1. DAcrazy79

    DAcrazy79 New Member

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    Transition between past and present in first person pov

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by DAcrazy79, Jun 24, 2017.

    I'm currently writing a novel in first person in which the main character tells a lot of back stories throughout. The problem I'm having is transitioning between the past and the present. I need some pointers.

    New writer here
     
  2. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Short answer is to pick one and stick with it. Unlike regular or academic writing neither past nor present actually delineates what is happening now from what happened ago in fiction. The tense is a purely stylistic choice.

    If you insist on present tense you may have some issues when describing the ago. I'm not quite sure how that flies, which is one reason I avoid present tense like the plague. I'd read some present tense books and see how they handle it.
     
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  3. OJB

    OJB A Mean Old Man Contributor

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    I think of my past (Simple present) when I had attacked the monster (Perfect Past because it has already happened).
     
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  4. DAcrazy79

    DAcrazy79 New Member

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  5. DAcrazy79

    DAcrazy79 New Member

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    My novel is very phycological in nature about a very introverted woman who suffers from a sex addiction. When she's not acting out, she stays lost in her own thoughts and each encounter takes her back to a time in her life growing up, as she's trying to work out what it is that may have caused her to be this way. (If that makes since)
     
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  6. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

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    Are you planning to set the parts in the past apart from the parts in the present, somehow? Like a scene break, for example?

    I'd be tempted to do the reverse of what seems logical - I'd be tempted to write the "current" story in past tense, and the "past" story in present tense. Like:

    I knew I was in trouble. I could feel the pressure building and I tried to fight it but I didn't know how. I wanted to resist, I needed to resist, but nothing had ever worked before and nothing was working then and I knew, with a twisting sickness, that nothing ever would work, that I'd be stuck in this hell forever, that there'd be no escape from the swirling memories and--

    I'm young. I look down at my child's body, skin so smooth and innocent, blond hair falling around my peripheral vision. I hear a voice--loud, too loud--and jerk my gaze up to see his angry face.​

    Whatever--obviously I have no idea about the actual content you want to convey. But if you're doing flashbacks, as it sounds like you are, I'd probably do the flashback in present tense to make it really clear that this is happening now for the character--it's not a distant, intellectual memory, it's being relived in real time. Assuming that's the effect you're going for...
     
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  7. DAcrazy79

    DAcrazy79 New Member

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    I've never thought about doing that, but that's a really good idea!
     
  8. TWErvin2

    TWErvin2 Contributor Contributor

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    DAcrazy79,

    There area number of techniques to help keep things straight for the reader, to realize present vs. past. Many novels tackle it. I'd recommend that you pick out several novels that you've read and enjoyed, written in first person. Go through and study how those authors succeed in what you're attempting to do. Take notes and keep track of examples so that you can apply what you learn to your writing style and story.
     
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  9. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    (Did I post this in a similar thread?)

    I kinda-recently started reading China Court by Rumer Godden. It has a story present that's narrated in past tense, and a bunch of flashbacks and information about various times in the story's past, all narrated in...present tense.

    That sounds like sheer madness, but it works. I don't know if it would work in anyone else's hands.

    (HEY! My Kindle copy of China Court has thoughts in italics. OK, I now have to find a vintage printed copy to see if that was always there or if it was added as part of the electronic conversion. If my favorite author commits my most hated writing sin, what do I do? I'll wait until I find out.)

    Anyway, an example from China Court:

    Cecily came in and looked at them, but all she said was, ‘Peter, you had better have some breakfast,’ and, ‘Tracy! Are you letting that bacon burn?’

    In Eustace’s day, before there can be bacon there have to be family prayers. Mary and Eliza, the two eldest of the Brood, take it in turns to put out the books, ‘if you have learned your hymn verse, text, and Collect,’ says Adza.

    ‘I have learned them,’ says Eliza.
    ‘I learned all three while Mary was learning her verse.’

    ‘Eliza, you must not boast.’


    ‘But I did.’

    ‘That will do, Eliza.’

    Eliza, at this time, is an exceedingly plain little girl of seven, dressed like...

     
  10. DAcrazy79

    DAcrazy79 New Member

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    Right now the narration of my story is based in the present and some back stories and useful present information is told in "story mode"

    The issue I'm having is transition from "story mode" back to current narration

    Would it be a good idea to just the narration at the beginning of the next chapter?
     

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