Often, the first chapter of the novel introduces the reader to the technique that the writer will use throughout the novel. The reader may not be familiar with this, but it affects how he will engage with the plot and characters in his reading experience. The writer’s technique is what will convince the reader of the situation he must accept and follow the story in its expanded form. If we are to consider an episodic novel, the writer develops the first chapter through a series of separate but connected events. As a general rule, writers do not break the events into more than three situations. Too many breaks could disrupt pacing.

Example: You open with an intense drama: A mother is sweet-talking her crying daughter into wearing a wedding gown. They are running out of time and are almost late for the wedding. You break and shift: A man is driving his Gran Torino at full speed and without any regard for traffic rules. He loves Anna, and she must never marry that dirty old man. You break and shift again: The groom is waiting at the altar: His patience is wearing thin and he has made a phone call to one of his men to get ready in confiscating all the assets that Anna’s family own as payment for their debts.

In this episodic novel, the multiple viewpoints are established in short bursts that introduce characters and their motivations. Throughout the rest of the novel, the writer is free to use multiple viewpoints as he has managed to establish this in the first chapter that lays the structure of the plot.

Example: Anna’s mother glanced at the wall clock and said, “Honey, we only have thirty minutes left before the ceremony. Please don’t do this. You know how Mr. Saunders doesn’t like to be kept waiting." Anna wiped her tears. “Then why don’t you marry him? I don’t deserve this!” Anna’s mother clenched her fist. “It’s that no-good Lance, isn’t it? Anna, we’ve been through this before. Please don’t start. Now get dressed!” She rose and walked out, slamming the door. As soon as her mother left, something flashed in Anna’s mind: Lance would never allow the wedding to take place. A sudden leap of faith crept into her. Lance might stop the wedding.

Make sure to keep this technique at a minimum. Establish character and motivation through short, multiple viewpoints. In the preceding chapters, the writer may use this technique in bulk. As a word of caution, the writer must ensure that no unnecessary viewpoint or scene will break the flow of narration. Readers can only take too much and the writer must not jog their attention. 

Episodes may vary in length with a single unifying device running through the story. Do not get bogged down by viewpoints. Episodic fiction is not strictly tied to rules. What is presented here is a proven technique that the writer will find handy. Writing episodic fiction in a way that will keep the reader engaged is one indication that the writer has succeeded.