Jan's Writing Basics #3: Choosing a Tense and Sticking to It

[Green Leaves]

Am I too late for the homework assignment?

I could smell the gasoline all around us; we were trapped. The loaded gravel truck had taken a healthy bite out of the rear of our car. Managing to avoid a head-on collision, I looked around for my three daughters.

I can smell the gasoline all around me; we are trapped. The loaded gravel truck has taken a healthy bite out of the rear of our car. Managing to avoid a head-on collision, I look around for my three daughters.

The past tense is much easier for me, but maybe because I just have more difficulty writing prose...or perhaps, because this is factual and happened in the past.

Carol Penhorwood

[swfdoc1]

have you read works written entirely in present tense? Did you like them, or not? Why?

Variation on a theme: Dean Koontz has several books in which all the scenes involving one character are in present while the rest of the book is in past.

[Joolz]

Homework assignment -

The sea was pleasantly calm and the day not too hot. We were about 50 metres off shore when Irene cut the motor and threw out the anchor. “Isn’t this a picture?” she asked looking towards the island.

The sea is pleasantly calm and the day not too hot. We are about fifty metres off shore and Irene suddenly cuts the motor and throws out the anchor. "Isn't this a picture?" she asks looking towards the island.


I'd never thought about writing an entire story in present tense before. But just in the last week I read one of the Challenge entries which was written in present tense and I found it quite strange as I'm so used to past tense - obviously I don't read enough!

[glorybee]

I've got a subbing job today--will respond to the most recent posts late this afternoon or this evening.

Keep writing!

[Deconut]

Writing homework:

I realized that the decisions my heart had made as a child were not necessarily true. They had been influencing my choices and feelings for a long time. I was making the same rotten choices over and over.

As I reflect on the decisions I made as a child, I realize that they are not true. However I am still allowing those thoughts and feelings to influence me. No wonder I keep making the same rotten choices!


I am pretty sure that Salinger's Catcher in the Rye was a present tense narrative. It's been a long time since I read it though!

Thanks Jan! I have been a master tense-shifter and it's time to quit it.

[glorybee]

I'd love to have other people weigh in on this...have you read works written entirely in present tense? Did you like them, or not? Why?

I read a John Grisham book, Rainmaker, which was in 1st person, present tense. He wrote it so well that it actually changed my view on a 1st person perspective, which I previously thought of as a bit arrogant sounding. The present tense seems to suit 1st person writing well, I think. It pulls you right in to the scene.

What was so strange to me was that after I read that book I struggled for a while to write in the correct tense (past tense) of the novel that I'm writing.

Joan

Joan, I totally agree with you about present tense working well with 1st person narratives. When I was entering the Challenge, that was quite often my "default" setting.

Thanks for your contribution!

[glorybee]

Okay, here goes.

Looking at the assignment in horror, I find myself sinking in despair. What of these verbs that have a life of their own? No matter how I try, they live in the present and past tense all at the same time.


I looked at the assignment in horror and found myself sinking in despair. What of these verbs that had lives of their own? No matter how I tried, they lived in the present and past tense all at the same time.

All I can say, is, help, and thanks...and I have a lot to learn, or is it remember? How long ago school was and here I am again!
Thanks Jan,
Cindy
PS...I don't think we learned any of this in nursing school

Cindy, very well done! I don't have a thing to add but my appreciation. If only the writing rules were hard and fast. Instead, they're just hard!

[glorybee]

Am I too late for the homework assignment?

I could smell the gasoline all around us; we were trapped. The loaded gravel truck had taken a healthy bite out of the rear of our car. Managing to avoid a head-on collision, I looked around for my three daughters.

I can smell the gasoline all around me; we are trapped. The loaded gravel truck has taken a healthy bite out of the rear of our car. Managing to avoid a head-on collision, I look around for my three daughters.

The past tense is much easier for me, but maybe because I just have more difficulty writing prose...or perhaps, because this is factual and happened in the past.

Carol Penhorwood

Carol, these are both excellent! Which did you prefer for this particular passage, as far as establishing atmosphere and mood?

[glorybee]

have you read works written entirely in present tense? Did you like them, or not? Why?

Variation on a theme: Dean Koontz has several books in which all the scenes involving one character are in present while the rest of the book is in past.

Thanks, Steve!

I've never read Koontz; do you recommend him?

[glorybee]

Homework assignment -

The sea was pleasantly calm and the day not too hot. We were about 50 metres off shore when Irene cut the motor and threw out the anchor. “Isn’t this a picture?” she asked looking towards the island.

The sea is pleasantly calm and the day not too hot. We are about fifty metres off shore and Irene suddenly cuts the motor and throws out the anchor. "Isn't this a picture?" she asks looking towards the island.


I'd never thought about writing an entire story in present tense before. But just in the last week I read one of the Challenge entries which was written in present tense and I found it quite strange as I'm so used to past tense - obviously I don't read enough!

Julie, I like both of these very much.

I think you'll find that quite a few Masters writers write in present tense. Read a few more, and let us know what you think! Maybe even do some experimenting...?

[glorybee]

Writing homework:

I realized that the decisions my heart had made as a child were not necessarily true. They had been influencing my choices and feelings for a long time. I was making the same rotten choices over and over.

As I reflect on the decisions I made as a child, I realize that they are not true. However I am still allowing those thoughts and feelings to influence me. No wonder I keep making the same rotten choices!


I am pretty sure that Salinger's Catcher in the Rye was a present tense narrative. It's been a long time since I read it though!

Thanks Jan! I have been a master tense-shifter and it's time to quit it.

Well done, deconut.

It's been years since I read "Catcher in the Rye"--I'll have to check it out again, in the light of your post and Salinger's recent death.

[Green Leaves]

I could smell the gasoline all around us; we were trapped. The loaded gravel truck had taken a healthy bite out of the rear of our car. Managing to avoid a head-on collision, I looked around for my three daughters.

I can smell the gasoline all around me; we are trapped. The loaded gravel truck has taken a healthy bite out of the rear of our car. Managing to avoid a head-on collision, I look around for my three daughters.

Jan, I believe for creating the atmosphere the present tense works better in this instance. Am I right?

But personally, I would prefer to write about it in the past tense. Is that maybe because I experienced it and would prefer not to re-experience it?

Is this what you mean when you talk about first hand experience usually being better in the present tense?

Carol

[glorybee]

I don't think, in this case, one is more right than the other. Purely your own preference.

I do think there are times with the present tense just doesn't work--humor pieces, stories with a very young narrator, 3rd person pieces with a "story telling" feel to them (I'm not expressing that last one very well). There are certainly other types of stories that are best in past tense--anyone care to name some?

But for this one--dramatic, first person--either tense works for me.

[swfdoc1]

I've never read Koontz; do you recommend him?

Definitely.

[kpwrite]

I haven't read ahead yet!

Some of the paragraphs use past tense and some use present tense. (I looked vs. I turn...)