What is "Head-Hopping"?

To understand "head-hopping", we first have to understand Point of View, or POV. POV is how we are seeing the story. In its simplest form, POV can be in the first person. "I went to the store and bought milk but was annoyed with the long line." An example would be The Hunger Games. 

Hey, look at this handy chart! From here.

Then there's third person, which is used frequently when the author intends to change which character we can "see through" in the story. "Jane went to the store and bought milk, but she was annoyed with the long line." Sometimes, the author doesn't even give us the character's thoughts. "Jane went to the store and bought milk. As she stood in line, she frowned and tapped her foot, checking her watch every so often."

Now, it's important to differentiate between which character we're using as our "camera" into the story world, or we get head-hopping. Let's say we start out in Jane's head thinking about how annoyed she is about the long line at the store and then we jump over to Larry, the cashier, and how hungry he is after having to work through his lunch break.

That would look something like this: "Jane groaned. How much longer would this take? Larry's stomach grumbled and he stared at the long line of people waiting to get checked out. His lunch wouldn't be coming anytime soon."

See how confusing this is? We feel Jane's frustration and then all of a sudden, we're on the other side of the register, wondering how we got there.

Head-hopping is something that takes a while to identify, especially in its more subtle forms. I have this bad habit of trying to foreshadow and giving stuff away that my characters wouldn't know--another form of head-hopping (unless writing third person omniscient or some other craziness).

For example, "As John shut the door behind him, he had no idea it would be his last time in the building."

Granted, there are some exceptions to this. You can have something called a third person omniscient viewpoint (Lord of the Rings--of course Tolkien had to be complicated). I don't fully understand what differentiates this style from plain old head-hopping, but I do know that it flows better. (I've heard it said that the narrator also knows things that none of the characters know--such as the foreshadowing above).

There are some people who claim that head-hopping is acceptable so long as it doesn't interrupt the flow of the story and it's clearly expressed that we're going to be switching POV characters. I beg to differ--I really haven't run into a time where I like head hopping and normally it confuses me more than anything.

What's your opinion on head-hopping? Do you have trouble with it in your writing? 

Friday Fiction Fix: "The Restorer"

The Short:

The Restorer

(The Sword of Lyric, Book 1)

By: Sharon Hinck

5/5 Stars

What: A frazzled housewife finds herself sucked into another world that is startling familiar and

yet altogether different.

Recommended to those who like: Christian fantasy, world travel, sword fighting.

The Long:

As you’ve probably noticed from most of my reviews, I tend to review more young adult and teen books than “adult” books (in part because there’s a better range of speculative fiction for young adults and teens than adults). This is the first book I’ve read that’s really centered on a middle-aged woman. And I liked it!

Throughout the story, we follow Susan. She can’t seem to keep up with the kids and everything else in her life. But when her husband prepares an attic getaway for her, she finds herself in a world where faith is a matter of life and death just as much as the sword play is. More frightening, the people here seem to think that she is meant to deliver them. She couldn’t even keep up with the kids’ lives—how is she supposed to restore a whole nation?

The story is a powerful mix of faith, fantasy, and some futuristic elements. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a fantasy story where Christian themes/ faith are a focus. The world building is excellent and unique. The characters are deep and intriguing. So many times, Christian fiction ends up a little short on internal conflict (at least in the speculative fiction genres). However, Ms. Hinck doesn’t hesitate to show her characters having the same doubts and fears that we all have.

If you’ve read the book, feel free to share your thoughts below. Please remember to be respectful of Ms. Hinck and her work, as well as other commentators. I also welcome comments on what you would like to see included in the reviews. I reserve the right to remove vulgar, hateful, or rude remarks from the comments. Thanks for sharing!

What is an Antihero?

Last week, Victoria J. suggested that I discuss antiheroes. I hate to admit it, but I had to look this one up, which makes it perfect for a post!

We've all heard of heroes. Superman, Luke Skywalker, Aragorn...pretty much every story has one or multiple heroes. They're courageous, honorable, and, well, just plain heroic. 

