Question

[kianspo]

Right. So first I got sick, and then I got sick on top of that. It makes sense, I promise, if not a pretty picture. I'm not being overly productive, sadly, but I've been thinking thoughts and we all know how dangerous it is for me. *shudders*

So. Distract me!

Poll

Comments

[kianspo]

*nods* Good point.

[xthursdaynextx]

Either, as long as the author picks one and sticks to it. Nothing drives me mad like a story switching tense part way through. If I'm writing scenes of a sexual nature I find it easier in present tense, though, I don't know why.

[kianspo]

Wow, you're really gonna hate my next fic then. :D
/o\

I agree about the sexual scenes, btw. For some reason, present seems more natural. >.<

[xthursdaynextx]

Ok, I should have specified switching tense for no reason. If it's deliberate, it can work, but if random tense changes throw me out of the flow of a story completely.

[kianspo]

Hey, I was joking. :) I know what you mean. Sometimes the author sort of forgets to keep track of tenses, and then it becomes messy and confusing. I'm not a fan of that, either. ;)

[littlebirdtold]

I don't pay attention to things like that as long as the story is well-written. Sometimes present tense works better. I think it depends on the writer and their style of writing.

[scraplove]

That's a good point. I think present tense is harder (at least it is for me), so I tend to notice more present-tense fics that are a little awkward, but it doesn't matter in and of itself.

[littlebirdtold]

Yes, present tense is harder to write in because it means you have to work twice as hard to get the audience to delve into the story. I know that some people hate present tense to the point that they won't read a story if it's written in present tense. I usually stick to past tense, as well, but if it feels more natural to write in present tense, I never force myself to write the story in past.

[kianspo]

True that.

[scraplove]

I prefer writing past tense always. I think I wrote one present tense thing, and it was difficult. Reading, present tense can be awkward, but some writers can really make it work.

[kianspo]

I guess it's more traditional and comfy. *nods*

[scraplove]

That's it! Comfy. I always feel like my writing is stilted in present tense.

[fioletova]

No strong preferences in English, I got used to reading almost all stories in present tense. In Russian I prefer past tense in both cases - writing and reading (especially so if the story is long).

[kianspo]

I think I don't really care with English, perks of it being a foreign language. With Russian, oh my. I think I can't stomach present tense at all. :D