Mixed tenses in Japanese novels

[KoyukiMegumi]

I think it’s the matter of POV. I always have the feeling to explore the character thought when writing in the first person. But in the third person, I don’t have such feeling.

FPV You get to feel the character's every being. While in TPV, they are separate beings. At least that is how I view it.

In FPV, you can get into the gritty inner thoughts your character has, while in TPV is harder without breaking the flow. This is why I like FPV. I connect more to the characters. I feel like I get to know them more.

Thus, I write in FPV as if that person is telling you a story. Narration is in the past, while dialogue "..." and inner thoughts are in present.

Have to pick the style that you like the most. I don't know if TPV can do present tenses all the time like FPV. But somehow I feel like that might be even harder.

 

[BlackKnightX]

FPV You get to feel the character's every being. While in TPV, they are separate beings. At least that is how I view it.

In FPV, you can get into the gritty inner thoughts your character has, while in TPV is harder without breaking the flow. This is why I like FPV. I connect more to the characters. I feel like I get to know them more.

Thus, I write in FPV as if that person is telling you a story. Narration is in the past, while dialogue "..." and inner thoughts are in present.

Have to pick the style that you like the most. I don't know if TPV can do present tenses all the time like FPV. But somehow I feel like that might be even harder.

The way I view it is like this:

1st person POV
- Feel like you’re playing a game in FPV

3rd person POV
- Feel like you’re watching a movie or anime.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

The way I view it is like this:

1st person POV
- Feel like you’re playing a game in FPV

3rd person POV
- Feel like you’re watching a movie or anime.

Mhm! That too!

I feel more for someone in FPV than TPV though. This is me, though.

 

[OokamiKasumi]

You are missing 3rd Person Close POV.
-- Where the reader is viewing the story from inside the head of the POV character.

Example:

Spoiler: Excerpt from Shikigami

It was the evenings after dinner that Sumihiko looked forward to the most.

While the large antique cast iron kettle steamed over the fire pit and the charcoal logs glowed gold and red deep in the hole cut into the floor without a trace of smoke, Oji-san would pull his sky-blue and black checkered haori over his shoulders and tell fantastic stories about their ancestors.

According to the stories, his ancestors had not only burned charcoal, some of them had been swordsmen with near-magical powers. Apparently, they'd fought man-eating monsters called oni; ogres, right up into the Taisho era.

Not that Sumihiko believed those stories.

Swordsmen that could produce fire, or water, or even moonbeams with swords made from metal imbued with sunlight? Hell, a whole secret army of them that hunted down monsters? And his great-grandfather was supposedly one of them?

Yeah, right, sure.

Might as well believe all those stories Oji-san told of wild youkai; spirits, and kami; gods, that were supposed to live on the mountain too, while he was at it.

Well, Oji-san did like drinking his sake; rice wine, from the big bottles -- locally brewed, of course.

More than once, Sumihiko wondered what kind of weird things were brewed into that sake because Oji-san's stories were positively supernatural.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Mhm! That too!

I feel more for someone in FPV than TPV though. This is me, though.

That’s normal, since you experience things directly through their eyes and stay in their head at all time. You feel that warm connection with the character right away.

Though, that connection will slowly drift away the more character does somethings you don’t like~ ?

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

That’s normal, since you experience things directly through their eyes and stay in their head at all time. You feel that warm connection with the character right away.

Though, that connection will slowly drift away the more character does somethings you don’t like~ ?

Lol, those moments you got like, "Oh no... You stupid fuck! Why did you do that!"

Heheh, I love moments like that though. It shows how flawed people are. Though even I have my limits for stupidity.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Lol, those moments you got like, "Oh no... You stupid fuck! Why did you do that!"

Heheh, I love moments like that though. It shows how flawed people are. Though even I have my limits for stupidity.

I’m okay with all those flaws, but there‘s some flaws that I just can’t stand. Like the mc being weak minded and wimpy and stuffs like that. Though, it’s okay if he’s gonna change afterward, but it’s better be quick or I’m out.

I just love badass character since I’m a badass writer, it’ll make me empathize more with the character. (*ahem* Gentle brag~ ?)

You know, the characters like Rick Grimes from twd, Tony Stark from Iron Man, etc.

these characters are all flawed but they’re badass.?

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

You know, the characters like Rick Grimes from twd, Tony Stark from Iron Man, etc.

Rip, those characters </3 Rick died in the comic and in the show he MIA last I saw. Tony was murdered in the movies.

