Introduction
These days, I feel like it’s more common than not to have more than one perspective in a romance novel. Usually, you’re getting the main character and love interest’s perspectives. Sometimes, an author may add more than that.
But what is “dual perspective”? It’s pretty obvious, but it just means that you’re getting perspective, or viewpoint, from more that one (usually two) character’s point of views.
I remember reading a story in high school (forgive me, the name escapes me) that had like 5 or 6 perspectives. It was a crime novel and it really brought the story to life. It really dove deep into the thoughts and feelings of each character, whether they were likable or not. And I think that gave more insight of the events that were taking place.
Today, I want to talk to you about the the balance and organization it takes to be able to write from a dual perspective.
Understanding Each Character
So, you’ve planned and plotted your characters at this point, probably. Great! And you’re starting to write the story. It’s important to keep a few things in mind:
- Distinct Character Voices
- Act Structure
- Balance
You might be thinking, “‘Act Structure’? But I’ve already done that once!” Which is great! But did you plot your secondary character’s arc? Of course, the story is going to remain mostly the same, but it’s not going to go exactly the same for your secondary character as it will for your main character.
It’s super important to remember that your main and secondary character are two different people. They have thoughts, feelings, and events that will differ from each other. Even if your characters are, metaphorically, joined at the hip, your secondary character will probably feel different about a situation than your primary. For example:
Let’s say that your primary character and secondary character are in line at coffee shop. They’re there at the same time, ordering the same thing, but different baristas make each order. Your primary character gets their order and it’s tastes the same as it always does, delicious and warm, while the secondary character’s coffee may taste off and bad to them.
Same situation, different feelings. These differences are more important than you may think. It gives life and relatability to your characters without making them seem mundane and even perfect.
If nothing bad ever happens to your primary character and bad things always happen your secondary character, it becomes, well boring. It’s important to bring balance and relatability to your characters, and not just making them seem one-dimensional and boring.
Balancing the Narrative
So, let’s assume you’ve taken my previous advice and plotted the acts for both of your character now, how do you decide which perspective to write in for each chapter/scene/situation?
The short answer? Feeling. The long answer? Well, sometimes things just come as a feeling. Or you can be organizational! It’s really up to you. It’s just important to keep your head straight and your notes organized as you write your story.
Let me make things more clear: There are a few ways you can decide on who’s scene is told from who’s perspective. You can just write every other chapter from each character’s perspective. But that might be more difficult than you think. Especially if you want to keep your flow.
The most common way I’ve seen dual perspective written these days, is by keeping the narrative mainly told by the primary character, with your secondary character’s viewpoint sprinkled in ever 2 or 3 chapters. This is, in my opinion, the best way to do it. It keeps your story balanced but also offering the juxtaposition of a different person’s thoughts.
The Infamous ‘Misunderstanding’
Ah, the ‘misunderstanding’. Probably the most popular way to cause the first breakup in a romance.
Having more than one perspective, especially if those perspectives are the main character and the love interest, gives way for a more infuriating misunderstanding trope.
The reader knows that it was just a misunderstanding, but they can’t tell that to characters! No matter how many times they shout at the book!
Diving Deeper Into Emotions
Probably the best reason to write in dual perspective is the opportunity it gives the author to portray the thoughts and feelings of a character more clearly.
When an author uses dual perspective, they can explore contrasting viewpoints, allowing the audience to see how different characters interpret the same events or interactions in varied ways.
By shifting between perspectives, the author can reveal inner conflicts, hidden fears, and personal motivations that might not be apparent through a single viewpoint. This can be especially powerful in romance, where understanding both characters’ emotions can add depth to their interactions, causing readers to feel more connected to the story that you’re telling.
Conclusion
Writing from dual perspectives can be both challenging and rewarding. It allows you to craft a more immersive story by giving readers insight into the inner worlds of multiple characters.
Balancing these perspectives requires careful planning, a deep understanding of your characters, and an organized approach to structuring your narrative. By learning how to write from dual perspectives, you can create a lively and emotional romance that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Whether you choose to alternate viewpoints evenly or sprinkle in perspectives as needed, the key is to maintain a balance that enhances your story and brings your characters’ voices to life.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, you can only get better by practicing!
T.L. Ryan 