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