We're also familiar with the concept of villains: Sauron, Darth Vader, IT, The Joker, King Galbatorix, The Borg...they make us shudder, cringe, and desperately hope our hero either never encounters them or else defeats them easily (and neither of those options makes for a good story).

So, what is an antihero? They're not truly villainous and out to kill the hero (usually), but neither are they heroic, honorable, and courageous. They're more out for their own gain in some way or another.

From here

Take Han Solo, for example. He's not really the most honorable person (why else would he be found in a wretched hive of scum and villainy?). He's after money and girls and to save his own hide. He does heroic things, not because he's actually heroic, but because it's convenient. And we still manage to like him. He also does turn out to be a good guy in the end--but then he sorta migrates over to hero status. 

From here

 Another good example would be Captain Jack Sparrow, from Pirates of the Caribbean. He's a drunken pirate after girls, gold, and more rum (which always seems to be in short supply). Good gracious, his own crew committed mutiny against him. He's got an ego the size of the seven seas. He'll betray his friends for his own advantage. But he's not villainous like Davey Jones. We still root for him. 

From here

Last example, Captain Kirk from Star Trek (I apologize to all the real Trekkies out there; I can't get into the old movies/show. But the new ones are really good!). Again, astounding ego. He's a little closer to a hero (he's got some guts for sure). But he's not really out to be heroic for heroism's sake, at least at the beginning.

I apologize that these were pretty similar.  If you're into literary nerd-dom stuff, I'd recommend Hero, Second Class. It pretty much pokes fun at the whole idea of Heroes and Villains.

Thanks again for the suggestion, Victoria! I'm always open to article suggestions from any readers!

Who are your favorite antiheroes? 

Friday Fiction Fix: Kiriath's Quest

The Short:

Kiriath’s Quest

By: Rick Barry           

4/5 Stars

What: Following his father’s kidnapping, a young prince sets out on a quest to free him and save his kingdom.

Recommended to those who like: Quick reads, classic fantasy, clean, quests

Not recommended for those who dislike: Books written for a younger audience

The Long:

I’d forgotten that this one was sitting on my shelf. (Don’t you love it when you’ve forgotten the plot of a book and can re-read it almost like it’s the first time?) I still enjoyed the story and was surprised by a couple of turns in the plot.

We follow Prince Kiriath and his best friend, Brand, throughout the story. King Jekoniah is kidnapped at the start of the book and the prince and Brand must set out on a quest to find him before time runs out. It’s a classic quest story with strange creatures, a forgotten kingdom, sword fighting, and loads of action.

The characters did seem a little flat at times and a few of the descriptions were long-winded, but the book was good overall (I don’t think it’ll be getting as dusty this time—I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to get around to reading it a second time). It’s definitely intended for more of a middle-grade audience, but that shouldn’t hinder an older person from enjoying it.

The book has some Christian undertones and the end of the book has some deep thoughts on the nature of good vs. evil, but I would classify it as a “clean” work. I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a quick, light afternoon read and enjoys a good quest.

If you’ve read the book, feel free to share your thoughts below. Please remember to be respectful of Mr. Barry and his work, as well as other commentators. I also welcome comments on what you would like to see included in the reviews. I reserve the right to remove vulgar, hateful, or rude remarks from the comments. Thanks for sharing!

Bonus Post: Tag of Randomocity

Well, today I'm trying something new! (Yay for new stuff! Also, terrifying; but that's besides the point). Basically, I was "tagged" by Heather over at Sometimes I'm a Story to do a post on random stuff about myself. (By the way, you should check out her blog. Also, shoutout to her for doing an awesome critique on my WIP a while back).

Blog tags, such as the Tag of Randomocity, are essentially a way to network between bloggers and hook readers up with new blogs that may be of interest of them in a fun manner, which is pretty stinkin' awesome!

For this particular challenge/ tag, you post the button into your post, followed by two truths and a lie about yourself (see if you can guess the lie down in the comments), and then answer the list of random questions that was posted by the previous person. You're then encouraged to pass on the challenge to another blogger.

