Liquid Silver Books discussion

Okay, I'm reading a book that head hops by paragraphs, it's a bit jarring for me...I pause go back up to see if I've stumbled into the hero's head or am I still reading the heroine's POV. I'm used to a break letting me know a scene or a POV change is happening, I'm prepared for that. Not the one constant flow where I'm confused for a few seconds on who's POV I'm reading. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of this type of writing, also the character thoughts aren't Italicized, it irks me because I like the story so far, but those things make it difficult to stay locked into the story for long periods. When I'm hooked I get disengaged because I have to think, "Who's head is this I'm in?"

Am I being too picky, or do you guys have a problem with this type of writing?

I don't think you're being too picky. Some authors can transition smoothly from one POV to another and not lose the reader, but not all. With Liquid Silver it's not such a concern. Their submission guidelines make it plain that changes in scene or POV need to be marked in some way. So hoepfully this isn't such a problem with Liquid Silver books.

Before I started writing, I didn't notice this as much. There were times I remember backing up thinking did I miss something? Now, it drives me crazy. As Maddy said above, some do it, and it isn't so bad, but sometimes it can cause confusion. So I can get why it would bug people.

Head hopping bothers me, except for Nora Roberts for some reason. lol. Maddy is right, we make a point for our submissions that Head Hopping is not a standard we'll publish. Was it one of ours?

No it's Thea Harrison's Dragon Bound, I love the storyline but the way it's written gives me a pause on calling it an awesome book like most have. I just had a general question, I knew LSB submissions are against head hopping, that's why I felt it save to ask here. lol

The biggest offender in fiction for head hopping has to be best selling author Tom Clancy. He writes page turners where the story is everything. But he can jump from one head to another with abandon. In one of his books I counted 5 pov shifts within ONE paragraph! The story is central, and so long as you can stick with the story, I'm guessing pov shifts won't count as much. Keeping in mind that he's a master storyteller, you can see why he gets away with it. His books sell off the shelves because he keeps the reader hooked on what's happening next. It drives me crazy, so I wait for his books to come out as movies instead. I work at not doing this myself, because it drives me so bonkers.

Head hopping makes me nuts. Mental note not to pick up a Tom Clancy book.

I have trouble with head hopping. I used to do it as a "virgin" author, but have since stopped. And now it bothers me to read it unless it's done really well. I have come to believe there is something quite beautiful in seeing a scene in one character's head only. It's a good way of showing feeling and reaction.

I don't like POV's switching back and forth inside a scene, but this is only after I became an "edited" author. I'd never noticed it before. I reread some of Julia Quinn's early books (my fave author) and she did it a lot! I'd never noticed it until recently. But even so, it didn't distract me. In fact, I actually think it helps. Who wants to write the same scene twice just so you can get both character's POV's? So in some cases, it's fine by me!

Suzanne Brockmann does it a LOT too, but I'm usually so in love with her characters that I persevere with it.

Hmm-- Head hopping-- When I started writing, (all but two years ago) I did it a lot. When I find my fingers doing the deed, I picture a publisher slapping at my hands. NO head hopping they would say. I think it’s often annoying but, I can also see where it’s sometimes necessary. It can be done flawlessly too, but if it happens too often in the story, it can make you lose focus. Just saying....

Christy, I love you for that comment. I learned to write using 'interactive' POVs. I tried to keep to my own rule: bracketing the stream of consciousness between bits of dialogue by the same character. Done well, it works, especially in longer books.
to me, it's annoying to have those space breaks just to get in a thought where it has the most impact.

Now, that would be annoying to me, too. I would be surprised if our LSBs editor's allowed that. Here's what I've noticed. I am far more forgiving of POV switchbacks in a pback (if I miss it), but not so much in a Kindle.

I write in first person but I do have to admit to a book I've been working on - fiddling with it for years, actually - where I've done some head hopping. Somehow, in that story, it works.

Good. If it works--don't get talked out of it.

Rhonda wrote: "I write in first person but I do have to admit to a book I've been working on - fiddling with it for years, actually - where I've done some head hopping. Somehow, in that story, it works."

Good. If it works to show the story/character--don't get talked out of it.