There’s a joke…
Doctor, I feel like a marquee and a wigwam.
That’s your problem, you’re two tents…
The same with your writing. Mixing past and present (and future) tense makes your readers hop about all over the place, lurching in and out of your story – ruining it for them.
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It’s not always easy to spot or to fix – sometimes it is easier to start over (NEVER delete your story, however, use it as a reference for the re-write).
Of course, if you’re more at ease using one or the other, and you find it difficult to swap, then carry on as you are. It’s YOUR story, write it YOUR way!
Personally, I prefer to write in past tense, 3rd person – a sort of omnipotent viewpoint. In my stories, the reader can see everything that’s happened and knows what the characters were thinking for the most part.
The main differences between past and present tense storytelling:
Past tense gives distance and more control over the timeline in your story, making it easy to show or hide important events relevant to the plotline or characters. Suspense and intrigue may be folded-into the story in a subtle way, leading the reader through the story on a journey of past events. The story may start out with the character at the end of the journey, so you know what happens, and the fun part of how it happens is told in the story itself.
Present tense writing is in the here and now – ‘as it happens’ reporting.
This type of storytelling is more like watching a live version of an event. Everyone is in the same boat where ‘what is about to happen’ is concerned. It can give a sense of excitement and apprehension easier than by using past-tense writing.
The trend for Young Adult novels written in present-tense could be explained in something as simple as the fashion for reality TV – watching as it happens is all around us, whether that’s on the box or in real life.
from Wiki
Crime and suspense novels are often written in past-tense format because it allows the reader to think about the action, storyline, plot and characters in a detailed, complex manner.
Children’s books are also better told in past tense because children seem to prefer stories that have happened rather than those that are happening right at that moment.
Having said all that, if you want to buck the trend and write your dystopian YA fiction in past tense, then go for it!
The only thing that is an absolute NO-NO is mixing the tenses up. Please don’t.
One example of why not is in a poem my Grandad taught me:
I went to the pictures tomorrow,
I got a front seat at the back,
They gave me a plain cake with currants in,
I ate it and gave it them back.
I went round a straight corner,
To see a dead donkey die,
I pulled out a knife to shoot it,
It went bow-legged in one eye.
Past tense story telling or writing speaks from the point of an event that has happened in the past and you are able to tell the story in a way the readers can imagine the event just happening.
I think most writers relates more when they write from the past than the present. It also gives one the liberty to effectively paint the scene in a more clearer picture.
And writing in the present tense has some sought of limitation for writers using that style just because it tend to limit the level of the writer's imagination. he event in question had not happened so you want to be careful how you will paint the picture you want your readers to see.
(My opinion)
But you said in your post, both style is good. However the success of any of the style will depend solely on the writer and his level of imagination when it comes to creating a picture in the mind of his readers (fiction).
Thanks for sharing this.
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I hadn't heard an explanation for why authors might use one tense or another for writing. That makes a lot of sense though.
I appreciated your comment about not deleting your work. That's how I approach it, but I think it's important that people remember their work isn't garbage if they made mistakes, it's just in the process of coming out. It takes time to be revealed. I normally push the paragraphs down and start writing at the top. I'll pull elements of the previously written paragraphs into my current version, and then delete the rest when I've used what I needed. Works very well for me.
That poem is maddening! I was trying to remember that it's an example of what not to do, but it was still hard to not get upset. :)
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Thanks for explaining this about the tenses used, especially in writing different kinds of books. I never thought about it.
The poem is too cute. We had fun as children singing and reciting fun poems, even while jumping rope.
Many poems are passed down from each generation (used to be anyway).
I will be rereading this so best to resteem it so I can always find it.
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Hello @michelle.gent, it is always a pleasure to read post that guides us to improve our writing, very important lesson of not mixing the times in our narratives, Happiness always.
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There’s a joke…
Doctor, I feel like a marquee and a wigwam.
That’s your problem, you’re two tents…
There’s a joke...where?
😂😂
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this is a clear example for understanding. At the time of writing, I sometimes encounter such problems. Times play an important role. Often I used the "present" for writing. It's so much easier for me to describe the sit and feelings of the protagonist. But nevertheless, I believe that the use of the past time allows us to describe more clearly what is happening
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The knowledge you shared about tenses to write a story will be beneficial for everyone here.
It may help someone who has got a good idea about a story, but isn't a good writer.
I have never written a story, but I write a few posts every week on steemit, and there are times when I feel stuck on a post. I can't figure out how to complete it. Or to leave the topic and start writing a new one.
I am sure that you face such situations too, what do you do then, when you are completely stuck in a post/story?
Do you leave it/ rewrite it from the starting, or take some time out to think about it?
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I have at least half a dozen part-completed novels waiting for me to get back to them. I have stories in similar states. If the inspiration leaves, trying to force it doesn't work for me. I never throw (delete) anything, however. One day, I'll get back to the story I'm stuck on and I've rediscovered it either because inspiration made me go back to it or I believe it will strike as I read the part-finished story.
I assume it's a similar tale for most writers. Some call it 'Writer's block'.
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Yeah, now I remember the terminology used for it, "The Writer's Block", thanks.
Half a dozen novels, that's pretty much interesting. You write a lot of novels?
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I've written a few.
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That's great. I don't read novels much, but the next one that I will read, will be yours for sure.
You are also an editor of a magazine, looks like there is a lot to learn from you.
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Thank you. Take a look on Smashwords for Dusty the Demon Hunter's first adventure, Dream Lover - it's free to download from there.
I was the chief editor, sadly that magazine is no more.
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Thank you, I will bookmark it to download it later.
Sorry for the magazine, hope you are doing well even after it.
I am trying to improve my writing skills, so can you recommend me any source/book/blog that you take inspiration from?
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My 'Bible' would be Stephen King's 'On Writing' - memoirs of his craft.
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This is a very useful lesson.
Initially i would get tense about the future, but i dropped the pretence and stuck to the past!
That poem is super cool, i am going to try memorising it
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This is one of my biggest problems with writing. I mean to be writing in past tense but throw in present tense verbs all over the place.
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this is a very good 3d mensi
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