Let the randomness begin!

First off, two truths and a lie:

• I was a competitive swimmer for ten years
• My favorite wild animal is the tiger
• I love snow and wintertime

Best of luck with guessing!

What is one food that you can (and do) eat mountains of food because you love it so? 

Chocolate. Or taters (PO-TAT-OES; Boil 'em, mash'em, stick 'em in a stew). It's a really a close call between those two, especially if it's dark chocolate or really good mashed potatoes and gravy. I especially love both of those foods when I'm stressed out.

If you were a traveler without roots, would your home be a train car, hot air balloon, a boat, or just a pack on your back? Or maybe another option?

I'd probably pick some form of backpacking. I love tent camping and spending time outside. I would bring my dog along with me; he has a backpack, too. Definitely some books. And my coffeepot for over the fire.

I'd look like Samwise Gamgee with a pony-sized dog. But I'd be happy. And I'd probably eat potatoes for dinner, come to think of it. 

Name a celebrity you wish you could spend one day with.

I don't know about a "celebrity" in the strictest sense. I've always been a little paranoid about these questions because celebrities are only human, after all. What if someone I really liked in their celebrity role turns out to be a jerk?

Anyways, I would probably pick either Aliy Zirkle, Alaskan musher and Iditarod runner-up, or Ed Stielstra, Michigan musher. Also, pretty much any author who writes cool stories. 

What fictional character's house would you like to have as your own?

An interesting question. I don't know about a particular house, but I think Rohan from Lord of the Rings is really pretty. I'm not the most comfortable around horses, but I think I could work on that. 

If you could take a class in anything, what would it be? 

As far as "real life" college classes, I would have really liked to take Europe in the Middle Ages or The American Revolution. (Neither would fit into my schedule, sadly). 

As far as fake classes, I'd love to become a Ranger from the Ranger's Apprentice. (I've already got the coffee-drinking down and I've been shooting a recurve bow for the past year, so maybe I'm well on my way). Or I would become a Jedi. Unfortunately, it's harder to come by real lightsabers than bows and arrows. 

Name a childhood obsession.

Books, Star Wars, dogs, and pigs. Come to think of it, I haven't changed all that much.

What do you think would be an awesome theme for a party?

I can think of a few, but since I have virtually no social life when school is in session, none of them are likely to happen. 

Lord of the Rings--my friends and I sort of did one of these a few years back. We had a LotR marathon and played board games. I would definitely add in Lembas bread and some costumes (though my mom's tacos were also quite the hit, so maybe we shouldn't change that up). 

A Ranger's Apprentice party would also be cool. There would definitely have to be an epic game of hide and seek, coffee, and some archery involved. 

Also, there has to be something really good to do for a Star Wars party. Movie marathons are always nice...and with the new one coming out in December, there might be some potential for that one. *Walks away muttering about costumes*. 

Basically, I'd just enjoy anything with some good friends, good food, board games and something caffeinated (but nothing stronger). 

Have you ever been involved in any clubs or groups?

You're probably learning more about me than you ever wanted to! Yes; marching band and archery to name a couple.

What's something that you have to buy all the time that you wish you didn't have to? (Nothing unique, like movies or books.)

Tennis shoes/ sneakers. The college I attend has a huge campus, so I kill shoes on a regular basis. And good ones that fit my wide, high-arched feet are hard to come by for a reasonable price. 

What park would you choose to visit?

Gosh, there are so many national parks I want to see. Denali is probably my number one pick, closely followed by Yellowstone, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. I wouldn't mind going back to the Grand Canyon or seeing the Redwoods out in California. 

They aren't parks in the same sense, but I'm really interested in the American Revolution and have seen very few of the memorials/ battlefields associated with it. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Lexington and Concord, and other similar sites would definitely make my list. 

I don't know many people in the blogging world, but I would like to nominate Victoria J. if she has the time and desire to participate. 

Also, don't forget to guess on which of the three facts at the top is a lie! 

