Tense

[deltay]

When it comes to YA, do you have a preference between either present tense or past tense?

Before, I wasn't particularly fond of present tense, but now I find I'm getting more and more into it, especially since more novels nowadays seem to be written that way (off the top of my head, Evemore, Fade, etc.) Is this just me, or has anyone else been noticing this too?

I guess I'm trying to decide for my next WIP whether to go with past tense or present...

[Zipotes]

Personally, I'm more comfortable with past tense.

[scarletpeaches]

I'm most comfortable with second person future tense.

[TrixieLox]

I love writing in present tense but reading it (eg. The Hunger Games), it feels SO stilted. Lovin' The Hunger Games btw so not suggesting it's naff but still - past tense just feels better which is a shame in a way as present tense 'writes' better, if you know what I mean?

[AmandaAcidic]

My favorite is past tense. For writing and reading.

[navaa]

I don't really have a preference. I do lean more towards past tense, though.

[Shady Lane]

present

but scarlet's snarky answer serves a purpose--this has been discussed to death.

[scarletpeaches]

I was telling the truth. :(

(Okay, serious answer; it has been done to death and it comes down to whatever suits the story).

[Stunted]

I prefer past, but I've read things in present that I liked. Zel was in first, wasn't it? If you don't pull it off well, it's really hard to read and pretentious.

[Sage]

TenseWhy, yes. I am. Good call.


I prefer past, but I'm becoming used to present.

[suki]

I love and feel most comfortable writing in first person present tense, but a lot of the feedback on my novel has been "love the voice...love the tension...great character..." but it's too introspective for present tense.

So, I am slowly reworking it to put a lot more of the book into past tense. And while that has been painful at times (past just doesn't feel natural to me and I hate, HATE past past ("he had had enough...")), I am really learning how much past tense can let you streamline a story and focus on key scenes, rather than feel like you need to give a sense of time passing that I had when in present tense.

So, love present, still think it's a viable option. But I am learning to enjoy past too, and know that in present tense, there is already some with a bias against it.

~suki

[Rachel]

I like present tense with first person, past tense with third. Of course, it all depends on the writing. As for my own writing, I'm comfortable either way.

[It's-Magic!]

past for all POVs