Viewpoint is one of a storyteller’s most powerful tools. It’s also the craft element that seems to be subjected to the most rules, meaning an author needs to understand its potential in order to use it for maximum impact. You may have heard that you should never head hop. 
What you may not have heard is that head-hopping is not the same thing as a deft point of view change. Do you know the difference? Do you know how to deftly make such a switch? Do you know why some readers like the back and forth from hero to heroine to villain, and for others, such changes ruin the reading experience?
You may also have heard to use the point of view of the character with the most at stake in a scene. That works in some cases, but I tend to buck at the logic that a reader wants to experience what that character is going through. IMO, the reader pretty much knows, or should know if the story has been set up properly. More interesting to me as a reader, and as an author, is witnessing that character’s pivotal moment through the eyes of someone else. You may also have heard how important it is to use deep viewpoint. Do you recognize deep viewpoint when you see it? Do you know when you’re writing deep and when you’re not?
Just pondering about point of view as I FINALLY worked out how to get the information I needed into a scene without revealing things too soon. I’ve struggled for days with how to use viewpoint to make it happen, and am happy to say it all came together last night. Getting this right up front will give me a good foundation for going forward.
Comment
I try not to head hop but sometimes I can’t help it. I want everyone’s emotions laid bare.