When two POV characters meet
I have two POV (3rd person limited) characters and they start the story as complete strangers and far apart. They don't meet for some time and they have very different experiences.
Now I want them to meet and live through some intense, important event. How can I choose whose POV to take during the event? They would have very different views of the same event and I want them both to convey their version to the reader. But I don't want to tell the same event again. What should I base my decision on?
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In the end it's up to you, but I think you haven't explored all of your options so far. You could also alternate between the characters views to show how different the situation feels for both of them. This makes it intense for the reader because they can read both points of view without anything feeling like they have to re-read stuff. You just have to be careful not to do this for a prolonged time or the reader might get a little exhausted from this practive. But for a relatively short and intense scene this can be perfect. And if you already switch between different characters, for example every chapter or so, your readers will already be accustomed to their individual "voices" and the fact that you are switching between characters. Just be sure to make it obvious when you switch. For example by regularly mentioning names, using specific phrases and using proper formatting that conveys a change in your story-telling.
To find the answer to your question simply list all options you have found by thinking about it and by asking other people and write what you think is good about the approach and what is bad about the approach in regards to your specific scenario. Think about your target audience, the length of the scene, the intensitiy / speed of the scene, the feelings you want to convey and how different this is from your usual approach.
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I essentially agree with all prior answers, but I'd like to offer a suggestion that I think is missing:
If you decide to choose only one character as the OV character for this scene, I would submit that you choose the POV of the character that knows less about the situation than their counterpart.
This can play out in two different ways, both beneficial to your story.
The first is that the reader doesn't yet know everything that you'd like them to know about the situation. By putting them in the shoes of the less-informed character, the character can ask questions/have reactions/gain knowledge in sync with the reader, inclining the reader to "connect with" the less-informed character in a way that would be impossible for the more-informed character.
The second is when the reader does know everything about the situation. In this case, the reader is held in mild suspense, trying to figure out when the less-informed character will find the truth, and likely "rooting" for said character.
Obviously, this won't work in all situations, and might not in yours, but it's my two cents as a general suggestion.
This post was sourced from https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43473. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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