The Novel Writing Podcast

3rd Person POVs: Omniscient, Deep, or Head Hopping?

Episode 220

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 9:25

Have you ever read a book that feels like it was supposed to be written in 3rd person omniscient (like many regency romances or books in the style of Jane Austen), but you couldn't keep track of who was actually telling the story?

The author might have mistaken head hopping for omniscient.

It's pretty easy to do nowadays with the emphasis on showing over telling, but true omniscient POVs don't risk the readers feeling like they're in a pinball machine.

This episode discusses the differences between 3rd omniscient, 3rd close, and head hopping using the opening of chapter 2 from Pride & Prejudice.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

Podcasts we love

Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.