Standard writing advice for fiction normally includes admonishment to choose a point of view and do not stray from that character’s point of view unless you have a clear break in scene or chapter. For years now, I’ve explained the nuances of POV to students–most of whom either get it or struggle with the whole concept. But lately, I’ve read more than one new novel that turns such advice on its head.
Writing Tip for Today: What’s going on in the writing world with POV? And what should you do about it?

• Resurgence of Omniscience. The “eye in the sky” or omniscient point of view has usually been swept away with a statement about how in the early days of novels (think 19th century), novels were written in omniscient viewpoint. Readers go into everyone’s head, regardless of scene breaks. One line you are the protagonist, the next you’re privy to another character’s thoughts. I recently read an Advance Reader Copy of a soon-to-be-published novel where the author skillfully shifts the reader into multiple viewpoints in the same scene. Key word: skillfully.
• Omniscient Easier? Some believe an omniscient POV will be easier, but this isn’t necessarily true. With each additional POV character, you dilute reader sympathies. Should reader root for Character X or Character Y? The Omniscient POV usually makes the camera zoom out to a panoramic view, forfeiting close-ups. If the camera’s far away, the reader will have to work harder to get an intimate emotional experience.
• Master a Single VP First. Even though many recent novels seem to have multiple narrators and/or an omniscient or floating POV, my original advice stands. Master scenic techniques in a tightly-focused single viewpoint before you test the exotic waters on the Multi-POV or Omniscient novel.