More on point of view

[Faye]

How little is too little when shifting POV from the main character?

What the hell am I on about? Well, using Kim's Grimoire as an example, we get substantial chunks of POV from each of the three students (Prudence, Justin & Holly), Christian, and the members of the black magic circle. The Resurrectionists divides its time more or less equally between Maisie and Georgette.

But what about a story that is told from the POV of the main character 99% of the time, with occasional flashes from the viewpoint of others? Is this a reasonable way to set out a story?

[spyndleshanks]

I can remember reading some stories that have occasional flashes of POV from other characters, but they tend to be plot advancing characters only. One I can remember used POV flashes from dying to characters so they could give hints to the reader about who the killer was. I can see a problem using this and not killing the character: the reader will be left wondering what the significance of that character is e.g. why were we given a glimpse into them if they're not important?

[Faye]

I'm hoping that my use of other POV characters won't be too much of a problem - I only use one other and I do think it's important to see the scenes from her perspective. I just have this fear that it looks sloppy to have just a couple of scenes from a different person's POV!

[spyndleshanks]

You can always take it out at first edit if you don't like it It's hard sometimes to tell without seeing it in context.

[Faye]

That's what I'm doing.