another writing (and reading) poll

[rose_griffes]

Poll more writing stuff!

Comments

[daybreak777]

My default is past tense but I use present tense sometimes, mostly for shorter fics. I don't really choose these things, it's just how the fic works out.

That said, I have changed some fics that started out as present tense fics to past tense. I find it works better for a longer fic.

Is something wrong with the present tense? *is confused*

[rose_griffes]

Is something wrong with the present tense? *is confused*
Eh, some people get finicky about it. Not nearly as controversial as first or second person, though.

This fic... I keep forcing it into past, but I want to write it in present. Though I think that's mostly a result of doing more present-tense than past tense recently. Or possibly because there are sex and action scenes, and present tense gives more of that in the moment feeling.

Unrelatedly, I just had to chase away the feral children from climbing my trees again. Because telling them twice already didn't get the message across, apparently. Or because that was months ago! Maybe I changed my mind! *sigh*

[callmeonetrack]

I use present tense a lot in short snippets and one shots. It's very immediate and I like that about it! But for long stories, with multiple chapters, I pretty much have to use past tense. It feels right, probably because almost all books are written that way.

I can very easily switch between tenses though, which is very frustrating if I'm writing something in installments. Because I'll start a peice in present (or past) and be called away, and invariably when I go back to it, my brain insists on writing it in THE OTHER tense that I was not using previously. Silly brain!

[rose_griffes]

Yeah, I keep switching back and forth on this story and it's really annoying.

[lyssie]

For reading, I don't really notice it? It's just... there. It's not like first person which I generally loathe.

Now, if a person can't stay consistent--that's a problem.

As for writing, sometimes present is exactly what the fic has to be (in my head). Other times, it feels stilted that way, so I shift. Both of them have their own headaches--especially if I'm having one of those days where I switch tenses too much.

But I do agree that the longer-chaptered fics are usually best as past tense.

[rose_griffes]

*sigh* I wish I could decide what was best for the fic I'm writing now. I keep wavering!

[lyssie]

Try reading it out loud? Sometimes, that seems to help (well, and also, sometimes, it keeps trying to be one thing while you insist it SHOULD BE ANOTHER )

[rose_griffes]

I think it's the latter. But good point about reading it aloud--haven't done it yet with this story.

[rose_griffes]

I think my brain naturally wants to add an 'ed' at points :)
You'd think I'd find past tense more natural by now, but I think writing a lot of present tense has made my brain prefer it. Hm.

[lizardbeth_j]

Like others, I tend to use present in short things (especially porn) and past for long. Part of that is that longer stories are more complicated, and I find that past/past perfect/etc all work together more seamlessly in my head, where the same constructions in something that's overall present tense feel more... awkward. I suppose it's just more familiar, but I find I have to THINK a lot more about what the specific verb form should be in present tense stories where I rarely have to worry about it in past.

[rose_griffes]

Interesting! I think I just tend to write in whatever tense I used most recently, and I have to force myself if it isn't the same.