Are you a limited point of view writer, or are you an omnicient point of view writer?

What’s the difference? A limited point of view lets the reader experience a scene through the eyes of one person, and one person only.

An omniscient point of view lets the reader experience a scene through several persons.

Basically the difference is that with a limited point of view you see into the mind of one person. With the omniscient point of view you see into the minds of several (usually two) people while they interact.

I used to write omniscient point of view, but like many people, I was told I’m headhopping, and I’m doing it all wrong. The trouble is, I like seeing into the minds of both my characters.

Other people do it, why can’t I? Why am I not allowed to write how I’m comfortable? Is one way better than the other? I’m told the reader gets confused. I don’t think so. There is headhopping, where you go from one character to the other, switching over and over. And there is omniscient point of view, where you slide smoothly into the view of the other person.

Is it wrong?

I find love scenes much easier to write when I can convey the feelings of both people involved. Their doubts and fears. On both sides. Is that headhopping?

Truth is, I don’t know.

I just know I find it very difficult to stick to limited point of view, and I find myself telling, instead of showing, because I feel I’m repeating myself.

What do you think?

Tags: Headhopping, Point of View, POV