Confessions of a Head-Hopper

         Until several months ago I didn’t even have a clue what a POV (point of view) was in the craft of writing. And I’d never heard the term “head-hopping” until recently. Okay, all the authors are probably shaking their heads and muttering tsk-tsk. But I’ve never had a writing lesson in my life, and I’ve lived a good number of years. Everything I know about the craft of writing, I’ve learned from various writers’ groups I belong to.
         I discovered this very week that I am guilty of head-hopping. In fact, my entire manuscript that I sent off for publication is full of head-hopping. Oh dear me, I moan as I wring my hands in anguish. Whatever shall I do? I have nightmares of walking into a room of writers and authors and enduring the pain of pointing and whisperings, “She’s a head-hopper.”
         Now I’m wondering if I’ve ever read a book where the author head-hopped. Would I have noticed? I’m sure I wouldn’t have, especially if it was a good story.  I think I’d notice now since I’ve been enlightened about head-hopping, but I’m not sure I would care as long as it didn’t affect the flow of the story.
         The only sigh of relief I’ve had was yesterday when I read on the ACFW site that a member was reading a Stephen King book and he head-hopped all the way through it. Seriously? Stephen King? Perhaps he didn’t get the memo stating that head-hopping is a no-no in the literary world.
         Since my enlightenment, I’ve been reading through a WIP and the head-hopping is now glaringly obvious to me. How can I be sharing about Leah’s thoughts and words in one paragraph and in the very next paragraph Tony wonders why he’s never noticed how beautiful and intelligent is his wife, Leah. How dare Tony be thinking anything at all when it’s clearly not his turn to think?  Humph!
         Who makes up these rules anyway? POV, head-hopping, show not tell, too much back story…the list goes on and on.  That puff of air you feel is me heaving a huge sigh.

Plotter? Seat of the Pants'er?

Plotters and SOTP’s (seat of the pants) writers!  To what group do you belong as a writer?

Ask anyone that knows me and they’ll tell you I am not an organizer. I envy women that have their cupboards, closets, shelves and drawers organized. Kudos to them! Unfortunately, I’m not sufficiently impressed to implement it into my own lifestyle. I could, and have, organized but it’s not long until everything’s back to unorganized. (I refuse to use the term cluttered)

So a SOTP’er I am! The neat thing in being a non-plotting writer is that every time I sit at my computer to write, it’s like a new adventure.  My characters take on a life of their own. Just when I think I’ll take them down a certain path, they change directions.

My current WIP Like a Cedar in Lebanon started off being the young girl’s story. But now 112,000 words later, it is more the man’s story.  Lebanon (Lebby) is the young girl who gets taken advantage of by the older, more experienced Jack.  It was supposed to be her story, Lebby’s story, and it is to some extent.

But my SOTP writing took me on a journey to tell Jack’s story in this novel. The angry, violent, abuser Jack and the circumstances in life that drove him to be the way he was became one of the main focal points in the novel.

The good news is that in the end Jack finds God.  As a Christian writer, I always want to show that we can be a victorious overcomer through Jesus Christ.  That is a truth that you can take to the bank.

So regardless if you are a plotter or SOTP’er, write on, dear friends! Write on!