Tense

hologram · Apr 29, 2013

I have an issue with past and present tense. I feel present is better but people tend to react negatively to it.

For example I would write...
...he decides it is time and stumbles over to his own dresser. “Hmm, football day but it is cold”. He neglects his favourite shorts today in favour of similar tracksuit bottoms to his brother and a black t-shirt.

Instead of
...he decided it was time and stumbled over to his own dresser. “Hmm, football day but it is cold”. He neglected his favourite shorts today in favour of similar tracksuit bottoms to his brother and a black t-shirt.

I can't decide what to power on with and although I kind of prefer present tense I find myself constantly correcting myself after writing a paragraph in past tense.

So confusing!

thebird · Apr 29, 2013

I personally have a strong aversion to present tense, but I think you need to go with what feels most natural for your story. It sounds like you prefer first, so if that's what works for you, I think that's what you should stick with. People have such wide variety of opinions, and you can't please everyone.

And even despite my loathing of present tense, some novels are so well written that I don't even mind it that much.

hologram · Apr 29, 2013

thebird said:
I personally have a strong aversion to present tense, but I think you need to go with what feels most natural for your story. It sounds like you prefer first, so if that's what works for you, I think that's what you should stick with. People have such wide variety of opinions, and you can't please everyone.

And even despite my loathing of present tense, some novels are so well written that I don't even mind it that much.

Noted, and I thank you.

I saw elsewhere that present tense novels have to be very well written to work but this is my first writing project. I'm honestly not that good of a writer.

Does this change your answer?

quacktaculaura · Apr 29, 2013

I've read a few novels done in present tense, and I think if it's done right, it works just fine. There were a few that I honestly didn't really notice were present tense until I reread.

That being said, I prefer past tense. I think present tense is hard to do well, but if you think you can make it work, give it a shot.

VoireyLinger · Apr 29, 2013

You'll get better with practice. Keep writing in whatever tense you feel works best for you and your story.

katci13 · Apr 29, 2013

Go with the tense that's pulling you in the strongest. Honestly, if a story is interesting enough, I won't notice for several chapters that it's written in present tense. I'm a cliche English nerd, too. Majored in English. LOVE English. I admit I thought it was odd when I first saw it, but it never bothered me. I was excited, honestly. Probably because I've always wanted to do it and thought it was not allowed. People will get used to it or get over it.

I started writing in present tense last year. Except for my mother (who I asked specifically to look at the tense), not a single person who has read anything I've written since said a word about the tense being distracting or anything about it at all.

Don't let people scare you. I hear all the time that "people" prefer YA books written in 1st person. Out of 5 newly released YA books in my cue, two are written in 3rd person.

Don't waste time and worry about this for a month like I did. Do whatever works better for you and the story you're trying to tell.

Nawlins · Apr 29, 2013

I won't read present tense work. I taught for too many years and read too many present tense stories to get past the knee-jerk reaction that present tense writing evokes in me.

That said, you're not writing for me, so do what you enjoy. If you do that well and correctly, the tense you choose isn't likely to be an issue.

cooeedownunder · Apr 29, 2013

Ah, I'm someone who doesn't mind present tense prose.

You need to do what feels right for you.

Bufty · Apr 30, 2013

Are you writing in prersent tense because that is best tense to use for the story or because you think present tense is cool?

I wonder why you mention finding yourself 'constantly correcting' to maintain present tense while you write. That doesn't sound as though the chosen method is right.

Just curious.

BethS · Apr 30, 2013

Yeah, what Bufty said. It doesn't sound as if present tense is coming naturally to you.

quicklime · Apr 30, 2013

hologram said:
I have an issue with past and present tense. I feel present is better but people tend to react negatively to it.

For example I would write...
...he decides it is time and stumbles over to his own dresser. “Hmm, football day but it is cold”. He neglects his favourite shorts today in favour of similar tracksuit bottoms to his brother and a black t-shirt.

Instead of
...he decided it was time and stumbled over to his own dresser. “Hmm, football day but it is cold”. He neglected his favourite shorts today in favour of similar tracksuit bottoms to his brother and a black t-shirt.

I can't decide what to power on with and although I kind of prefer present tense I find myself constantly correcting myself after writing a paragraph in past tense.

So confusing!

present can certainly work, and has, but if even you keep slipping, and you're aware many people are dislikling it.....I'm not sure what else there is to say.

What about present tense do you feel is "better"?

thebird · Apr 30, 2013

hologram said:
Noted, and I thank you.

I saw elsewhere that present tense novels have to be very well written to work but this is my first writing project. I'm honestly not that good of a writer.

Does this change your answer?

Well if you really want to write in present tense, I imagine you'll get better with it the more you practice, so you can think of the story you're currently writing as a way to get comfortable and find your writing voice.

DragonHeart · Apr 30, 2013

For me it depends on the voice of the character I'm writing. I'd never written in present tense until my latest project, when I actually slipped into present tense partway in without even noticing. The story works the way it is so I'm not about to change it.

I think it's a pretty good metric, actually. If you find yourself constantly slipping into a different tense, maybe try actively writing it that way; it just might be your subconscious mind telling you it works better.

