tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post4142113512150343260..comments2023-10-30T05:46:59.343-04:00Comments on The Doubting Writer: Too Tense!JeffOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-24870439977809895732012-10-16T03:11:26.754-04:002012-10-16T03:11:26.754-04:00I wrote 40,000 of Baptism for the Dead's 62,00...I wrote 40,000 of Baptism for the Dead's 62,000 words in present tense. Most of the time when I sat down to write, present tense wanted to come out of me, sometimes past. Writing during the two years I worked on Baptism was rare enough that I didn't want to risk fighting it. I just went with it. When I finished the book, I decided on past tense and rewrote the whole thing to make the tenses agree. Three short scenes remain in present tense for dramatic effect.<br /><br />Personally, I really love present tense. I always have. It's never seemed strange to me as a reader, and as a writer it comes very naturally to me.<br /><br />You ought to read The Crimson Petal and the White some time. It's second-person present tense, for more than 900 pages. Libbie H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16366896974551157202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-44471777543601938262012-10-15T07:22:31.512-04:002012-10-15T07:22:31.512-04:00Ramble on! Actually, that's not a ramble, than...Ramble on! Actually, that's not a ramble, thanks for the comment. I'm going to have to try reading Bright Lights, Big City, or some other full-length second person work just to see if it gets to the point of really annoying me over the long haul. And look for other present tense narratives as well.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-68676685856109302102012-10-15T01:42:15.928-04:002012-10-15T01:42:15.928-04:00I find that I write longer fiction best in past te...I find that I write longer fiction best in past tense, so I would say that yes it is my default. However, reading present tense hasn't caused a significant distraction for me. Most memorable on my list of books was Morris Gleitzman's 'Boy Overboard' which I thoroughly enjoyed in Yr 7. As for second person, it's not something I've tried, and it's not something that I've seen used that I can recall, but I find the concept of it engaging, placing a person into the action of the book in the most inclusive way possible and I guess you could say, breaking down "the fourth wall" if you'll pardon the theatrical term. I like experimental literary techniques in action, or at the very least analyzing them and seeing how they do and don't work in comparison to the norm. Sorry, I'll shut up now :) Bonnee Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513268628209169538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-76922925866988971852012-10-13T07:40:39.514-04:002012-10-13T07:40:39.514-04:00Yeah, I seem to have forgotten about YA in all thi...Yeah, I seem to have forgotten about YA in all this. I haven't read much YA in quite some time, though I've read enough 'first 250s' in blog contests that I should have remembered. First person, present tense seems to be the way to go in YA. I do agree with all of you, if it's done well, it works. And Roy did it well in Bent Road, by and large. It did throw me once in a while, though. Third person, present tense seems an unusual combination.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-84328884912348142232012-10-13T00:03:00.200-04:002012-10-13T00:03:00.200-04:00The series with my agent is present tense and it f...The series with my agent is present tense and it felt very natural to write. I enjoy reading it but it has to suit the premise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-2883189671542321382012-10-12T15:40:50.158-04:002012-10-12T15:40:50.158-04:00I think it's all in the execution. It has to ...I think it's all in the execution. It has to be really well done if you use the present tense through the whole book. I too have had that experience when I have read present tense novels--being pulled from the reading experience by it. I tried that in my first, first novel. The one "under my bed" and anyone who ever looked at it said FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T DO THAT! hah hah hah. I think it's a bit of a risk but when it's done right, the reader doesn't even notice.Lisa Reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-47941552572652671032012-10-12T14:42:45.414-04:002012-10-12T14:42:45.414-04:00I don't mind present tense when I'm readin...I don't mind present tense when I'm reading YA, but I'm not sure I could pull it off in my own writing. I'll have to try it sometime. :)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-57370041226513790892012-10-12T12:17:19.704-04:002012-10-12T12:17:19.704-04:00Yes, present tense is big in YA. Personally, I hat...Yes, present tense is big in YA. Personally, I hate it though one of my favorite authors, Greg Iles, sometimes writes in present tense. The only book I've ever read in second person is Stolen which was great. But for the most part, I don't like either. Present tense is used to be more in the moment but all it succeeds in doing is distracting me. When present tense is combined with a whiny, snarky YA voice, it's like nails in a chalkboard. Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-10334472125583824232012-10-12T11:15:23.024-04:002012-10-12T11:15:23.024-04:00I read a lot of YA, and right now present tense is...I read a lot of YA, and right now present tense is THE BIG THING. I like it okay, and I've written in it. But I think past is still what I like best. It's easier to tell the story that way, and I don't feel like I have to be rushed on the page.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.com