DawnMorningStar

I've been reading articles online (and also comments posted in this forum) in regards to the omniscient point of view, and it seems that a majority of readers and publishers frown upon it. The most common explanation I've found is that "head hopping" (delving into one person's mind and then switching to another's) gets confusing for the reader. And I suppose it also brings up the question of "Well, how would the main character know he was thinking that??"

But I've asked several friends (and fellow writers) what they thought, and most of them have said that they really like that point of view, that it gets boring staying in the head of only one character for 400 pages. Or that it makes a story more interesting when the author delves into the minds of several characters.

So what I'm wondering is, how many of you write in the omniscient viewpoint? How many of you enjoy reading stories written that way? Who hates it? Who avoids it like the plague? And why?

Tori

The novel I am currently writing is done in omniscient point of view. I used it because it's what the story called for. In other words, I wanted to get the points of view of all my characters to the reader. Choice of point of view is a very important one but I think when you start writing the story you have planned to write it comes naturally. I find first person harder to write and I like, as a writer, being able to switch from on person to the other. I never thought of the downfalls until I started reading this forum and then I second guessed myself for a moment. Since writing for me is more of a desire and feeling I go with what my mind tells me. I am writing for myself really and so it does not matter as of yet.

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DawnMorningStar

That's a good way to approach it, Tori. Yes, write for yourself first. I have to remind myself of that once in a while. I suppose my biggest question with the novel I'm currently writing is whether the omniscient viewpoint really works for it or not. I've always been a writer who likes to delve into the minds of the characters. My story is being written in 3rd person, past tense, with occassional snippets of the present, where my main character sits writing about all of this in his journal. Because it's so focused on him, I'm not sure that the omniscient thing would work. How would he be able to write about what his mother was thinking about him during a dire situation when he was 8?

Selorian

I agree with Tori. I think that the point of view depends alot upon the story that you are writing. I have written some in first person because that was the only way to tell them but I normally write in the omniscient point of view. The novel I'm working on is the same as with Tori's novel, that is how it needs to be told to get all the views and thoughts of the characters into it. I myself would find it hard to write first person pov for an entire novel. I usually save that just for short stories.

I tend to find that I like reading novels more that the writer uses the omniscient point of view in since I like being in the mind of all the different characters. So much more can be revealed that way. I believe though that it is up to a persons own tastes.

As far as what people say about it, as of now I'm not that concerned. If the story is good then when I submit it, hopefully the pov I use isn't a big concern. If it is then I will have to deal with what to do then.

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DawnMorningStar

Good point, selorian72, thanks. I've started trying to reword things so that the main character would be able to reflect on what he knows the other characters are thinking or feeling, but it just isn't quite working for me. I'm way too used to writing in the omniscient perspective. And really, there are only certain sections that delve into the minds of other characters. I'm also starting to think that maybe since he's writing after all of this is over, he would be able to tell us what different people were thinking, etc, because he would have learned those details at some point.

::shrug::

Anyway, I think you've convinced me to just keep writing it the way that I have.

Tori

DawnMorningStar maybe you could try adding his mother in seperate chapters with her journals or something like that? Or write a story from the mother's perspective that is entirely seperate from the one you are writing of the son? Then just see what happens and how they might combine to make one great story.

On the novel I have been working on I at first killed off the main character via suicide. I had it all written and it happens in the second to last chapter (about 100 pages into the work). I wanted her to die to metaphorically save her living husband and daughter and it is the ending I had planned all along.

Then I had this conversation with my family on vacation recently and realized I did not want to kill her off. Now I am re-writing that chapter seperately to see where it leads me. Funny things is the conversation I had with my family was over bugs and had nothing to do with the story but for some reason it made me think...No! I can't kill her!

Get deep into the mind(s) of your character(s) and live with them. I am a firm believer that they will guide you as to where they want to go and how they want their story told

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DawnMorningStar

Tori,

That would be a lovely idea if his mother hadn't died in chapter two. And there are other characters whose minds I explore as well. I know what you mean by the characters letting you know how they want their story told. And this is really the way I feel it needs to be--with some of the omniscient creeping in here and there. So I think I will continue on that path and see where it leads me. If worst comes to worst, I can always edit it to be first person once the story is finished.

RyuTheMagi

I agree that it can get confuseing. In the novel im reading, when you devel into one charecters mind and then which to the next, they sepperate it by a line of stars **********.

Usually, half the scene will be in once point of view, and then it will switch the second half other to the second charecter

-Ryu

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DawnMorningStar

Hmmm...that's a good idea, Ryu--to use one character's point of view through a good chunk of the chapter before switching to someone else. I try to do that as well, but in a couple of my chapters, the points of view switch after only a couple of paragraphs. I try to make it very clear which character is currently being followed, and it makes sense to me, but then again, I'm the author. I guess I'll have to let a few people read it so they can tell me if it's easy enough to follow.

stiltzkin

I'm reading 'The Man in the High Castle' by Phillip K. Dick at the moment.
The book is based on individual characters getting a chapter to themselves which rules out any confusion regarding 'head hopping'.

What I can't figure out though is what pov it is written in, I am familiar with pov's but can't pin this one down - is it omniscient or simply third person?

Sorry, I'm in a rush so can't offer anything useful for now

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gabriella

The book is based on individual characters getting a chapter to themselves which rules out any confusion regarding 'head hopping'.

The second book in my trilogy will be like that, it's very neat and tidy -- You know, how each person (or gang, in one case) has a chapter before moving on to see how another character is doing. The first one, not so much I don't know what I'm going to be doing in the third one though, since two main characters are going to be conversing alot... I'll probably just take turns lol

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Tori

I have seen many books do that (In fact, if the book is good I will end the chapter and hope to get a certain character's perspective in the next), and I have seen books that clearly go from one person's head to anothers without any confusion (which to me, has a cleaner more continuous feel to it).

I do think that having others read your work is your best bet, but it is crucial you get someone that will not half arsed read your work and then tell you it is good even if it needs a lot of work.

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DawnMorningStar

The problem for me with devoting whole chapters to individual characters in this book is that for the most part, the story follows my main character. I DO have a couple of chapters that have nothing to do with him whatsoever, but for the most part, he and the other characters are in the same room with one another. Since the scenes are very intense and move quickly, I tend to delve between them with new paragraphs. Like I said, I THINK I make it clear enough whose mind I'm currently focusing on, but I just want to be sure it's not confusing or a pain to read.

Thanks everyone, for your comments!

Tori

You will have to post some so we can read it

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DawnMorningStar

I did post the first page of chapter one in the Critique section. It's not much, but you can see some of my omniscient approach. It's called The Shadow, if you're interested in taking a look. I've since edited it a bit, but you can at least get a general idea.