Do you think a novel can switch points of view?

Question

I'm writing a novel currently, and I'm thinking of getting it published after I finish it (I'm only thirteen, so that's another question: think it's possible if my writing's good enough? I'm actually not that confident, but I can dream, can't I? :/). It has seven main characters that are completely different, do you think it's fine to switch point of view about every chapter? Or maybe during the chapter? I usually write fanfiction, and it's not really a problem with that, but I'm not sure about an actual original novel. I may just write it from third person, but I'm more comfortable writing from a character's suggestion. So do you think it would be weird to read a story that constantly changes point of view?

Thanks in advance~

My characters are all completely different, so it wouldn't really be a problem of identifying who is narrating. At the beginning of the story is when I really mainly want to narrate from different point of views, because I want to convey how they all react so something that happens to all of them. It also tells a lot about their character and their life and everything. There is one person that I could narrate from the entire time after that, I guess, because he's the sane one of the group you could say, the main leader. But if I narrate from seven point of views in the first one or two chapters, and then the rest is just from one character's narration, I wasn't sure if that would be weird. That may work out the best, though, or just switching between him and one other person the rest of the time. Any ideas?

Answer 1

A lot of authors use multiple POV in their work, and it can be very effective. The best example I can think of right off the top of my head is Amy Tan, especially in "The Joy Luck Club".

The problem, however, is that multiple POV can be very confusing to readers (and even the writer) unless each character is very clearly defined. It can be very jarring to switch back and forth between POV, and so your characters have GOT to be easily distinguished from one another and remembered from narration to narration.

It can be done, but seven characters might be even more of a stretch. Can you narrow the narrator down to one or two characters? Just because a character narrates does not make him or her the automatic "lead"- a lot of stories are narrated by secondary or even tertiary characters. Think of the Sherlock Holmes stories or "Around the World in Eighty Days". I would suggest that you pick the character who has the most to offer as narrator, and then show the events through his or her eyes.

Answer 2

Absolutely! George R.R. Martin has an intriguing series of novels (A Song of Ice and Fire) and he tells each chapter from a character's point of view. It gives an interesting perspective as a reader, and also allows the author some freedom because unlike with a 3rd person narrator or an omniscient narrator, the reader isn't told everything, but rather a portion of the story as seen through the eyes of someone involved in the plot. It's a great idea!

Answer 3

Experimental fiction often switches point-of-view but it can be annoying for the reader. Mainstream fiction usually reserves the switches for indvidual chapters or sections of the novel or story. If you want to read a classic example, try The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner.
Writing a novel at 13! I commend you! I hope you get it published!

Answer 4

Sure that's fine, as long you let the reader know who's the narrator, and it follows the plot.

Answer 5

First, read "The Grapes of Wrath," by John Steinbeck. Ask yourself whether you could pull that off. If you answer yourself yes, then go for it. If you say honestly no, then go for a more conventional storytelling.

Answer 6

Many novels do that...there is also a famous Japanese movie called Rashamon that does it.