Is there a way to write all points of view in a story?

Question: Is there a way to write all points of view in a story!?

I'm currently in the beginging of writing this real cool story with 5 main characters and i was wondering if it's possible for a writer to change POV's through out the story!. Like wat i want to do is start as first person to give all the characters their full attention then as the story progresses change to 3rd person!.
how could i do that tho!?
any thoughts!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Like some of the others said, you can change point of view by chapter or page break!. I once read a book where the chapter titles weren't really titles, just the name of the character it was in the point of view of!. One would say "Jared" and the next one would say "Kate" and so on!. And for page breaks, just make sure if you do that, that people know who'se telling the story!. It would be easy if your 5 characters are all in different places and/or situations and in that case, you wouldn't have to worry so much, but if they're all in the same place and together, make sure it's apparent who's telling the story!. As for switching to third person, I don't think there's any specific or special way to transition!. Just go ahead like you're changing POV, which really, you are, so!. Yeah!.

But there are a few things to think about!. I don't know how you're planning this, but you have 5 characters!. That's really a lot for switching POV!. Usually, it's switched between two points of view and maybe three sometimes!. But you're doing 5 so you have to make sure there's a method to this, that everyone gets their fair share of the limelight, and that you do it in order!. If they're all the main characters you can't focus too much on certain characters even if you may like them more!. You see what I mean!? This might get a little tough, because if I were reading a story with 5 things happening at once, it would get confusing!. So be careful how you write it!. Of course, if some of the characters are together and two of them experience the same thing, but we see it through two different pairs of eyes, that's different!.

I hope I haven't confused you, I just wanted to give you some things to think about!. You may have thought about them already, but I kind of started and kept going, and I hope you get what I'm saying!. And good luck with your story!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I've seen something similar done in some novels, where the writing is 3rd person omniscient, but the POV character changes periodically, usually each chapter!. This allows the writer to fully flesh out the character by showing us their thoughts and impressions of the world around them!.

This seems like it would be a good way for you to do what you want - stay in 3rd person omnipotent for each character, but shift which character you're "following" over the course of the book!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Read the book Maximum Ride!. Each chapter is between 1 page and 5 pages, and each chapter is a different point of view, continuously switching!. And it's an excellent series!.

How they do it is, well, it's first person from Max's view, then it'll switch to the enemies view in third person, and then it will go to someone with max from third person, and back to max!.

So, you could do it similar!.!.!. when feelings of a next character needs to be shown!.

Good luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing but, I have read books where different chapters are different characters!. Like chapter 1 is called Annie, and it's all Annie's point of view, then Chapter 2 is called Bob, and it's all Bob's point of view, and you share the same stuff and then further in every chapter, it's hard to explain!. Good Luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

One of my favorite books, "Sometimes a Great Notion",by Ken Kesey- its' a kind of 'cubist' (life revealed from all sides) novel,sometimes omniscient, sometimes narrated through letters,seen through character's point of view,you name it!. Its' an easy read and very entertaining!.Transitions are smooth just study how he does those if your in a hurry!. The key is not to let the reader notice it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I have seen Malorie Blackman do this in her Noughts & Crosses series and was quite effective!. She did it by changing POV in each chapter and each chapter was named after the character who's POV it is written in to make it less confusing!. She didn't change to 3rd person though, however if it is done correctly I think it could work!. Good luck with your story!Www@QuestionHome@Com

It'll work better if you change back and forth though the story!. Just either do it by chapter or page break!. It'll work, I've seen it in books!. I'm even considering using it my own book!. Going first person and they just suddenly changing it to third person half way through the story would be confusing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

hmm, you probably could do what that, it sounds pretty complicated and it would take alot of work!.!.!.im getting confused just thinking about it lol!. But if you want to, give it a go and see how it works out!. I don't think theres any right or wrong in writing styles!. eg!. How i live now has a very unusual style but i love it :-)

good luck

xxWww@QuestionHome@Com

Yeah, I've seen books do that!. A good example is Flipped by Van Draanen (don't know the author's first name)!.
Murder novels do it sometimes so you can see the POV of the murderer and the victim!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You can do that, if you write the name of the characters in the chapter!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

change the pov each chapterWww@QuestionHome@Com