I’m okay with all those flaws, but there‘s some flaws that I just can’t stand. Like the mc being weak minded and wimpy and stuffs like that. Though, it’s okay if he’s gonna change afterward, but it’s better be quick or I’m out.

What pisses me off is when a character is like, okay, kill that person! And then another moment they are like killing is wrong! Like what?!? Or those characters that never grow and stay the same, those are the real shames.

 

[BlackKnightX]

What pisses me off is when a character is like, okay, kill that person! And then another moment they are like killing is wrong! Like what?!? Or those characters that never grow and stay the same, those are the real shames.

Agreed. The story having realistic characters is nice, but the whole point of the story is to make the readers feel satisfied at the end. (Tragedy is an exception. RIP to the two character I just mentioned.)

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

Agreed. The story having realistic characters is nice, but the whole point of the story is to make the readers feel satisfied at the end. (Tragedy is an exception. RIP to the two character I just mentioned.)

Hmm... Realism isn't weak-minded. Like yes? Do people actually go through a phase when something happens? Yes, they do. But most will pick up the gun before shooting someone who is trying to kill them without a second thought.

It is always to have a good drop of realism as it makes your character believable. But there is a fine line before it becomes a mess.

Example: A character can start off weak-minded and a wimp. But in the end they better not stay like that when the world is after them because that isn't realistic. That frustrates me. When you don't see the growth that the world demands. Such adaptation makes the story alluring, and the character ends up a badass.

Now if you accomplish this, don't go throwing on my face how weak-minded he or she turns into if the same situation is reversed. AKA bad guy kills a friend. *No killing is wrong!* But wait, didn't you just kill 1k people to get here? Do you think the big baddy will care that he is your friend? Like you just killed his minions!

Those things irritate me. Or the naïve of a character that gets betrayed 5x times in a row. Like you didn't learn from the first 3?

But yes, the point of a fantasy is to bring satisfaction or heartbreak to a reader. An escape from their reality while they are in your story.

Though, I love sending my readers on emotional rides. One moment they are "heck, yeah, they deserve that!" And then the next they are like... "Wait! Noooo, don't do this to me! That person can't die!" I am an evil being; I know.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Hmm... Realism isn't weak-minded. Like yes? Do people actually go through a phase when something happens? Yes, they do. But most will pick up the gun before shooting someone who is trying to kill them without a second thought.

It is always to have a good drop of realism as it makes your character believable. But there is a fine line before it becomes a mess.

Example: A character can start off weak-minded and a wimp. But in the end they better not stay like that when the world is after them because that isn't realistic. That frustrates me. When you don't see the growth that the world demands. Such adaptation makes the story alluring, and the character ends up a badass.

Now if you accomplish this, don't go throwing on my face how weak-minded he or she turns into if the same situation is reversed. AKA bad guy kills a friend. *No killing is wrong!* But wait, didn't you just kill 1k people to get here? Do you think the big baddy will care that he is your friend? Like you just killed his minions!

Those things irritate me. Or the naïve of a character that gets betrayed 5x times in a row. Like you didn't learn from the first 3?

But yes, the point of a fantasy is to bring satisfaction or heartbreak to a reader. An escape from their reality while they are in your story.

Though, I love sending my readers on emotional rides. One moment they are "heck, yeah, they deserve that!" And then the next they are like... "Wait! Noooo, don't do this to me! That person can't die!" I am an evil being; I know.

I literally did that in my story! ?

I think the better words to describe this would be “I like to tease my readers.” I love adding a lot of twists and turns in my story, and then leave the readers satisfied at the end.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

I literally did that in my story! ?

I think the better words to describe this would be “I like to tease my readers.” I love adding a lot of twists and turns in my story, and then leave the readers satisfied at the end.

Or you could leave them crying puddles!

 

[BlackKnightX]

Or you could leave them crying puddles!

It supposed to be a good thing to the story, but why do I feel like we’re villains trying to manipulate people in the dark? ?

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

It supposed to be a good thing to the story, but why do I feel like we’re villains trying to manipulate people in the dark? ?

Because we are! We are the masterminds of their happiness and sadness! They don't know it, but they are just pawns!

 

[Cipiteca396]

Have you ever read So I'm a Spider, So What?? The entire chapter is just the mc’s inner monologue. It gives off the feeling of the stream of consciousness.

And if you watch the anime adaption, you’ll understand what I mean. It’s all inner monologues, and they portray it by using the voice narration in the anime.

I have seen it in bits but have not read the material. But if that is what you mean the the whole part has to be in italics as it is a inner monologue the whole time. No one else hears her but her.
You can always do breaks in the inner dialogue though like how they are doing like Okami did in their post.