Thanks again to Heather for the nomination and don't forget to stop back in on Friday for a book review!

What is an Inner Editor?

I don't know that I've talked about it on here yet, but many authors frequently refer to their "inner editor". What strange beast is this and why do writers seem to alternately love and hate it?

Have you ever tried to type an email, only to keep re-writing it half a dozen times in the middle of actually writing it? Change a word here, rephrase a sentence there, correct a minor grammatical error in paragraph one--and do you sign with "Sincerely" or "Thanks"--and did you use perhaps a few too many times? Essentially, your cursor keeps running back and forth across the page like it's trying to get in the best shape of its life.

That's the result of your inner editor. You're constantly tweaking whatever you're trying to write--editing it--while still trying to write it. And how productive is that?

It's not terribly unproductive if you only have to compose a three paragraph email or a three hundred word blog article or college essay,  but it's pretty near impossible to complete an entire fifty thousand manuscript if you leave your inner editor turned on.

The inner editor is a persnickety beast. (Personally, I imagine her as an old lady with blond hair, rhinestone glasses, and red fingernails who likes to purse her lips at my writer self and shake her head sadly, clucking, "Now, now, that won't do." And then she gets out her huge red pen and makes my manuscript bleed.) She (or he) likes to tell you to fix things while you're still writing.

When she does this, you must politely decline and shut the door to her office so that she doesn't bother you. She's going to scream and shout and pound on the door until you let her out with her armada of red pens. And she's going to be cranky when she does come out. But, to finish a rough draft, sometimes you have to lock her away while you're still writing it.

Now, your inner editor can also be a good friend (sometimes she just needs taming with some chocolate or coffee to calm her down to a normal, less frantic state). But, you have to let her out only at certain times or she'll crush your inspiration. That's not conducive to writing. But make a friend out of your inner editor when you're actually editing. She's a valuable resource, rhinestone glasses and all.

Do you struggle with your inner editor? Any suggestions for "What is..." articles? 

Friday Fiction Fix: "The Sword"

The Short:

The Sword

(Book 1 of the Chiveis Trilogy)

By: Bryan M. Liftin

5/5 Stars

What: After the world has been virtually destroyed, Christianity has disappeared—until a Bible is found.

Recommended to those who like: Fantasy, sword fights, post-apocalyptic, unique world-building, Christian

Not recommended for those who dislike: Moderate to strong love element, some darker themes

The Long:

Miraculously, I actually found a book in a brick and mortar store this time. I was pleasantly surprised by The Sword. It had good action, a believable love element that didn’t consume the story, and a very unique world.

The known world was destroyed by a combination of acts of terrorism and disease. Now, it has reverted to a system of government and technology that resembles the medieval period—nobility, feudal kingdoms, swords, archery, etc. Outside of these kingdoms, in the Beyond, the remnants of twenty-first century civilization can be seen.

Throughout the story, we follow Captain Teofil, a soldier who teaches when he’s not patrolling the borders of the kingdom of Chiveis; and Anastasia, a young peasant woman who has become weary of the gods of her kingdom.

When they are stranded together in the wilderness, they discover a mysterious book. Will they be able to bring the Good News to Chiveis, or will the High Priestess stop them?

Note to readers: the book does deal with the nature of sexual temptation, though it is handled tactfully and in a Christian manner. Witchcraft/ demon worship is also mentioned as an aspect of worship of the gods of Chiveis. Again, this is handled well and actually adds depth to the story. These elements do make the book better suited to mature young adults and adults rather than younger audiences.

The book captured my attention from page one. While there is a love element to the story, it’s reasonable and doesn’t wipe out the action or other parts of the world building. The characters were flawed, but heroic, loveable and relatable. I look forward to getting the next book soon.

If you’ve read the book, feel free to share your thoughts below. Please remember to be respectful of Mr. Liftin and his work, as well as other commentators. I also welcome comments on what you would like to see included in the reviews. I reserve the right to remove vulgar, hateful, or rude remarks from the comments. Thanks for sharing!