Of course, there's a huge difference between tense-slipping and tense-shifting, the latter of which tends to be a more active mistake on the part of the writer. It can be done on purpose to great effect, but I've only seen it done well in very particular cases, like frame stories.

dchisholm125 · Apr 30, 2013

hologram said:
I have an issue with past and present tense.

I can't decide what to power on with and although I kind of prefer present tense I find myself constantly correcting myself after writing a paragraph in past tense.

...well I still struggle with this !$#@, but now I have the problem of past as compared to past participle because I too liked present tense, but switched to past because it sounded more natural in the writing. Now I'm stuck making mistakes because PAST past events happen in past participle tense

Ugh... and yes, I too have been told that present tense is really hard to do well, but the most recent example of Hunger Games proves that it can still be done well and sell so keep using it if you prefer it.

I only think that present tense can be a little jarring to read, but it is comprehensible by readers. It just seems like unnatural speech, especially if its a first-person book.

Eh, just keep writing until you get 50 posts and then goto SYW and get other's opinions before you scrap the idea of present tense and go with past.

Good luck!

Fallen · Apr 30, 2013

I'm another that loves present tense, but you have to go with what feels natural to you.

Like others have said, if you're forcing the issue, then you may be fighting against what comes more natural to you.

kkbe · Apr 30, 2013

hologram: I can't decide what to power on with and although I kind of prefer present tense I find myself constantly correcting myself after writing a paragraph in past tense.

so you feel more comfortable writing in present tense? Then write that way. Whatever POV you choose, you need to be comfortable in that skin. If you are, it'll come through in your writing. I tend to write in first person, just seems to channel the characters easier for me. They're talking, I'm writing what they say.

I have an issue with past and present tense. I feel present is better but people tend to react negatively to it.

I don't know why you think present tense is better, though. For you? Make it easy on yourself, write the way that feels most natural. I'd go with the POV that doesn't jar you or make you second guess yourself every five seconds. It's a hindrance. You don't need that.

Don't worry so much about what others think at this point. Get your story written in the voice that's most comfortable for you.

Rufus Coppertop · Apr 30, 2013

What others have said.

Go with what's natural to you.

Roxxsmom · Apr 30, 2013

I think present tense can work in stories where you are really deeply immersed in the character's perceptions. I don't tend to like it when an author uses it as a short cut for doing this and still writes with a lot of telling, filtering and summarizing. I guess what I'm saying is that present tense can intensify a deep first person (or deep third) narrative where there is already a lot of immersion and direct, unfiltered description of the character's emotions and perceptions, but it doesn't create immersion in a story that doesn't have it (and may in fact feel off in such stories).

I know you just rattled off your example, so I don't want to get too sidetracked by a short passage without any context. But It does feel very distant and filtered to me because of your use of words like "decides/decided" and because passages like "he neglected his favorite pants suit today in favor of" feels much more like a formally worded summary than a deep, immersion in the process of selecting an outfit.

Again, I don't want to pick on a short passage out of context that you probably just rattled off, and selecting clothes is not the usual "deep pov" scenario readers crave

but it's something to think about. If you're going for a more omniscient third, traditional third limited with lots of filters, or a more distant, contemplative first person narrative, then I'm not sure present tense brings anything to the table.

But this is just me, and I am by no means an expert in present tense. Building your own voice and narrative style is not an overnight thing, so I'd encourage you to experiment a bit and come up with an approach that is comfortable for you.

hologram · Apr 30, 2013

Thanks for all of your advice I appreciate it. I wrote separate paragraph in past tense and realistically there is no reason why I can't write the story that way. Saves me correcting myself.

I thought to use it because it meant the reader was there at the time, as the events happened. That was my thinking behind it, flawed I know. Like my writing!

Nawlins · Apr 30, 2013

Hey, you're finding your way through the story. I think we have to do that every time we start a new one - at least, I do. Writing the way that is most natural and easy for you is important b/c instead of working on writing issues, you can simply tell the story.

pezerp59 · May 4, 2013

Stay in the zone.

If you're constantly self correcting the tense from present to past that may be your writing comfort zone.

I prefer to write in present tense because it feels dynamic.

Honest Bill · May 4, 2013

I have to say that if it's written well enough, i don't really notice the tense after the first few paragraphs.

Past does seem more natural to me though. And that's robably why you keep slipping up and reverting back to it.

I can't really tell what the benefits are of wrting in present, although i haven't really considered it to be fair.

Tense

hologram

I'm broken I need repaired!

thebird

hologram

I'm broken I need repaired!

quacktaculaura

VoireyLinger

Angel Wing Fetish

katci13

creative genie

Nawlins

cooeedownunder

Grateful for the day

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

BethS

quicklime

all out of fucks to give

thebird

DragonHeart

Oerba Yun Fang

dchisholm125

can jump higher than you

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

kkbe

Huh.

Rufus Coppertop

Roxxsmom

Raised by Wolves

hologram

I'm broken I need repaired!

Nawlins

pezerp59

Inexorable

Honest Bill

practical experience, FTW