Switching POV in the same chapter: The Writing Device that Writers Love and Readers Hate? A Deep Dive

Disclaimer: Any sarcastic and self-deprecating jokes are meant as a criticism against me and me alone, and are not meant as a blanket statement against all writers. I wrote it this way because it was easier than wallowing in severe self-disappointment at my own writing device choices.

Okay, okay, the title might be an exaggeration, but it got your attention, didn’t it? When Nikki started reviewing books for Besties Review Stuff, one of the first critiques she made was the POV (Point of View) changes in the middle of the chapters.  Then in the next review, she made the same critique again.  This second book I also reviewed, and I personally liked the jumping POV, but it got me thinking: is this a storytelling device most readers find annoying?  

I decided to ask Nikki to put to a poll to see what more people thought about it for this blog post and here are the results of the wide-reaching and highly scientific study: (on the left if you’re viewing on a desktop) :

So it looks like more people would prefer one POV per chapter than not, even though it has become increasingly common in the fiction that we’re reading.  And dear reader, if you think I am coming to this subject completely unbiased with an even-handed, outsider’s perspective, that would be completely wrong. 

Not even close.

My own first book, Romance Is for Other People, is told from the perspective of best friends, Chris and Lydia during their first year of high school.  I use First person and I switch between Chris and Lydia’s POV in the same chapter, sometimes even in the same scene.   I freely admit that I am completely biased on this issue, and I do not in any way think I can provide an even-handed perspective.  

But having said all that, I tried to think about the reasons readers might find same-chapter POV jumping annoying.  I’m thinking of three reasons at the moment: it is confusing, annoying, and there is less time in the world of one of the characters.  

Confusing and Annoying go together but not completely.  The jumping POV can be annoying but not confusing, as in, you can tell the difference but you just wish with everything in you that you could stay with one character - but no, not that one.  The other one.  No, no, the other other one.  

Confusing doesn’t have to be annoying, if at first, it doesn’t seem to make sense in the first chapter, but then the second clarifies things, and suddenly you understand and it’s not confusing anymore.  

Thirdly, as a reader delves deeper with one particular character better and better.  With one unbroken chapter (or one whole book, even better), in just one POV, getting to know their thoughts, feelings, hopes, and desires, the reader begins to bond with the character and begins to identify more with that one character.  When that POV is stopped, and replaced by someone else, all that built-up connection with the reader is sometimes cut short and the impact could be lessened.  

But you must be asking, then why do writers use such a writing device?  Why, when there are very real reasons readers probably find it annoying, do writers (like myself) decide to use it? (And I respond that with my book, I always put a tag at the top of any perspective change: written as “Chris.” or “Lydia.” to know exactly who’s speaking in each scene.  I make sure no one is confused about who is speaking in any scene. That’s what I keep reminding myself. There, I fixed it…I think.)

So what are some reasons writers like myself like to use jumping POV?  First, when there is a commitment to more than one POV, there is a burning desire to express the thoughts of both characters in the scene.  To get inside the head of both and show how each is feeling and reacting.  This burning desire to show different POV in the same scene has plagued many an author, including myself.  

Second, many authors like myself jump POV because they think of the action happening linearly and/or simultaneously.  To keep focus on one character means to ignore what happens with another character.  They see all the actions in one chapter leading to the actions in the next chapter.  Here’s what a reader would want to see with one POV per chapter, and how a writer might see it in his head:

Chapter 1: Wesley; plot points A-C

WA WB WC

Chapter 2: Megan; plot points A-C

MA MB MC

But this is how the author might see it:

WA MA WB MB WC MC

1 2 3 4 5 6

In the author’s mind, to break up the action for only one character means to break the flow of the plot.  Every plot point is arranged just right in the author’s head, where the actions of Wesley affect Megan and vice versa, and to stay with just one character would be to mess up that intricately plotted story.  Both work simultaneously to bring about the storyline the author had dreamed up.  And now I may have thoroughly confused you to the point you’ve already decided to read something else.  Preferably not with more than one POV per chapter.

And finally, this is a criticism I’ve been told personally, but there must be others out who think this way too, right?  I’ve been told I think about my book as a movie.  Yes, books and movies are different, but in some writer’s heads, they see it as scenes from a movie, not words on a page.  And there is some truth to that.  In a movie, there is a main character, yes, but you can see the reactions of each character to an action in a scene almost immediately.  And you want to express how all the characters are reacting in a particular scene like you would a book.  Even though books should be approached as their own unique medium.  Cue the soundtrack you always had in your mind for particular scenes in your book.

So now that we understand why readers find same-chapter jumping POV annoying and why authors (or this author, anyway), might think it works for them. So what should readers and writers glean from this article?  My thought is: “Writer: Be Wise” and “Reader: Seek to Understand.”

If you are a writer reading this and you have the whole multi-character expansive plot that just has to jump from character to character in the same chapter or same scene…just know that readers might be so confused to the point they might stop reading.  A story with a fantastic idea, engaging characters, and heart-pounding action but told poorly - is still all of those things!  However, using a storytelling device like jumping POV might keep readers from engaging with your story.  So be wise with how you decide to tell your story.  It might work if done well but know that readers have their own opinions on this storytelling device, and you may not be going with their opinions. 

If you’re a reader reading this, then I implore you on behalf of all writers: seek to understand.  If you’re not getting it in the first chapter, read a few more to get a better flavor of how the whole book is going to shape out.  Maybe that storytelling device will all make sense later on down the line.  Who knows? You might really get into the story after all, and if you had given up, you wouldn’t have discovered something you ultimately found enjoyable and engaging.  

And if the story is still not working after reading a few chapters - well, I think any writer would tell you to keep reading until the end before you make a full assessment.  You’ve already read three chapters, might as well finish the whole thing!    (You think I would add a “just kidding,” here, but I’m not.  Nope, not going to do it.)   

So what do you think?  Wherever you land on the issue, please comment down below!  Are you a writer who thinks that jumping POV in the same chapter is confusing and annoying?  Are you a reader who actually enjoys the fact that you get two characters’ perspectives in the same chapter?  Wherever you land on the issue, I want to read your perspective and why you have that perspective.  I want to hear your best defense of your viewpoint!  

But - and I’m being serious here - there’s no need to be bashing the entire book - this is about the jumping POV debate, not that the entirety of some book you read.  I want this to be a place to debate the merits of using a storytelling device, not putting down every single little thing you don’t like about a person’s story.  Just felt I needed to say that.

In any case, please leave your comments down below!  I would love to see some good discussion about this debate.  


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Happy Birthday Nikki!