If it is inner then italics. If it is narration of the plans then normal.

If the story is entirely an inner monologue, then you are maintaining your tense. It's all first person, present tense. It's kind of- not really an inner monologue. So no need for Italics. However, it's really easy to make mistakes in tense, especially in first and present. Kumo Desu's quality greatly improved over it's runtime, and the anime obviously doesn't have to worry about tenses at all.

I also mostly write in third person. It‘s easier to keep things in past tense when writing in thrid person.

But in first person, there’re gonna be some lines that feel more natural in a present tense rather than in past tense. So I’m kind of confused as to what to do. Should I stick to the past tense and leave it feeling usually like that, or should I write it i present tense instead?

Always stick to your tense. If it seems like you have to change tense to say something, that may be someone's thoughts, which would be fine with italics. But usually, you can just change your words a little and make it the proper tense.

Spoiler: Example

But in first person, there were lines that felt more natural in the present tense rather than in past tense. So I was confused as to what to do. Should I have stuck to the past tense and left it feeling like that, or should I have written it in present tense instead?

 

[greyblob]

FPV You get to feel the character's every being. While in TPV, they are separate beings. At least that is how I view it.

In FPV, you can get into the gritty inner thoughts your character has, while in TPV is harder without breaking the flow. This is why I like FPV. I connect more to the characters. I feel like I get to know them more.

Thus, I write in FPV as if that person is telling you a story. Narration is in the past, while dialogue "..." and inner thoughts are in present.

Have to pick the style that you like the most. I don't know if TPV can do present tenses all the time like FPV. But somehow I feel like that might be even harder.

Third person is great overall. First person shines in immersion especially for readers to develop a deep (self-inserting?) connection with the characters. It's also much harder to properly execute, at least for me. You can't narrate feelings and emotions as you would in third because people don't know how they're feeling most of the time. They experience emotions but they are not consciously aware of them .
Hopefully that made some sense.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Because we are! We are the masterminds of their happiness and sadness! They don't know it, but they are just pawns!

How evil! Vary admirable, indeed~ ?

If the story is entirely an inner monologue, then you are maintaining your tense. It's all first person, present tense. It's kind of- not really an inner monologue. So no need for Italics. However, it's really easy to make mistakes in tense, especially in first and present. Kumo Desu's quality greatly improved over it's runtime, and the anime obviously doesn't have to worry about tenses at all.

Always stick to your tense. If it seems like you have to change tense to say something, that may be someone's thoughts, which would be fine with italics. But usually, you can just change your words a little and make it the proper tense.

Spoiler: Example

But in first person, there were lines that felt more natural in the present tense rather than in past tense. So I was confused as to what to do. Should I have stuck to the past tense and left it feeling like that, or should I have written it in present tense instead?

That’s clear things up! Thank you so much. ??

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

Third person is great overall. First person shines in immersion especially for readers to develop a deep (self-inserting?) connection with the characters. It's also much harder to properly execute, at least for me. You can't narrate feelings and emotions as you would in third because people don't know how they're feeling most of the time. They experience emotions but they are not consciously aware of them .
Hopefully that made some sense.

? I am all about the feels.?
Mhm, thank you, blob. It is why I connect more to FPV stories. I like them more too. TPV I can't read, but I feel is because the emotional connection is not there. Well, the one I need as a reader.

How evil! Vary admirable, indeed~ ?

Evil is the right way! This is the way! Heheh... I love the Mandalorian.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Third person is great overall. First person shines in immersion especially for readers to develop a deep (self-inserting?) connection with the characters. It's also much harder to properly execute, at least for me. You can't narrate feelings and emotions as you would in third because people don't know how they're feeling most of the time. They experience emotions but they are not consciously aware of them .
Hopefully that made some sense.

I understand what you meant. That’s why there’s the thing called inner-monologue.

The character didn’t just go, I felt sad, but more like,

H-How could he do this to me!? I trusted him and thought of him as my best friend! But all that ended just because….

Tears started running down my cheeks and my heart felt ache all over. Strength left me as I fell to the ground...

 

[greyblob]

I understand what you meant. That’s why there’s the thing called inner-monologue.

The character didn’t just go, I felt sad, but more like,

H-How could he do this to me!? I trusted him and thought of him as my best friend! But all that ended just because….

Tears started running down my cheeks and my heart felt ache all over. Strength left me as I fell to the ground...

I guess it's a matter of preference. I don't really like this style, feels stale to me.