They may develop a deeper involvement in the story. Readers may also end up paying closer attention since the format is one unfamiliar to them. Stories told using present-tense narration can be enticing because they’re different. There might well be an adjustment period for readers of present-tense stories. Since the past tense is familiar to readers, readers don’t have to adjust when they begin a story written using past tense. The past tense is used in most genre novels. The present tense is often associated with literary fiction, short stories, students in writing programs and workshops, and first novels. You can use either present or past tense for telling your stories. Let me stress that neither choice is right or wrong on principle. We are saying that its use is noticeable.Īnd noticeable mechanics may well not be what you’re trying for. I’m not saying, nor are those readers, that there’s anything wrong with the use of present tense. Present-tense narration is also much more recent a practice.įrom what I can tell from a quick survey of Internet articles, readers notice when stories are told using the present tense.
Yet in comparison to the number of novels that use the simple past, present-tense novels are few in number. Yes, we all know wonderful stories told using present tense. The present tense- is, walks, drinks, hopes-on the other hand, is rare. It’s so common that readers don’t notice it they simply jump into the story’s adventure. It’s common to readers, it’s common to writers, and it’s been the prevalent format for storytelling for years and years and years. Oral stories as well as written fiction are told using the past tense. When I say most stories, I mean the great majority of stories. They did these things, these events are over, and someone can’t resist telling you all about these happenings and adventures. Stories using the past tense are written the same way stories have been told for years-once upon a time, sometime before the present time, these marvelous characters existed and lived out a fantastic adventure. Most stories are told using the simple past- was, walked, drank, hoped. The setup for both is simple the effects are vastly different. I fear the man who is my father his voice alone demands respect. I feared the man who was my father his voice alone demanded respect. Tilly, aching for one sight of her lover, waits at the abandoned cottage and watches for riders on the old north road. Tilly, aching for one sight of her lover, waited at the abandoned cottage and watched for riders on the old north road. Do narrator and viewpoint characters see actions and events as happening in the past or do they act as if the events are happening right now? What we’re talking about is the manner in which you present the actions of your story world. And that you face the expectations of readers, readers who include agents and acquisitions editors. I don’t intend to start a debate, but I do want to let you know that you have options. Although some readers and writers might have no true preference, most are firmly in one camp or the other.Įither they insist using the simple past is the only way to tell a story or they say present tense has much to offer and is as equally valid as past tense. I’ve seen plenty of comments and recommendations about narrative tense and a lot of the debate is contentious. The writer must decide what is the when of story. One of the first decisions for a writer beginning a new story is the choice of narrative tense-will the story be a look into past events or will it race through the present? That is, will the writer use past or present tense in terms of verbs and the action of the story? Januby Fiction Editor Beth Hill last modified January 31, 2012
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