Tense preferences in literary magazines

blacbird · 01-22-2013, 08:20 AM

I just got my first 2013 edition of a MAJOR literary quarterly today*. Of the nine short stories it contains, six are in present-tense narrative. I'm curious. Is this the common preference in today's literary fiction?

I haven't yet read any of the stories; I plan to make it my bedtime read. So I'm not trying to pass any literary judgment or critique on it. Just intrigued by the apparent preference, and wondering if it extends to other such venues.

Anybody have other evidence?

caw

*I prefer not to name it, but it's a biggie. I subscribe to it.

eyeblink · 01-22-2013, 09:55 AM

Not really evidence as I haven't surveyed it. On the other hand, three of the stories are NOT in present tense so are presumably just as acceptable.

A romance market I sold four stories to in the 1990s sometimes published present-tense stories. They tended to be somewhat shorter, more "mood" pieces than straight-ahead plot-driven stuff.

Someone who did do a survey was John Kessell, who wrote an article on the subject of present tense in SF short fiction called "The Brother from Another Planet", which was published in the New York Review of Science Fiction. I have a copy somewhere. He compared anthologies (reprint and best-of) from the 40s and the 70s. In 40s SF no one wrote in present tense, while in the 70s, some of the more "experimental" and "literary" SF writers often did - James Tiptree Jr, Joanna Russ and others. Later, William Gibson. It's certainly not UNacceptable to do so - as a newcomer, I sold two stories to F & SF in present tense, one in third person, one in second.

kuwisdelu · 01-22-2013, 10:59 AM

I think it's the preference of quite a few authors these days.

I doubt publishers care what tense it is as long as it's good.

Shadow_Ferret · 01-22-2013, 09:47 PM

Define MAJOR, because most literary magazine are small press or university-funded and they pay in copies. To me, major pays professional rates like the New Yorker or Playboy.

But I haven't noticed any tense shift.

Roger J Carlson · 01-22-2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow_Ferret

...Playboy.

But I haven't noticed any tense shift.

I get it for the pictures...oh...wait...

gettingby · 01-22-2013, 10:40 PM

I read a bunch of the big literary magazines, and there is usually a combination of both past and present tense stories. I have played around with both tenses in my own writing, and I think it just depends on the story which tense works better.

Also, most of the major journals don't just pay in copies. I could name at least twenty off the top of my head that pay quite nicely. I agree that even some of the ones that don't pay are quite good and very hard to get into. I don't think how much they pay dictates just how good or major a literary magazine is.

Smish · 01-23-2013, 12:09 AM

I've seen an upsurge in present tense over the past couple of years, in both short fiction and novels. I think it's just becoming more popular, but as has been said upthread, tense doesn't really matter. If the writing is good enough, the tense disappears.

Wilde_at_heart · 01-23-2013, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smish

I've seen an upsurge in present tense over the past couple of years, in both short fiction and novels. I think it's just becoming more popular, but as has been said upthread, tense doesn't really matter. If the writing is good enough, the tense disappears.

I've found that too, but it could be that in the past couple of years some books written in present tense have been hugely popular.

Hard to tell, really. Not a fan of it myself but if the story's good, ya know...

blacbird · 01-23-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie

Well, individual editors each have a preference, but it's always more about good writing and content than tense. As a writer, I think you have to write the way you write best, and the way you prefer reading.

I thought you hated present tense.

As for the mag, it pays in four figures for shorts, and is a real totem on one's publication resumé.

caw

blacbird · 01-24-2013, 07:37 AM

I have a submission in to this mag. It has the chance of being accepted that Bernard Madoff has of being the next U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

caw

Eliza azilE · 01-24-2013, 07:08 PM

A few years ago I was flipping through the Writer's Market, and even back then there were at least two sources (agents, publishers, I forget) who requested NO MORE present because they were sick of it.

If there's ever an upsurge, prepare for a pullback.

