Present Tense vs. Past tense in Narrative
There seems to be a very large majority who insist that writing fiction in the present tense is incorrect. Period. And I have been trying to determine if this statement is true. (In other words, if there is actually a rule somewhere which states that 'All Fiction must be Written In Past tense. So spake the Lord.' Or whatever.
Oddly, I can't find that rule. What I have found is a great many people who 'don't enjoy reading in the present tense.' And I'm trying to determine why that might be. I know that, until recently, I always wrote everything in the past tense. It seemed natural to me. "He ran down the hallway. He closed the door." That sort of thing.
Then I read a story in present tense (and don't ask me to tell you what story because I have NO CLUE) and found myself so invested and engaged in the tale that I fell in love. I found the action to be so much more 'active.' And the tension to be so much greater.
So I tried it and found that it was HARD. HARD. Because we so often think of things in stories as if they had already 'happened' not as if they are 'happening.' I had one reviewer tell me that the tense was awkward (okay. I'll accept that.) That person then proceeded to rewrite my chapter in past tense and tell me how that would be far more 'active.'
That's where I disagree. I'll understand if you don't like the tense. If you find it awkward. Or irritating to read. But I will not agree that past tense is more 'Active.' Because the opposite is true. Something that already happened by definition can not be more active than something that is currently happening.
He grabbed the knife (implies the action is completed.) He grabs the knife (implies he is currently grabbing the knife. Action in progress.)
Many things are opinion and taste and I don't think anyone is wrong for not liking one thing. But not liking a thing doesn't make it wrong. It just makes it less preferable.
Oddly, I can't find that rule. What I have found is a great many people who 'don't enjoy reading in the present tense.' And I'm trying to determine why that might be. I know that, until recently, I always wrote everything in the past tense. It seemed natural to me. "He ran down the hallway. He closed the door." That sort of thing.
Then I read a story in present tense (and don't ask me to tell you what story because I have NO CLUE) and found myself so invested and engaged in the tale that I fell in love. I found the action to be so much more 'active.' And the tension to be so much greater.
So I tried it and found that it was HARD. HARD. Because we so often think of things in stories as if they had already 'happened' not as if they are 'happening.' I had one reviewer tell me that the tense was awkward (okay. I'll accept that.) That person then proceeded to rewrite my chapter in past tense and tell me how that would be far more 'active.'
That's where I disagree. I'll understand if you don't like the tense. If you find it awkward. Or irritating to read. But I will not agree that past tense is more 'Active.' Because the opposite is true. Something that already happened by definition can not be more active than something that is currently happening.
He grabbed the knife (implies the action is completed.) He grabs the knife (implies he is currently grabbing the knife. Action in progress.)
Many things are opinion and taste and I don't think anyone is wrong for not liking one thing. But not liking a thing doesn't make it wrong. It just makes it less preferable.