dhyre

I have always written in past first person or third person, and I find that it is beginning to wring things dry. With my current project I am working to write first person, as it is happening thing and it is really difficult for me to do. I feel like I can only describe things after they happen, that it is more concise that way.

So, my query is about tense... What sort of style works? When I read, some of my favourite works are written in past tense but they still feel alive.

What works for you? As a reader and a writer, what tense do you prefer and why?

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*** correction: Writing is about individuality, breaking the rules, testing new grounds, listening to ourselves. That's why we do it, to show we are individuals, we are human and because everyone's idea deserves a chance, even if you don't think so.

Wreybies

Noirllyn

I prefer mixed tenses, although they tend to piss the hell out of a lot of people. I like third, first, and even a bit of second (not the whole thing), in past and a bit of present.

I find that making good use of the imperfect when writing in the past helps to keep it alive. Or rather, it at least expresses that there was once a thing living, rather than a thing that lived.

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omginternetlord

I've never read or even heard of a book written in present tense, besides children's books.

Could you point me towards one?

Just Jim

I've written a few things in first person, present tense. Short, simple stories can be effective, and a good learning exercise.

First person doesn't have to be the main character, or present tense. You can gain a lot of flexibility by having a secondary character be the narrator, and by writing in past tense.

Using dialog in a third person story can give the feeling of present tense, without confusing the reader. Dialog is always in present tense.

Also keep in mind that past tense can move from years ago to just a few seconds ago. Third person can also be brought in very close, so you get almost a feeling of first person.

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RomanticRose

With First Person Present Tense, I can't stop myself picturing the narrator walking around with a little tape recorder, describing what they are doing. That image alone distracts me.

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Wreybies

I am SO with you on this one!

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Ilasir Maroa

I have a three-hundred-odd page fanfiction written third person present for reasons involving it's relation to the original material. It reads very oddly. An experiment with first person present-tense I've been doing is down-right obnoxious. It's just not a way people normally communicate, and certainly no one tells stories like that.

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omginternetlord

Couldn't have said it any better.

Stories get told in the past tense.

Noirllyn

I actually have to disagree with this. First-present is a very conversational tone, and I agree that it doesn't quite work for the bulk of writing, but I experience it in life almost daily. I communicate regularly in first present (I am upset that my dog died. I need to call the florist. I am hungry.). People do often tell stories to me in first-present, "I say... and then she says" is a big line around here. Jokes are almost always told in present tense for some reason. I don't know why.

If you're doing one of those diary-style books, first-present will probably have a large place in it.

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dhyre

For me, this tense is working with my character who seems to have a "file" on everything, so it is working, for now. But I agree with some of whats been said about how past tense or 3d person can bring you in very close to the character.

About looking for a book, lemme get back to you - to be honest I can't remember by title and will have to do some bookshelf rampaging first.

I think it comes down to my experience, I find 3d person past too easy, 1st person past a little more difficult but I am learning a lot from 1st person present and there are parts in the story where the protagonist talks to the reader directly. I am only 3 chapters in and I may have to change it at some point, but I challenge you all to test it.. the results are interesting... I think.

__________________
*** correction: Writing is about individuality, breaking the rules, testing new grounds, listening to ourselves. That's why we do it, to show we are individuals, we are human and because everyone's idea deserves a chance, even if you don't think so.

omginternetlord

Yeah, but have you actually seen a book written in present tense?

Ilasir Maroa

Lol, I forgot to plug my brain-cord into the mouth-socket for that post. Sorry. But either way, I find reading a first-present story of any length quite wierd.

__________________
My hopeful book:
Crap! Haven't posted it anywhere yet, darn!
"Only tyranny cloaks itself in shadows. The light of justice can not be hidden."

www.theoddvillepress.com

starseed

My current project is third person. I guess it's past tense. When I read it back it feels like its happening in the present rather than telling some story from long ago, but the wording is past tense. Its worded like:

Jamie looked at Mike and wondered what he was thinking. He had a look on his face she had seen before but couldn't quite face..

I'm thinking of writing my next book in first person or diary format, but for this book third person works better.

dhyre

Yeah, and I find that to be the general feeling among my bookshelf. Books in past tense that feel like they are happening now. As far as 1st person present being a conversational tone, I agree - but it really depends on your work, what your character is like and what they are doing.

If your goal is to be published right out of the gate then sure it might not work for you, for me this is about pushing my boundaries and limits. I am actually more caught up in my work now that I am writing 1st present.

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*** correction: Writing is about individuality, breaking the rules, testing new grounds, listening to ourselves. That's why we do it, to show we are individuals, we are human and because everyone's idea deserves a chance, even if you don't think so.