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What Tense/Voice Do You Write In?
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message 51:
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Carl
(new)
Nov 09, 2013 11:16PM
I've done more writing lately in present tense. It's comfy now.
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I tend to prefer the past tense, both for reading and writing :)
I am writing a sequel now and I have the characters thinking in present and past tense as they reflect what has and is now happening. This is allowing me to have so much fun developing the story line. Shifting tense also has allowed me to build psychological tension and emotion into the story line.
I just posted a blog article about an auto incident from last summer's vacation in present tense. The immediacy is palpable.
You could mixed the two, but I feel comfortable with the past-tense. Was wondering how would it sound in a "future-tense."
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I may be in danger of stealing the idea. I just thought of an interesting way to do a future tense story. The way I would try to do it would be difficult because current decisions could drastically change the future story as it will be unfolding. Unless I ignore all that, but what would be the challenge in that?
Brian wrote: "I may be in danger of stealing the idea. I just thought of an interesting way to do a future tense story. The way I would try to do it would be difficult because current decisions could drasticall..."Go ahead and steal the idea, Brian. You'll be the first one, and in danger of "meeting your fame" in a century or two. Just like Vincent van Gogh and other contemporary artists who expired before being acclaimed :)
I tend to switch a lot - sometimes I write in present tense, sometimes in past tense. I like to use past tense for longer pieces - mostly because if I use present tense for too long I accidentally switch into past tense ;) But present is good for short stories and such. :)
Jennifer wrote: "My novel is written in first person from the eyes of a 14 year old boy. His story forced me to write in first person. I love how you can only see what he is seeing! And everything is happening NOW...."Funny you mention. My novel is written in first person from the eyes of a 10-year-old girl....
Bisky, I'd suggest a new discussion topic: "Do authors suffer from multiple personality disorder?"
Jennifer wrote: "@Brook sweet! Published yet? I love mid-grade & YA"Self published in August. I see we "use" the same POV.
Why did you choose a boy? I felt comfortable seeing the world through the eyes of a girl. But I must admit, I used some help from an old friend... :)
Jennifer wrote: "@Brook I have two teen sons!! They have been extremely helpful;-) My oldest was the inspiration for my book. It's due out next year!"I can't wait reading it. You should be proud of yourself. Not an easy thing to accomplish.
Jennifer wrote: "Aww thx! I don't have the release date yet. I'll post on twitter when I know more:) Are you one of @biskys twitter followers?"Yes, we follow... She's got so many followers, I'm sure she has not even noticed my presence :)
Everything I have written to date is present, first person.
Mod
Present tense and first person are more difficult for me for some reason xp The only time i can do present tense is during writing notes. lol
I usually write in 3rd limited, past tense. That's were i'm comfortable.
I have to write it as I see it in my head. And the story involves 'time' issues, so I guess the present tense is important to this particular story. Although, I've got a separate book coming out next year that jumps around time-wise, but it's still present tense.
Mod
Yes, we follow... She's got so many followers, I'm s..."
Oh and I just sent you a DM and everything :p
Misses, "as I see it in my head" reminds me that I write as if it's a film that's unfolding in my brain. When I can't visualize it or it's dull then that passage goes.
@ carl - me too! I write like I read ... I never know what's coming next, and it's literally a play/movie unfolding in my head ... so nice to find a kindred spirit at last. Until I joined this group I'd started believing I was a real oddball, but now I feel NORMAL :D
Harmony wrote: "@ carl - me too! I write like I read ... I never know what's coming next, and it's literally a play/movie unfolding in my head ... so nice to find a kindred spirit at last. Until I joined this gr..."Was wondering if anyone writes like he talks…
Mod
When talking, there is a tendency to use split infinitives, a thing that I avoid in writing.
Someone just asked me what is a split infinitive. I'm sure we all know….Here is a good url that elaborates on full infinitive, bare infinitive, and split infinitive: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/educ...
And I did not mean to lecture anyone, I apologize if this comes across like that… Just tried to help a friend. :)
Mod
Cool thread. I know I'm in the minority of writers, but I write in second-person, present tense. As in, "You pick up the note and hesitate before unfolding it, nervous as to what might be written within."It took some getting used to at first, but it was a necessary evil. In my books, YOU really are the main character (because you make choices that change the outcome of the story).
There's a whole extra set of hurdles trying to make the character gender/race/age neutral, but I'll save that for another thread...
Kevin wrote: "Back in high school and college, almost everything I wrote was in first person past-tense. Now it's all third person past-tense, not because it's the more natural way for me to write, but because i..."So you do not read first-person books anymore? :)
James, 2nd person can probably work best when, yes I'm being capt. obvious, speaker and spoken to are clear in the writer's vision. Who's telling the story? And why?
