Time Traveler's Wife is written in present tense and it worked quite well, but then again the writing was very good overall and she had a unique way of separating the time travel within each chapter. She also switched back and forth between the two main character's points of view within each chapter by labeling the sections with who was telling the story, the date, and the character's ages (because sometimes there would be two Henry's in one section at the same time at different ages.) Another story I just read recently has some present tense mixed with past tense as the story teller is in the present telling of his past adventure to a reporter, so the past adventure part is in past tense, but scenes where he is with the reporter in the present are present tense. Granted it's not time travel, but it was an example of blending the two tenses within a story. I think it depends on two things to make it work, of course the writing quality is the first thing, but also the situation that the characters are in in the story as it connects to the story being told in present tense in the beginning and past tense in the rest of the story... so for example your narrator is in the present at the beginning of the story and the reader is living the current situation with them, then from there on, the rest of the story is being recalled to the reader as if it already happened. I find the only reason first person present tense doesn't work is when the writing is poor quality. Present tense gives a sense of urgency and puts the reader right there with the character experiencing the story with the narrator. I like both, present and past tense when I read depending on the story.
Present tense puts the reader in lockstep with the character, making it difficult to modulate pace. Yes, there are pieces out there which have used it successfully, but most fall face first into the dust. It's a rigid and crippling narrative voice. No one who has to ask should ever choose it. First person is tough enough to do well.
If it is written as a frame story, then present tense first person, and then switching to past tense first person might be appropriate. It all depends on the story (and the context in which it is told) and how well you write. Terry
If there is one thing I have learned about Art is that their shouldn't be rules. The only rule that should exist is being able to convey a message. If you can't make people understand what you are trying to tell anyone than your work is useless. Obviously there are tools out there that help people understand how to do things. But everything in art should in my view be considered limitless!
Don't mistake advice for rules. If a particular way of writing something is extremely difficult to do well, it's poor advice to recommend it when there is another, more straightforward approach that is much more likely to turn out well. Any advice can be rejected. But if someone asks, you really should assume they are seeking advice, even if it turns they are really only looking for someone to agree with their idea.
An example of a frame story might be Hadji Murat by Tolstoy, or perhaps Interview with a Vampire. The frame story is a narrative that contains the narrative of the secondary story. For instance, with Hadji Murat, the story begins in the present with a character reminded of a story from his past, which he then recounts as the (third person) narrator. So the frame story is the man in the field telling a story, and the contained/secondary narrative is the story he tells. Th situation is similar in Interview; the frame story is the interview itself, which takes place in the present, and the contained/secondary narrative is the past which is being narrated.
It could easily complicate things and throw off the reader. I think it's better to pick one or the other, although present tense can really limit you as a writer.
This is something I could never make my mind about. Is it more effective to use Present or Past tense when writing a story? Also which is more commonly used. I kind of like Present better but I'm not sure if it would be more effective to use the Past.
Most people use past - I tend to use it for historical works, general fiction etc. My first story was about a 17 year old boy and present tense portrayed him better. Do what works for your story but be aware some people have a prejudice and won't read something in present tense.
Both tenses can be effective. Past seems to come more naturally to a lot of people, and it does enable for slightly more perspective in the novel; for instance, you comment on things in retrospect and understand their significance. But with present tense, you can really get into the moment and the description can feel all the more vivid because of it. Past is more commonly used, but not ridiculously so. There are plenty of books that have used present tense effectively, including Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. For my part, I've tried both past and present, but I work best with past. I have trouble making present flow correctly, or something. But I don't mind reading things in present. I think both could work; it's just kind of up to you.
Third person past tense is the one used the most. You'll see it in the majority of popular novels these days. Example: Zack never really liked any conflict, he tried to avoid anything that could lead to it. But sometimes, he couldn't. "Hey..." said Zack without making eye contact as he exited the arena, "didn't expect to see you here."
I write in past tense. I started a story earlier today, attempting to use the present tense. I got about 3 paragraphs into it before I went back and changed it to past. It was too difficult. Or at least, too much of a change from what I've done for years. From the beginning of storytelling history, it's been told in past tense. Troubadours told stories of things that have happened. The present tense would mean they are acting out the story at that moment. If the story is about the speaker themselves it raises the question,"How can you be doing what you say, you're sitting right here telling a story?" If the speaker is relating the experience of another, it's "How do you know what he's doing 60 leagues away when you're sitting here telling a story?" Stories are by nature an account of what has already passed. It is only in the relatively recent past that present tense has become an accepted practice.