01-22-2013, 08:20 AM	#1
blacbird That hairy-handed gent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Who ran amok in Kent Posts: 26,229	Tense preferences in literary magazines I just got my first 2013 edition of a MAJOR literary quarterly today. Of the nine short stories it contains, six are in present-tense narrative. I'm curious. Is this the common preference in today's literary fiction? I haven't yet read any of the stories; I plan to make it my bedtime read. So I'm not trying to pass any literary judgment or critique on it. Just intrigued by the apparent preference, and wondering if it extends to other such venues. Anybody have other evidence? caw I prefer not to name it, but it's a biggie. I subscribe to it. __________________ Without a reader, the story doesn't exist -- James D. MacDonald

01-22-2013, 09:55 AM	#2
eyeblink I blink Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Aldershot, UK Posts: 4,271	Not really evidence as I haven't surveyed it. On the other hand, three of the stories are NOT in present tense so are presumably just as acceptable. A romance market I sold four stories to in the 1990s sometimes published present-tense stories. They tended to be somewhat shorter, more "mood" pieces than straight-ahead plot-driven stuff. Someone who did do a survey was John Kessell, who wrote an article on the subject of present tense in SF short fiction called "The Brother from Another Planet", which was published in the New York Review of Science Fiction. I have a copy somewhere. He compared anthologies (reprint and best-of) from the 40s and the 70s. In 40s SF no one wrote in present tense, while in the 70s, some of the more "experimental" and "literary" SF writers often did - James Tiptree Jr, Joanna Russ and others. Later, William Gibson. It's certainly not UNacceptable to do so - as a newcomer, I sold two stories to F & SF in present tense, one in third person, one in second. __________________ "The afterlife is like Aldershot." (from Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel) Works in progress: Partings and Greetings (contemporary 14+ YA novel) - Version 3.0 35,949 words and counting. Short fiction: "Mourning Becomes Me" - 9359 word draft, a likely novella in the making "Treffpunkt" - 2754 word draft Untitled story (collaboration with Fenika) - 1729 words and counting

01-22-2013, 10:59 AM	#3
kuwisdelu kimochi warui P&CE Ombudsman/Arbiter/Thingamajobbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 26,529	I think it's the preference of quite a few authors these days. I doubt publishers care what tense it is as long as it's good. __________________ (a blog.) ...last updated 17 September 2012 (a twitter.) ...last updated whenever

01-22-2013, 09:47 PM	#4
Shadow_Ferret Bowties are cool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: In a world of my own making Posts: 21,927	Define MAJOR, because most literary magazine are small press or university-funded and they pay in copies. To me, major pays professional rates like the New Yorker or Playboy. But I haven't noticed any tense shift. __________________ Twitter \| G+ \| WordPress \| Tumblr “I love words but I don’t like strange ones. You don’t understand them and they don’t understand you. Old words is like old friends, you know ‘em the minute you see ‘em.” -- Will Rogers Sadly true: "Creating drama, arguments and conflict can wake up the ADHD brain, making us alert and alive… and eventually alone." -- TotallyADD via Twitter

01-24-2013, 07:37 AM	#10
blacbird That hairy-handed gent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Who ran amok in Kent Posts: 26,229	I have a submission in to this mag. It has the chance of being accepted that Bernard Madoff has of being the next U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. caw __________________ Without a reader, the story doesn't exist -- James D. MacDonald

01-22-2013, 10:40 PM	#6
gettingby practical experience, FTW Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,175	I read a bunch of the big literary magazines, and there is usually a combination of both past and present tense stories. I have played around with both tenses in my own writing, and I think it just depends on the story which tense works better. Also, most of the major journals don't just pay in copies. I could name at least twenty off the top of my head that pay quite nicely. I agree that even some of the ones that don't pay are quite good and very hard to get into. I don't think how much they pay dictates just how good or major a literary magazine is.

01-24-2013, 07:08 PM	#11
Eliza azilE figuring it all out Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 70	A few years ago I was flipping through the Writer's Market, and even back then there were at least two sources (agents, publishers, I forget) who requested NO MORE present because they were sick of it. If there's ever an upsurge, prepare for a pullback.

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