POV + tense in YA = relative to genre?

Windcutter · Mar 21, 2012

Does it just seem to me that the majority of YA dystopian novels is written in first person present tense?
Or, say, that YA paranormal romance is written in first person much more often than YA secondary world fantasy?
Whereas the books with a historical looking setting, be it steampunk or something more realistic, tend to employ the tried and true third person + past tense method?
It's not like I'm trying to come up with reliable statistics (that would require way too much time)--just curious about your observations. Is it just a case of copying the trends of adult fiction? Though there seems to be more first person books across the whole YA playground anyway.

JQTrotter · Mar 21, 2012

I've also noticed this but I don't think the POV + tense is a requirement. Personally, I like finding a book that's different from the rest. Be it because the POV/tense is different than most in its genre or not. So, if you're asking just for opinions then that's mine. From a majority of the agent interviews that I've read I would also assume that a book wouldn't be rejected purely on the basis of their POV/tense.

I'd be interested to hear what others think, too.

Toothpaste · Mar 21, 2012

Honestly, I think people copy that which went before. So HUNGER GAMES (which started the Dystopian trend) was written in first person present, which made a lot of authors writing the same seek to do the same. Ditto with Paranormal Romance - TWILIGHT was written first person past . . .

This isn't saying that some of these authors didn't make their choice on how to write their work independent of said books, but I do think said books have had a general influence.

However there is no rule saying you have to write like that. The very successful Paranormal Romance series "Wondrous Strange" is written third person limited.

Write in the POV and tense you think best suits your story.

Dozmonic · Mar 21, 2012

POV + tense in YA = relative to vogue. It'll change like the tide

Stiger05 · Mar 21, 2012

Dozmonic said:
POV + tense in YA = relative to vogue. It'll change like the tide

I agree. It waxes and wanes depending on what others are doing, although I can definitely see genre distinctions. Most of the fantasy I've read is in third person past tense. Most YA I've read is in first past/present. Most general Adult is in third past.

Personally, I've done both. I've got a MG adventure that's close third person, but all my YA stuff comes out first past/present. I've tried writing YA in third, but it just doesn't seem to work for me. I write it better when I'm really in the MC's head, looking at the story through their eyes. In fact, in my current WIP I keep waffling between third past and first past. I think third would work better for the story, but first comes so easily for me.

missesdash · Mar 21, 2012

I think also those were just POV trends that aligned with certain genre trends. I write 1st person present regardless of genre. My agent mate used it for a thriller due next year with penguin.

I also think they serve purposes. A simple 1st person past is good for wish fulfillment. You can imagine yourself as the character quite easily. Whereas First present brings a kind of immediacy that work well for works with action elements.

Third Past is just classic storytelling, which is how I view fantasy.

I've seen some Third person present subs and I have to say: I hate it! Reads like a screenplay. Anyway, those are my thoughts

LindsayM · Mar 21, 2012

Dozmonic said:
POV + tense in YA = relative to vogue. It'll change like the tide

Agreed. It may be the trend right now, but trends don't last for very long in publishing. Write in the POV and tense that words best for your story, period.

Cyia · Mar 21, 2012

Dozmonic said:
POV + tense in YA = relative to vogue. It'll change like the tide

Not if you're using what's best for the story at hand. Like everything else - DON'T write to trend. Write what works.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which is one of the best recent Paranormals out there is 3rd past. 1st wouldn't have worked for the story at all.

wampuscat · Mar 21, 2012

I tried 1st person present just as a writing exercise, and I have to say that I really enjoy the tension and pacing and intimacy of it. But I know it only works for some stories. For me, POV and tense depends on the way I see the story in my head. Do I see it through "my"/the MC's eyes, or do I see an overview? Do I hear the MC's thoughts or no?

I wonder if the trend kind of mirrors trends in other mediums. Look at all the 1st-person video games and the movies like "Paranormal Activity" where you're supposed to feel like you're experiencing something real or first-hand.
(disclaimer: I've never actually seen Paranormal Activity.)

timewaster · Mar 22, 2012

Windcutter said:
Does it just seem to me that the majority of YA dystopian novels is written in first person present tense?
Or, say, that YA paranormal romance is written in first person much more often than YA secondary world fantasy?
Whereas the books with a historical looking setting, be it steampunk or something more realistic, tend to employ the tried and true third person + past tense method?
It's not like I'm trying to come up with reliable statistics (that would require way too much time)--just curious about your observations. Is it just a case of copying the trends of adult fiction? Though there seems to be more first person books across the whole YA playground anyway.

