Comments | polomonkey: A tense situation

polomonkey

A tense situation

Jan 24, 2016 16:00

Hey guys, was hoping to solicit some opinions! I tend to automatically write in present tense but I wonder if it puts people off. I'm about to embark on another long fic which feels like it probably should be past tense but I have to fight all the time while I'm writing not to slip back into present! Any thoughts?

Poll IntenseOn a side note, do you think ( Read more... )

writing, fanfic

Comments 19

merlocked18 January 24 2016, 19:08:15 UTC

LOVE THE PUNNY TITLE BTW

kitty_fic January 24 2016, 20:00:32 UTC

Sometimes I do notice, but I'm happy to enjoy both. But generally if it's well written I likely won't even notice the tense.

I do think different tenses can work better for differnet fics. I'm generally happy to read both. I think present tense creates more urgency and can work really well with smut especially ;)

polomonkey February 7 2016, 19:05:41 UTC

Oooh I think I agree with you about present tense for smut actually! It's very... immediate...

side_steppings January 26 2016, 01:21:13 UTC

I think generally tenses work with certain styles of writing. I've only ever written in past (although now you mention it I could always try present), but in general if the writing is great then I don't mind the tense, and I don't think present would put me off as long as it worked.

I know with 'In Spite of Everything' I really liked your present tense, and it worked really well fo the fic! But if you wanted to try past tense, I'm sure you could make it work too!!

polomonkey February 7 2016, 19:10:38 UTC

Oh thank you so much! I think that's when someone commented about the present tense and I realised for the first time how much I write in it! You should definitely give present a go and let me know how you get on...

moonflower999 January 28 2016, 22:03:19 UTC

Yes, actually, I wish the poll had a choice, "It depends on the story." Honestly, you are such a powerful writer I can't imagine not being happy with whatever feels right to you for whatever particular story you are writing. What bothers me most is inconsistency...unless it's being used for a purpose.

polomonkey February 7 2016, 19:04:56 UTC

Bless you, why are you so nice? *cuddles* Yes I agree about the inconsistency thing, I hate when I read one of my fics back and notice a random word in the wrong tense! So annoying

moonflower999 February 9 2016, 20:23:35 UTC

Aw, thanks for the *cuddles* and cuddles back!

It drives me crazy...no matter how many times I read something I've writtten I always find one more thing to change. Sometimes an actual error, and other times just something I feel I could have said better. At some point, I just have to give up!

I rarely read anything without seeing some tiny typos or errors. I just read a completely fabulous, beautifully written story, but there was one paragraph where the tense changed suddenly and it was a bit jarring....I suspect that the author cut and pasted it from a different version, or maybe she got so caught up in the fantastic sex scene she was writing that she was living it in the present. It really rarely interferes much with my enjoyment of a good story. Even in published books there are invariably some errors. With fanfic I'm never sure whether to let the author know or not.

polomonkey February 14 2016, 16:46:08 UTC

Ahh yes that's a real tricky one! I personally never inform the author unless they're my friend, I never know how they're going to take it :/ Literally just yesterday I reread one of my old WIPs and had to go in and correct a whole paragraph for tenses! It never ends...