How do I know whether or not to put my book in multiple perspectives? I think it would make my story better but how do I know if it really *needs* it? Thanks!
This is one of those writing decisions that can keep writers from progressing and lead to massive bouts of procrastination. Ask me how I know 😉. Multiple perspectives can add richness and complexity to a story, but they can also dilute tension or confuse readers if you use them without a clear purpose.
You need to understand why someone would choose to tell a story through multiple perspectives, know how to make it work in a way that flows, and also be objective enough about your work to know if it’s the right choice to make. So let’s dive into how you can tackle all three of those aspects.
Why do writers choose multiple perspectives?
Before deciding if your book needs multiple POVs, it helps to understand what they actually achieve. Multiple perspectives are typically used to:
Show events the protagonist couldn’t witness firsthand.
Create dramatic irony (letting readers know something characters don’t).
Explore different sides of a conflict with equal depth.
Build tension by cutting away at crucial moments.
Develop relationships by showing both characters’ inner worlds.
Expand the scope of your story’s world.
If your story doesn’t need any of these things, a single perspective might serve you better.
Questions to ask yourself:
When deciding whether multiple POVs are right for your story, work through these questions honestly. And I do mean honestly.
Give yourself the space to answer the questions truthfully and not as if you have another writer looking over your shoulder. This is your project, no one else’s, so you need to make the right decision for what it is, and not what you think it should be.
Does each perspective offer something unique?
Every POV character should bring information, insight, or emotional weight that couldn’t be achieved another way. If you can communicate the same information through dialogue, action, or your main character’s observations, you probably don’t need the additional perspective.
Are you solving a problem or creating one?
Sometimes writers reach for multiple POVs because they’re struggling with a single perspective, or finding it limiting or difficult. But switching perspectives won’t fix underlying issues with voice, pacing, or plot. Be honest about whether you’re drawn to multiple POVs because they genuinely serve the story or because you’re avoiding a challenge.
Can readers stay invested across the switches?
Each time you change perspective, you ask readers to reset their emotional engagement. If one POV is significantly more interesting than the others, readers are probably going to get bored. Ask yourself whether each perspective can hold its own weight.
Does your genre expect it?
Some genres lean heavily toward multiple perspectives. Epic fantasy, thrillers, and romance often benefit from them, for instance. Others, like cosy mysteries or coming-of-age stories, typically work better with a single, intimate viewpoint. Think about what readers of your genre expect and whether breaking from that serves your story.
Signs that you probably don’t need a new POV
You’re only adding a second POV for one or two scenes.
The additional perspective reveals information that could be shown another way.
You find yourself struggling to differentiate the voices in each POV.
One perspective feels like filler between the “real” story.
You’re using it to avoid writing difficult scenes from your protagonist’s limited POV.
If any of those sound like you, then you probably should rethink whether multiple POV’s is right for your project.
Try this: outline your story using only your main character’s perspective. Note every moment where you feel limited or frustrated by what they can’t see or know. Then ask yourself whether this is a limitation a problem, or is it actually creating tension and mystery that benefits the story?
Sometimes what feels like a limitation is actually a strength. A reader who knows only what your protagonist knows becomes deeply invested in their journey. Does the mystery and lack of knowledge actually make the pacing of your story better, or is there critical worldbuilding that your reader misses out on by only having a single POV.
There’s no universal answer to whether a story “needs” multiple perspectives. The real question is whether each perspective earns its place by offering something essential that couldn’t exist otherwise. If you can express exactly what each POV contributes, and it’s more than “I want readers to see this scene,” then multiple perspectives may well strengthen your story.
If you’re unsure, try writing a few chapters in both and seeing how you go. Your first draft should never be your final draft, so there is nothing stopping you from trying both options and putting them in front of readers to see which lands best.
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