More and more I think being a writer can ruin the reader experience. Like most writers, I don't just read any more. I read and edit. And I'm not talking about my own work.
I rewrite sentences in my head, wonder about word choices, marvel at a deft turn of a phrase. If you're a writer, you're probably nodding your head because you do this too.
The thing that trips me up is shifting POV. Otherwise known as head hopping. Nothing ruins a book faster for me than going from one POV to another with every other paragraph. It is my ultimate pet peeve.
Does head hopping bother you or can you forgive it? If so, under what circumstances?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Head Hopping, Or Why Some Books Make Me Crazy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Lol, I blogged about this a while ago! It's frustrating sometimes when I pick up books I used to love and now I actually notice head hopping. If the writing is seamless (Nora Roberts) or if the hopping is during scenes, but not every single paragraph, I don't mind so much. I remember the first contest feedback I got (years ago) told me I was head hopping and I was like, 'but my fave authors do that, what's the big deal'. Some days I wish I could go back and just be a 'reader'. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started writing, this was one thing I had a big problem with. I was (head)hopping all over the place. But I had read books by my favorite authors in which they wrote that way. I think it's always frustrating to take workshops on writing where you're told of all the no-nos and then you read bestselling books that break all of those rules. As someone once said, "Great storytelling trumps the rules." The thing is—good writing always needs a basis in good technique but good technique can't carry the story anymore than being able to play all of the scales makes you a great pianist.
ReplyDeleteGreat pic. =o)
ReplyDeleteIf the story's great, I don't notice head-hopping. Hell, a writer can get away with almost any writerly booboo if I'm enthralled with the story.
I forgive it. I'm a head hopper, though now I'm really careful to have one pov per scene, when possible. Before I wrote, I read a ton of Julie Garwood books and LOVED them. Recently I just read one of her older historicals and the pov changes were crazy! It almost drove me nuts and normally I'm fine with a few shifts.
ReplyDeleteIt stinks how reading enjoyment narrows once we know the "rules".
Well, I hate headhopping so much I sent the book I was reading off to the UBS.
ReplyDelete"The thing is—good writing always needs a basis in good technique but good technique can't carry the story anymore than being able to play all of the scales makes you a great pianist."
ReplyDeleteLucinda, you are BRILLIANT. That needs a mug.
Yes. I wonder if head Hopping being EVIL is a new thing, because when I read some of my favorite authors older stuff, the all do it.
ReplyDeleteBut not so much in the newer.
Anymore a great book is one I forget to critique while reading.
ReplyDeleteWhat's head hopping. :P
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started writing, the "no headhopping" rule really chapped me, because SO many authors do it. Now that I've been writing for a while, headhopping in books drives me freaking crazy. It pulls me out of the story, confuses me, annoys me, etc. And it's not just in romance novels that I see it so often.
ReplyDeleteI'm an English major, a librarian and a grammar geek, so I've always been a close reader - sloppy writing, cliches, bad grammar, all that stuff has always bothered me. Smooth, lovely prose will keep me reading a book even if the plot bores the hell out of me.
ooh - one other thing I notice that I didn't notice before I started writing myself - showing vs. telling - I'm surprised at how many popular, high-selling authors do a lot of telling instead of showing.
I can't keep up if more than one person is talking over the other in real life; that's how I feel in the book with head hopping. Like they're talking over each other and there's too much background noise. No, I'm not so forgiving.
ReplyDeleteYeah when I first started writing I head hopped like crazy too but really I was just writing what I read. It seems head hopping was more popular way back in the day. Heck, I didn't even know what POV meant when I started, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of an example where I've seen head hopping, other than in a Jodi Picoult book or two I've read. In one title, it didn't bother me; in the other, it was too much. I suppose (for me) it depends on how frequently and smoothly the change occurs.
ReplyDeleteLove that bunny!
It depends. Sometimes I can forgive it--but mostly NOT!!LOL!
ReplyDeleteHead-hopping never bothered me until I started reading craft books and hearing how NOT to do it. In a really good story, I can still get past it, but reading is much more of a chore all around because my internal editor does not have an off switch.
ReplyDeleteI HATE it!!!! Usually I stick with one person's POV (my heroine)....though I do like a passage here and there from her love interest..like once a chapter.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes...I no longer can just read a book...I am constantly thinking how the author could have better worded something.