Thread: Past tense vs. Present tense

This is something that I've never really mastered or really understood of the English language.

When it comes to writing I find it hard to settle on one tense, but switching is equally weird. I'm curious when you'd decide to write in the past tense and when in the present tense and what the advantages and drawbacks are of each in your experience.

It seems that most English books I read are purely in the past tense (although I don't notice this while reading), whereas when I look closer, past tense seems a little slow or indirect most of the time.

Ziyad - 'Tense' is the grammatical term for 'time'.

We use past tense to describe an action that has taken place before this present moment.

We use present tense to describe an action that is happening now.

We use future tense to describe an action that is expected to happen later.

Stories are generally written in the past tense. Someone did this, then they did that, then they did something else. All past tense.

What is your first language? Perhaps if I know that I can help you more. English can be a very confusing language to use, even for people for whom English is their first language.

Present tense can be used in writing about the past like in some historical novels to make it more immediate. I use the present tense when writing about flashbacks, and then continue to past in the normal narrative so yes it's confusing.

i tend to write in past tense. Its just how i learned, and i find present tense a bit awkward to use. Sometimes, its possible to accidentally switch to present tense for a sentence or two and then switch back. I never notice that unless i read it over again.

Well, past tense is the "traditional" way of writing fiction, whereas present tense is seen as more "literary" or "experimental". Some people say they're more comfortable with past tense and that present tense is awkward, but I feel this is because they've simply read more fiction in past tense, so that's what they're used to. I'm convinced the choice is honestly somewhat arbitrary (as long as you do pick one, and stick to it). You should do what feels right for the piece, and for your narrator.

I've written stories in both past and present tense. I'm not sure I have a preference in general, although I do feel like some stories were just meant to be told a certain way. I would go with what's natural. If in doubt you can write a few paragraphs in both, and see what you like.

Ian McEwan experiments with present tense (Saturday, First Love Last Rites). I'm not sure if he's trying to be clever or just challenging himself (maybe both). But past tense always seems to be a comfortable read. Of course, any style's okay if you're good enough to pull it off.

Ahaha. I love that someone would bring this up. becasue when i write any peice I am fond of. I use 'em all. I mean present, past and future. Blow the entire scene out of proportion. However I have been told my writing is intolerable, that is ho I like it.

I start writing in present tense a lot, it just gets me into the groove of things I guess, but I find it hard to keep up once I move past free writing and into a story. I can't think of any books I've read written entirely in the present tense, and in my own writing it grates after a paragraph or two.

If you tend to jump erratically from one tense to another when you sit down and write, I wouldn't mind it so much on the first draft--let your words flow, let your story flow, and come back and decide on the tense you like later. It's not very difficult to change.

I've never really been able to write anything in present tense, I've always stuck with past tense except in the case of writing cartoon scripts.
I've known a few authors that can pull off a decent present tense story, not many though.
Here's my example, compare if you wish. "He aims the gun and takes a step back, eyes set on target and finger on the trigger." as opposed to "He aimed the gun and took a step back with his eyes on the target and his finger on the trigger."