I tend to write in the present tense, but the critiques here who viewed my novel rather for me to write in the past tense. I really don't see why writing in the present tense is bad. If it works for me, then why not choose present tense?
If it flows nice, and you can get a compelling story across to us, then I see nothing wrong with it :]
Hey guys, I've taken the plunge and have started to write my first fan fic. I have a beta reader and she is teaching me between the past and present tense. I write then send to her what I have written and Im still confused about this past and present usage of words such as have, had was, is etc. I read it out aloud and it sounds alright to me and I still get it wrong. Is there a thread on here explaining how to get it right? Would appreciate any help. Thank you in advance.
my mind creates in present tense, however past tense reads better, i keep reminding my self this just happened a second ago, i was really bad at tense hoping...i now make sure i write my notes in past tense ....i would hop tense 5 times in a 60 word sentence
I learned by doing, I posted here my content never got considered until I corrected the tense jumping....pain was worth the gain type thing.....verbally we use wrong tense all the time...............good luck
There are many threads in General Writing that deal with the choice of narrative tense. First, make sure you understand the difference between grammatical tense and narrative tense. Grammatical tense is a characteristic of each verb or verb phrase. There are dozens of grammatical tenses, with names like past tense, present tense, past perfect tense, past progressive tense, and so on. Ot isn't always necessary to know the names of these tenses, but you have to understand the differences in meaning conveyed by each. Narrative tense is, in a way, simpler. It is either past or present. Future narrative tense is possible in theory, but a bit silly unless you are a soothsayer relating a story that will happen someday. In a passage written in one narrative tense of the other, you can have a mixtire of any or all grammatical tenses, but the primary action verbs of the narrative will have a present or a past form, characterizing whether the narrative tells events that happened, or events that are happening. Past narrative tense can lag relative to now anywhere from millenia to femtoseconds, whereas present narrative tense is lockstepped to the moment. This makes a past narrative tense generally more flexible. A present narrative tense is more difficult, but is currently popular among some authors. Personally, I would avoid it in nearly all cases because of its inflexibility with regard to pace. See also: What's Your Point (of View)?
Xavier sees Katrina returning and, in his excitement, twisted his ankle rather badly. His sister calls the doctor immediately. In the above example, the verb "twisted" is the only verb that appears in the past tense. It should appear in the present tense, "twists," or the other verbs should be changed to the past tense as well. Switching verb tenses upsets the time sequence of narration. Xavier saw Katrina returning and, in his excitement, twisted his ankle rather badly. His sister called the doctor immediately.past tense Xavier sees Katrina returning and, in his excitement, twists his ankle rather badly. His sister calls the doctor immediately.present tense
Don't see how it's any sillier than any of the other narrative tenses. I mean, it's not like if you write a story in the past tense that means it actually occurred at some point in our own space-time continuum, right? It's just a vehicle to deliver a story. It's not the best, imo, but that doesn't mean it's silly (they're all silly, really) nor does it have anything to do with the writer being a soothsayer, just as the writer who writes in past tense isn't an historian, nor the writer who writers in present tense actually observing anything actually happening in that moment. It's all just fiction. Or maybe I'm just sensitive because I hope my future tense story is a big hit. I want to use first person, future tense, because the guy can in fact see his own future. And, so, instead of a reminiscent narrator (the narrator in the narrative present tense telling you about things that occurs in the past) I'll use a prophetical narrator, one who is in the present tense telling of things yet to happen. And yes, just because I'm joking doesn't mean future tense is anything but another tool in the suitcase (I keep my tools in a small suitcase I've had since I was a child, doesn't everyone?)
The confusion that can easily arise is thinking that every single verb must be in the same tense family. Starting with Killian's example, fixed to all present tense: Consider a slight variation: This is still well anchored in present tense, despite verbs in past tense (returned) and future tense (will be, will arrive) [Actually, has returned is present perfect tense, but it could easily have been past perfect: Xavier sees Katrina had returned hours ago and had set the table for dinner.] The reason it works is that all the principal action -- Xavier sees, he twists, his sister calls -- is in present tense forms.
The first post mentioned something to the effective that a beta reader still points out they are getting it wrong. The is a possibilty that the beta reader has a belief that every verb has to be changed, not just the action verbs as explained in post 7, that is the cool thing about a second, third and twenty third pair of eyes.
