I don't know about other people, but I am completely obsessed with the present tense these days. I think the present tense can be really evocative and give the reader the sense of being in the story, watching things actually unfold, which gives greater immediacy than the past tense. The problem I usually stumble on is that the present tense sometimes only works in certain situations. Short, single scenes work well. First person POV lends itself to present tense. But it is often hard to get the present tense to feel natural in a long fic. As with most things, I guess it just boils down to execution. Sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it fails. I guess that's what we have betas for! Heh.
I can't get along with first person POV at all, so...
I think the complaints I've heard about present tense are prompted by the fact that it is harder to pull off successfully than past tense, although whether that's because we read/write so much in past tense or whether its just inherently more difficult I don't know. And that it creates suspense that could be created more naturally with better writing in past tense. It can be used effectively in longer fics though (*pointed look*). I like it - flailing WIPs apart - but I'd always got the impression that I was in a minority there. Apparently not.
Why do you want to tease me at teatime? It sounds so wrong.
I like present tense fic, except sometimes there are slip ups and they knock you straight out the story. They can be more intense, but once you get knocked out it's hard to read.
I like it, myself, but I like it best for shorter pieces, precisely because of the sense that things are happening right now, this minute. It's much more exciting for actiony or emotional bits. Doesn't work so well for long, plotty things, IMO.
And thanks! That's pretty much why I like present tense(ignoring the WIPs I have lying around that prompted the question), but I got the feeling from bits and pieces I've seen drifting around that maybe it wasn't the most common view.
And when have I ever done a long, plotty thing? ~_-
I don't mind it - it can be very effective. Although I should clarify that I'm talking about 3rd person present tense fic. I really don't like most 1st person fic.
First person just... I can't get on with it. I think there's something in there about me not wanting to read about me, I want to read about them - their lives are so much more interesting! And thanks!
I'm a huge fan of present tense fic. Of course it doesn't work for every fic, but it's a good way to really draw a person in and evoke emotions. I like writing it - it makes me think a little more about the words I use, since I'm so used to writing past tense. :D Which is why a beta reader is a must for me. *blush*
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I think the complaints I've heard about present tense are prompted by the fact that it is harder to pull off successfully than past tense, although whether that's because we read/write so much in past tense or whether its just inherently more difficult I don't know. And that it creates suspense that could be created more naturally with better writing in past tense. It can be used effectively in longer fics though (*pointed look*). I like it - flailing WIPs apart - but I'd always got the impression that I was in a minority there. Apparently not.
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I like present tense fic, except sometimes there are slip ups and they knock you straight out the story. They can be more intense, but once you get knocked out it's hard to read.
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And yeah - you could be right - they are just that bit more difficult to pull off. Thanks!
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You're welcome.
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I like it, myself, but I like it best for shorter pieces, precisely because of the sense that things are happening right now, this minute. It's much more exciting for actiony or emotional bits. Doesn't work so well for long, plotty things, IMO.
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And thanks! That's pretty much why I like present tense(ignoring the WIPs I have lying around that prompted the question), but I got the feeling from bits and pieces I've seen drifting around that maybe it wasn't the most common view.
And when have I ever done a long, plotty thing? ~_-
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Thanks!
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