POV is basically a god's perspective(I.E. you as an author/reader are viewing things from an outside view) so everything is distant and while you can understand his outer looks(like how he looks like or how he is feeling), the view can't describe his inner turmoil well unless you include how that person's mindset through the story layout.

'He pick it up' or 'that person's face is scorched'. Are usually tend to come out in a third or second person's POV. Yet third person's POV has more free view than a second person's POV. Like one can view multiple thoughts in a span of a chapter or a story can fit multiple person's perspective rather than one person's perspective.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

"It works like this." Gryphon said, typing the answer to a question.

"Get the fuck in here," his mother called for him with a belt in her hand. She waited patiently for the scared little boy to come out. He opened the door, and she handed the belt to him with a proud smile. "Beat the shit out of him."

Gryphon smiled and his mother watched as he began beating a punching bag with his father's face taped on the head. The sight brought a tear to her eye.

"Soon, Marshall. He'll be strong enough to beat your ass at belt whipping.

Okay so we all have read first person novels where the pov changes for time to time, which basically means changing the narrator from one person to another.

But how does this work for a third person?

Suppose the narrator was solely focusing on character X ( his actions, thoughts etc ) explaining it from a third person pov. Now, how does it makes the switch and moves to character Y without confusing the audience?

Do what the above dude does, man. It's easy to do third person, just replace all 'I's to 'he' or 'she's.

There two ways to use 3rd person: keeping it restricted to the MC and his thoughts, or putting in multiple POVs and changing them on the fly.

Like for

Spoiler: example

Damien glanced at the girls vibrant head of hair and clicked his tongue in annoyance. She'd put so many damn medicinal herbs on him that he looked like a fucking Evergreen. It was just a few small cuts!

Vera, meanwhile, felt she needed to add a whole new layer entirely. She knew he could handle pain, but seeing him all bloodied made her scalp turn numb. He was too reckless, damn it!

Mary rolled her eyes at her daughter's fussing. They should just get married already. What good are all those denials when the girl is so blatant in showing her feelings?

I find the second way gives a lot more freedom and fun. You can detail thoughts and reactions from multiple characters in real time instead of having to write them down later in their own respective POVs.

 

[PeacefulMyst]

carefully

 

[LAJistics]

I just use a paragraph to change perspective. It only feels weird when the characters are both the same sex, because you're having to find ways around using he/she or her/him so often in a sentence.

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

I just take the POV of what the scene sees. Adding insight into characters as needed.

 

[MajorKerina]

It works however you want it to work. With third person you can decide to get inside someone’s head or just leave it to context clues. I like a ghostly observer who is able to pick up on things but doesn’t give away the whole game. Almost like a DM with some mind reading ability. Omniscient third person is pretty crazy although it’s generally falling out a favor because it leaves nothing to the imagination.

 

[Unregistered]

Looks like everyone's answered this question already :(