How to Stop Head Hopping in Your Writing: What heading hoping is and how to avoid it
Ever read a scene where you’re inside one character’s head… and then suddenly you’re inside another character’s head… and then another? It’s like POV musical chairs—and it leaves readers dizzy.
That’s head hopping: jumping between characters’ thoughts or perspectives in the middle of a scene without warning. It’s one of the fastest ways to break immersion.
The fix? Choose one character POV per chapter (or at a minimum, scene) and stay anchored until you deliberately switch.
What Is Head Hopping?
Head hopping happens when a story shifts from one character’s internal experience to another’s without a clear transition.
Head Hopping Example:
“Jane wondered if he would notice her. Mark thought she looked nervous. Sarah felt both of them were ridiculous.”
We’re in three heads in three sentences. Whiplash.
Fixed Example (Jane’s POV):
“Jane wondered if he would notice her. Mark’s expression gave nothing away. Sarah was out of sight, and Jane was glad of it.”
Same scene, but all filtered through Jane’s point of view.
Why Head Hopping Hurts Writing
Confusion. Readers lose track of whose eyes they’re seeing through.
Lost intimacy. Instead of diving deep into one character, the story skims across several.
Amateur vibe. Head hopping is often flagged as a beginner mistake.
When POV Shifts Work (and When They Don’t)
Works: Scene or chapter breaks. Switching POV is clear, controlled, and intentional.
Doesn’t Work: Mid-paragraph or mid-sentence shifts with no warning. Readers feel jarred, not guided.
How to Avoid Head Hopping
Pick one POV per scene. Stick to one character’s eyes, thoughts, and voice.
Show other characters externally. Don’t dip into their thoughts—show their body language or dialogue.
Use scene breaks for shifts. Mark the change so readers reset smoothly.
Practice deep POV. Filter everything through your chosen character’s perceptions.
Quick Before & After
Head Hopping:
“Tom felt nervous about his speech. Mary thought he looked pale. The boss hoped neither would embarrass the company.”Fixed (Tom’s POV):
“Tom’s palms slicked with sweat. Mary tilted her head, frowning at him, but Tom couldn’t tell what she was thinking. The boss’s smile stayed stiff at the edge of Tom’s vision.”
Takeaway
POV isn’t just grammar—it’s the lens through which readers experience your story. Head hopping smashes that lens into pieces.
Choose a perspective, stick with it, and let your readers feel the story deeply instead of skipping across the surface.
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