Using Third Person Omniscient POV (Page 1 of 2)

Many articles I've read equate omniscient POV, multiple POV, and head-hopping, as if there were no distinction, which is how I learned it. Interesting to see the subtle differences. To the best of my recollection, Dune (mentioned in the article) uses not just omniscient, but head-hopping. I'll have to look for it again the next time I re-read the book.

I hadn't even heard of headhopping until I joined this sight and now that I am aware of it I find some of my older books hard to read.  I didn't know I was reading such poorly written stories. After working so hard on avoiding head hopping in my own I realize how confusing it can be for a reader.

mblelsoe:

I don't think head-hopping is a bad thing. I'm reading now Jurassic Park (yet again, yes) and Michael Crichton does the head-hopping thing all the time. Not only in  this one, but in most of his novels. I think it's matter of mastering the thing so the reader won't get confused.

Kiss,

Gacela

It is less frowned upon in Romance for sure. No chapter breaks, no scene breaks. I've read romance novels where the author jumped between the FMC and MMC POV's four times in a matter of four paragraphs - #1 NYT best selling author BTW. It has never been an issue for me as a romance reader or when I review writers on the site who does that. Except when I look at published romance novels to learn more about changing POV's mid-scene (not even mid paragraph), then all of a sudden it doesn't look right to me and I find it hard to follow. Go figure.

Not sure how true this is, but doing this as an unknown/unpublished author will be harder to get published. Once you're "established", "apparently" since you will be regarded as "knowing" what you're doing, it's easier to get away with omni POV, even when it's not done well. This is of course not a recommendation to try it! And I can't remember where I've read this unfortunately.

This is the the most recent thing I've learned: Deep POV. It's almost as limited as first-person, using the third person subjective, told through the eyes of one person at a time. I was having a hard time understanding some of the reviews I got until I read about it. Instead of saying "Susan was upset with Bob because he...," you say something like "Damn that Bob! Why did he have to..."

I like the immediacy of it. When I finish my current story (in first person, for practice) I'm going back to rewrite my first two in Deep POV.  JP

http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/11/16/de … -about-it/

In most books I read: Fantasy, Thriller, Sci-fi, general fiction, there is very little head-hopping in chapters. Usually the POV is consistent within the  chapter.

I was just thinking about the Harry Potter books. Aren't they all told from  Harry's POV? I can't think of a scene that is not.

My editors will not allow me to use omniscient even if I wanted to. Very strict on establishing whose POV we're in at the start of each chapter. And a change in POV would entail a break in the scene. No head-hopping allowed!

Also the scene with Frank and Voldemort opening, I think, GoF.  When you protagonist is not in the scene, he can't be your PoV character.  Look at the very first scene of the very first book.

True, it's framed by Harry's dream.  But within the frame we follow Frank's PoV.

Oh, Dear Mike. I fear I've joined the ranks of raking you over the coals with this. Do not let any of this be a discouragement! Roll with it and write the story you want to read!

I used to consume books like a kid eating candy. I still read, but not as much. I've read mostly first person or close, limited POV. I really don't like omniscient because I like to get into the book and feel a part of the story. If I'm watching from above, like I'm watching a movie, I'm not part of the story. I guess I'm also not really fond of books where the narrator talk to me about what is happening in the story.

HOWEVER

It can all be done. It's all work and requires dedicated critique, revision, rewrite, and edit. And all styles have been best sellers. When I'm more awake than I am now, I'm going to check out the links in here.

Write On!

I have to wonder why would publishers be so focused on limiting the story to some POV? Limiting isn't a good thing for creation.  In truth, the author is still omniscient and creating everything any way, and it's one more thing over which to have to suspend disbelief.  I think it's putting a picture of steak (oh, see how the character really thinks) on a bag of cow's brains (see how the omniscient author writes what the character thinks).

Gosh, Charles, I'm not sure how to answer that. Like I said, any style done well is great to read, but the snippets you share don't give me enough information to comment.

POV is a writer's choice. And it's a reader's choice to pick it up and go from cover to cover. The important task for the writer is to mould that book into the best possible material, and that takes work and a ton of critiques.

I also love a great discussion. We all benefit by talking.

Write On!