I've published a historical fantasy in alternating first person present, and alt history in first person past. First person used to be used mainly for romances. I don't think it is particularly genre specific nowadays it is just that it works better for some voices than for others. (My dystopia was alternating third person.)

YooprGurl · Mar 22, 2012

I think writing 1st Person/Present Tense is more than a trend, it's the way we live our lives today.

No longer do writers come home at night and confide in a diary:

"Today Johnny passed me in the hall. He didn't say one word."

We tweet, pin, and facebook as it happens:

I'm planting the garden! *tweet*

I love this purse! *pin*

I'm stuck in traffic. *facebook*

1st Person/Present Tense is here to stay and I love it.

bethany · Mar 22, 2012

YooprGurl said:
I think writing 1st Person/Present Tense is more than a trend, it's the way we live our lives today.

No longer do writers come home at night and confide in a diary:

"Today Johnny passed me in the hall. He didn't say one word."

We tweet, pin, and facebook as it happens:

I'm planting the garden! *tweet*

I love this purse! *pin*

I'm stuck in traffic. *facebook*

1st Person/Present Tense is here to stay and I love it.

Quoted for truth. This is exactly what I think, and feel.

Stiger05 · Mar 23, 2012

YooprGurl said:
I think writing 1st Person/Present Tense is more than a trend, it's the way we live our lives today.

No longer do writers come home at night and confide in a diary:

"Today Johnny passed me in the hall. He didn't say one word."

We tweet, pin, and facebook as it happens:

I'm planting the garden! *tweet*

I love this purse! *pin*

I'm stuck in traffic. *facebook*

1st Person/Present Tense is here to stay and I love it.

Good point. I feel like an idiot because this didn't occur to me, haha.

timewaster · Mar 23, 2012

Stiger05 said:
Good point. I feel like an idiot because this didn't occur to me, haha.

We also tend to narrate in first person 'and then he says to me...'
Doesn't necessarily make for gripping fiction.
First person present can work but it doesn't always.

Smish · Mar 23, 2012

YooprGurl said:
I think writing 1st Person/Present Tense is more than a trend, it's the way we live our lives today.

No longer do writers come home at night and confide in a diary:

"Today Johnny passed me in the hall. He didn't say one word."

We tweet, pin, and facebook as it happens:

I'm planting the garden! *tweet*

I love this purse! *pin*

I'm stuck in traffic. *facebook*

1st Person/Present Tense is here to stay and I love it.

Agreed 100%. First-present is what comes to me naturally.

legendary bum · Mar 23, 2012

what the heck is "pin"??

wampuscat · Mar 23, 2012

legendary bum said:
what the heck is "pin"??

pinterest
http://pinterest.com/

legendary bum · Mar 23, 2012

thank youu! what a nifty little site.

Windcutter · Mar 25, 2012

Lots of interesting points.

Re: this is how we live. I wonder if that's why first person present tense seems to be especially popular in futuristic settings. I don't think I've ever seen a historical, steampunk, medieval fantasy, etc, written that way.

mhjess · Mar 25, 2012

I used to really gravitate towards first person present in my writing, but lately I've found, going back and reading it, that it's kind of empty, more like the skeleton of a story than an actual story, and that rewriting in first person past gives it more depth. Like, my current WIP I wrote a draft of in first person present, but I'm rewriting in in first person past and I'm finding that those quirks I like in my character are becoming highlights (instead of main features) while she's developing a lot more depth. She feels three-dimensional now and her world feels better realized.

But, I do love reading first person present, still. I'll always love a good mystery in that format, as it feels like I'm there with the detective, clueless as to what's coming next.

totopink · Mar 25, 2012

I read a paranormal third person present today.
It was about a girl who is dead and I read it because the MC in my new WIP is dead too and I was interested to see how another author would write it.

Safe to say I am not going to carry on that trend. "Liz wakes up. Liz takes a sip from her glass. Liz is nervous." It sounds so horribly stilted.

POV + tense in YA = relative to genre?

Windcutter

JQTrotter

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Dozmonic

Stiger05

missesdash

You can't sit with us!

LindsayM

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

wampuscat

Recovering adjective addict

timewaster

present

YooprGurl

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...

bethany

:)

Stiger05

timewaster

present

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

legendary bum

needs to change her sheets

wampuscat

Recovering adjective addict

legendary bum

needs to change her sheets

Windcutter

mhjess

totopink