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*
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*
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!
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.
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 )
I do use the present tense quite a bit in shorter works but have also tried it out in my longer story Always There (and Sam Lied - I think? :/ ) , but I've found that in longer works it takes a lot of concentration to keep it so - I think my brain naturally wants to add an 'ed' at points :)
I'm keen to start a multi chapter first person AU in the present tense, but I think I need to finish other things first, hee! XD
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.
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.
I find present tense to be a mixed bag. I almost exclusively like reading/writing it for action and smut fics—the urgency really helps sell the scene. When used in any other way...I'm about 50/50 on the resulting quality.
When used in any other way...I'm about 50/50 on the resulting quality. Huh, interesting! I usually don't notice once I get past the first paragraph, unless there's something awkward about it that forces my attention.
When I write... Sometimes, a story just *demands* to be written in the present tense (though I find it mostly happens with shorter stories, at least for me. I've already read novel-length stories written in the present tense and it didn't bug me). On the other hand, I've tried to force myself to write a story in the present tense once, and I had to go back and change it to past tense because it just didn't feel right.
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rose_griffes) wrote2011-10-30 10:56 am
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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*
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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*
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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!
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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.
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I'm keen to start a multi chapter first person AU in the present tense, but I think I need to finish other things first, hee! XD
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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.
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Huh, interesting! I usually don't notice once I get past the first paragraph, unless there's something awkward about it that forces my attention.
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When I write... Sometimes, a story just *demands* to be written in the present tense (though I find it mostly happens with shorter stories, at least for me. I've already read novel-length stories written in the present tense and it didn't bug me). On the other hand, I've tried to force myself to write a story in the present tense once, and I had to go back and change it to past tense because it just didn't feel right.
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