Is constant transition of point-of-view good?

[Shiny Loser]

I'm thinking of writing a fic that transits from one point-of-view to another, but still telling the story along the way.

And also I'm planning to put in some third person. Just asking if that's liked or not.

[Orange_Flaaffy]

Hmmm..If you are doing this it is best to stick to a set number of povs. I think more than three can get the reader lost.

Also, it is best if each pov takes up a longer amount of space, that is you should not be switching them every half page, and even when you do switch making it easy for the reader to tell who you are handing the story over to.

Often too many povs many be a sign that the author is taking the easy way out with ploting, that is, little is left for the reader to find out if you have a group of ten-twenty people all giving their two cents ;) .

Too many povs IMHO, take some of the zip away from writing and can end up with the author telling though the characters rather than showing though more action that could move the story forward more :).

Not that I am an master at this, my character tells all the time, but limiting a pov can make your story sound less 'know-it-all-ish' is the best way I can put it. Many fic at Serebii suffer from this trouble in their effort to sound 'deep' :P.

Too many povs could turn your story into a pokemon War and Peace, and who remembers every single character in that? *lol* ;)

[Shiny Loser]

I think i'm planning to name the person's POV in every chapter title. Would that be okay?

[Orange_Flaaffy]

I think i'm planning to name the person's POV in every chapter title. Would that be okay?
That's okay :) One of my favorite YA novelist does that...

[Sceptile Frost]

You shouldn't need a name. At least not after a while. The difference in voice and tone, even if it is third person, must be obvious. Thus, unless you can acomplish this, I'd recommend sticking to one point of view. First person is especially interesting (Anyone read 'Flipped'?) And I know The Pokemon Master at SPPf has a journey fic with tons of first-pov's. He uses names, or ??? if they are unknown. That might work, I guess, though really if its less than five you shouldn't need it.

[Kenny_C.002]

The narrative POV using different characters for each single chapter to form the coherent story is not a common, but a viable method. It's recommended that you plan out your story accordingly in order for the transition between chapters to be obvious enough so that I don't have to say read the title of the chapter to know exactly who is doing the narrative by about 1/2 way through the chapter. 1st person or 3rd, it doesn't matter.

[Deathspector]

It's good if you use it properly.

Like SF said, you needn't really tell the reader who's point of view it is. If you can change the style of writing to according to the personality of whoever's point of view you're writing from, it'll be fine.

Deathspector