Point of View Lapses: Mistakes Writers Make when it Comes to Head-Hopping

Have you ever read a book written in the first person, then come across a scene where the author reveals the thoughts of another character? Point of view lapses are common mistakes and can even be found in published books. When the author suddenly changes the point of view in which the story is written, readers are likely to do a double-take.

Point of view lapses occur when a writer jumps from the perspective of one character to the perspective of another, a practice often called head-hopping. This mistake isn't limited only to first-person tales, and is a big writing no-no even when writing in the third person.

Establish Point of View Regardless of the Type of Story

What many novice writers don't understand is that, regardless of the type of story, point of view is always important. When you are writing in the first person, the point of view is obvious; the main character is the narrator. However, when writing in the third person, point of view isn't always as obvious. That is why it is up to the author to make point of view clear to the reader at all times.

Change Points of View by Changing Scenes

The best way to establish point of view is to separate your novel into scenes. Two different characters might take center stage during the same chapter, but one scene should only occupy one character's head.

For example, if two of your characters are investigating strange noises in an abandoned warehouse, you should reveal the thoughts of only one of those characters. However, when those same two characters are informing the police of their discoveries, you can switch perspectives and allow the reader entry into the second character's thoughts.

Show Scene Breaks to Avoid Point of View Lapses

To avoid point of view lapses, make sure that you put space between scenes in which the point of view changes. For example, when the two characters above leave the warehouse to go to the police station, you would put two or three lines of white space in between the switch.

Identify the Character to Show Point of View

To avoid confusing your readers, show point of view changes immediately by identifying the character. For example, if your two characters are leaving the warehouse and heading to the police station, use the second character's name in the first sentence of the scene change to show that he or she is telling the story now.

Indicate Other Characters' Thoughts By Other Means

You can avoid point of view lapses by indicating another character's thoughts by other means. You don't have to say what Sally thought when you're in Alex's point of view, but you can give Alex's observations of Sally. For example, if Sally taps her foot on the ground, Alex could observe that she is impatient. You don't have to come right out and say that she is.

You can also indicate a character's point of view through dialogue, which is actually far more effective than thoughts.

Point of view lapses are common even in experienced authors, so read over your work carefully before considering it a finished draft. If you find yourself slipping repeatedly into another character's thoughts, it might be time to rethink the scene and to tell it from his or her point of view.