How Fiction Works Writing Meme - Day Four

[meridian_rose]

4 - How do you feel about "head hopping", that is, narration flowing among different characters within one section or chapter of writing with no delineation? Some critics claim that this free flowing point of view is the mark of a poor author, while others say that this sort of free indirect style is difficult to master and the mark of a very good one. Where do you stand? Do you do it yourself? Do you enjoy reading it?

I try to never ever do this without making it clear that I'm changing POV with a new paragraph or a section break, for example. If I'm telling a scene from one characters POV I'll have a good reason for changing POV and I'm do my best to make it clear that's what has happened. If I'm writing in a more omniscient/indirect fashion, I'll still be careful to make it clear who is thinking what.

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I'll make an index post when I've completed the meme with links to all my answers; they will all be tagged #how fiction works meme. You can find the full set of questions at pristineungift's entry:here

Comments

[hrhrionastar.livejournal.com]

I think that's a good policy; one way to help make it clear that the opinions of the character are not equal to those of the author is to change point of view, but not if no one can figure out who's thinking or saying what.

[meridian_rose]

There was some advice on writing erotica, I believe, that said there's nothing sexy about a sudden POV change just as things reach their climax :D
I think for a while I took the advice a bit too seriously; it's okay to change POV during a chapter or scene, just make sure it's obvious that you're doing it. Like all of the rules, learn it, do it, adapt it, break it as necessary :D