I'm going to start off my blog by answering questions from readers. One of the questions I was asked recently was whether I am ever tempted to head-hop or if I've ever used that point of view in a story.
First, I think I need to define what I mean when I use the terms "head hop" and "multiple points of view" so that we're all on the same page. When I think about head-hopping, I think about being inside multiple character's heads in the same scene. For example:
"I really love the salads here," Jenny said, wishing her plate wasn't already half empty.
I have never seen someone eat that fast, Bert thought, watching Jenny's fork blur with speed.
In the above little snippet, I start in Jenny's head with her wish, but I hop to Bert's head to see what he's thinking. On the other hand, when I think about multiple points of view, each scene is written from only one character's point of view, but a different scene may be through the eyes of another character. For example, I might write the lunch scene from Bert's point of view, but the next scene might be from Jenny's point of view as she goes out that evening.
So as to whether I head hop or not, I try to never head hop. I find that it becomes too disjointed and is difficult to follow. I prefer to write each scene from only one point of view so the reader really gets to know that particular character.
Whether I decide to use multiple points of view in a story really depends on the story itself. With Jake's story, I am telling it in first-person and only from Jake's point of view. If you are using first-person, I prefer to only have one point of view. The challenge is that your reader won't know anything your main character doesn't, so you have to find unique ways to get information to the reader.
Some of the other stories I'm working on, like my Viking times novel, are told from multiple points of view because I have important events that not all characters can witness. It makes sense to have a couple different characters tell the story, although I still don't head-hop within a scene.
Even when I use multiple points of view in a story, I still try to have one main character who tells at least 60% of the story. I find that this helps the reader to really connect with at least one character and really start to care about that person and his or her life. As an avid reader, I find that I enjoy books more if I feel like I really get to know the main character and what makes him or her tick.
Each story will decide how it wants to be told. Don't be afraid to try writing it one way and change it if it's not working. That's what early drafts are for!
Keep writing!
First, I think I need to define what I mean when I use the terms "head hop" and "multiple points of view" so that we're all on the same page. When I think about head-hopping, I think about being inside multiple character's heads in the same scene. For example:
"I really love the salads here," Jenny said, wishing her plate wasn't already half empty.
I have never seen someone eat that fast, Bert thought, watching Jenny's fork blur with speed.
In the above little snippet, I start in Jenny's head with her wish, but I hop to Bert's head to see what he's thinking. On the other hand, when I think about multiple points of view, each scene is written from only one character's point of view, but a different scene may be through the eyes of another character. For example, I might write the lunch scene from Bert's point of view, but the next scene might be from Jenny's point of view as she goes out that evening.
So as to whether I head hop or not, I try to never head hop. I find that it becomes too disjointed and is difficult to follow. I prefer to write each scene from only one point of view so the reader really gets to know that particular character.
Whether I decide to use multiple points of view in a story really depends on the story itself. With Jake's story, I am telling it in first-person and only from Jake's point of view. If you are using first-person, I prefer to only have one point of view. The challenge is that your reader won't know anything your main character doesn't, so you have to find unique ways to get information to the reader.
Some of the other stories I'm working on, like my Viking times novel, are told from multiple points of view because I have important events that not all characters can witness. It makes sense to have a couple different characters tell the story, although I still don't head-hop within a scene.
Even when I use multiple points of view in a story, I still try to have one main character who tells at least 60% of the story. I find that this helps the reader to really connect with at least one character and really start to care about that person and his or her life. As an avid reader, I find that I enjoy books more if I feel like I really get to know the main character and what makes him or her tick.
Each story will decide how it wants to be told. Don't be afraid to try writing it one way and change it if it's not working. That's what early drafts are for!
Keep writing!
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