The Backward OX

Here’s an example:

"At around one-thirty the next morning, as he was doing his paperwork, he sat back and became reflective. (The narrator then goes on for seventy-six words listing certain unpleasant aspects of his job.) There has to be an easier way to earn a living."

So we’ve got a “was doing” at the beginning and a “has to be” at the end. I’m disinclined to use “had to be” as it’s something in the narrator’s mind in the here and now. But what do you think?

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Originally Posted by Wildcard
I view with distaste the excretions polluting this site, suffering when I read another by-product of the boredom of one with access to a computer and the internet. As I read I feel I am being defecated on, and cling to an idea that one day I may find solace in the words of one who takes pride in their work.

lisajane

I would use 'had to be', because tense usually shouldn't change in description during the same paragraph.

If the character were to actually say 'There has to be an easier way to earn a living' aloud as dialogue, that would be alright.

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Mike C

Yup, or if he stared whistfully at the ceiling and thought There has to be an easier way to earn a living that would work too.

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mi is happy

If it's the character thinking or speaking it it should be fine. Is this your own work Ox? If it is are planing on publishing it? Just interested so I can go deeper into a response.

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lin

I don't see any big problem with it, frankly. It's like saying "up until now" in past tense situation.

Here's another example that might bolster my thinking.

"The United States permitted slavery for years. They denied the votes to women. This isn't the best example of democracy in action."

Would it make more sense to say "wasn't the best example"?

I would say (what everybody hates) it depends on the writer's assessment of the situation. Using "has" or "had" sets up our mental take on the narrative voice.
Either way, it can work.

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mi is happy

Actually, I agree with you Lin. Ox, don't fuss about it. The readers won't really care anyways. Can you imagine some reader going, "Well on page 2056 you wrote has. You should have wrote had to." I honestly can't see that. It's people who claim to be writers who freak out over this stuff.

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Ilasir Maroa

I do this muchly, Mi... can't help it. Typos, tense-os, anything. If its wrong I see it. But I usually don't put a book down because of it.

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The Backward OX

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Originally Posted by Wildcard
I view with distaste the excretions polluting this site, suffering when I read another by-product of the boredom of one with access to a computer and the internet. As I read I feel I am being defecated on, and cling to an idea that one day I may find solace in the words of one who takes pride in their work.

lisajane

The readers might not care, but it'll hardly help you in your writing if you keep making mistakes like that.

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'Beauty stands and waits with gravity to start her death-defying leap. And he, a little charleychaplin man, who may or may not catch her fair eternal form spreadeagled in the empty air of existence.' - Laurence Felinghetti, 'The Acrobat'

Foxee

Alrighty, putting aside the fact that an editor will either toss your manuscript in the trash or make you change mistakes, let's just talk about the reader.

If you're going to allow grammar and spelling mistakes in your manuscript you risk the reader getting thrown out of the story. Typos do make it through to publication. I don't look for them (I don't consider myself a grammar Nazi) but I notice one or two in almost every published book that I read (yes, big names, too).

So why the big deal, right? The story is paramount. Well...not really, here's why.

I'm reading a book, really wrapped up in the story, and hit a wrong homophone. Suddenly my brain crashes from 'Reading Gear' into 'Editing Mode' and I'm focused on that word ("Wait, doesn't this mean this? Augh they used the wrong word." *Rolls eyes*). At this point I have to re-engage with the story.

What's the big deal? I only thought about it for a moment. The thing is, that is what is called 'getting thrown out of the story.' One thing you don't want to do (except perhaps if it's an experimental piece) is throw your reader out of 'Reading Gear'. When they falter in this the storytelling spell is broken and distractions (or disgust in the case of a true Grammar/spelling Nazi) can cause them to put the book down and walk away.

It takes a really gripping, fast-paced story to overcome a mistake like this for me and even then I might get snagged on the mistake. If I open a book to leaf through it in the bookstore and a mistakes like this catch my eye then the author has just lost some credibility and better offer an irresistible story to make up for it.

It's a little like seeing a roofing contractor trying to hammer a nail by holding the tool backwards and trying to hit the nail with the handle. I doubt I'd hire him.

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lin

I don't Ox's example is going to make anybody flip out.
And certainly wouldn't get a book rejected.

Some editor would probably change it. But they scurry around doing that shit anyway.

I don't think it's improper usage or erratum.

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starseed

Hmm. If it were me I would use "There must be an easier way to earn a living." I don't know if its what is correct or not, just the first thing that came to mind.

Straylight

There are times when breaking the tense rule can work. Zelanzy did it often, I've done it a few times. Like any rule, though, it has to be broken with clear intent and voice or it just sounds crappy. Your example is rather clunky, because you've got third person narrative, followed by what is either a thought (in which case it should be italicized in this prose style) or a first-person observation (narrative following the POV character's thoughts precisely) which this snippet plainly isn't from the way it begins.

Basically, unless you know exactly why you're breaking the tense rule, and why you're doing so, and how it works for and against you, don't do it.

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blackthorn

I'd change it to "had to be". Just makes a lot more sense, not to mention easier to read (if I was reading that in a story (being the grammer policeman that I am) I would spend the whole time debating whether or not that was wrong or right!! Haha!).

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Originally Posted by Wildcard
I view with distaste the excretions polluting this site, suffering when I read another by-product of the boredom of one with access to a computer and the internet. As I read I feel I am being defecated on, and cling to an idea that one day I may find solace in the words of one who takes pride in their work.