Do you prefer past tense or present tense?

[Aefener]

The question is self-explanatory I guess. When you're writing, do you prefer to write your stories in present tense or past tense? Does your preference change when you're reading? As for me, I write in present tense and can't even imagine writing in past tense. It just flows better (at least to me) and I find it much more engaging. As for when I read other people's stories, I don't mind either if it's well-written even though I tend to enjoy present tense more.

I also noticed the trend that more and more contemporary young adult books are being written almost EXCLUSIVELY in present tense whereas older fantasy books were almost ALWAYS in past tense. Do you think it means something?

 

[Temple]

Yep, newer YA are present tense. While it has been done for a long time, it was Hunger Games that really paved the way for present tense spreading in YA. After all, it's a billion dollar franchise.

For web novel writing though, I suggest better to write in past tense if you can. Japanese Light/Web Novels are usually past or historical present tense (which is simplified as past tense by translators). Chinese novels don't have tenses, so are translated as past tense for convention. Hence, English web novel readers are really used to past tense, some of whom won't even try present tense novels. In the case of RR (not sure about SH), there are readers who actively hate present tense.

So, much better to write in past tense for web novels if you can, given the background of the media. Or perhaps, you might be the "Hunger Games" of web novels and pave the way for present tense to be common.

 

[Aefener]

For web novel writing though, I suggest better to write in past tense if you can. Japanese Light/Web Novels are usually past or historical present tense (which is simplified as past tense by translators). Chinese novels don't have tenses, so are translated as past tense for convention.

That certainly makes sense. Past tense has that historical feeling added value. I can't imagine reading, for instance, The Lord of the Rings in present tense. ? But I'm not writing that kind of story right now so I'll stick to present tense. ? I might try past tense for my second webnovel which I want to be historical fantasy. Thanks for the suggestion, good to know. I guess I'm very influenced by YA novels. I do tend to read a lot of contemporary English BL stories after all. ?

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Past tense.

 

[XKARNATION]

Past tense

 

[InterestingLad]

The question is self-explanatory I guess.

Past tense! Always! It's a story, being told about something that happened. If it hasn't happened, there's nothing to tell. If it is happening right now, then the characters are busy either doing or observing. So, there's a reason past tense predominated for so long. Of course, clearly readers can adapt, but present tense is still weird and awkward to read.

I've seen it suggested that people just telling stories use present tense, and sometimes this is true. "There we were, on patrol. We pull up to the checkpoint. I step out, my head on a swivel with a bad feeling about the whole operation...." But, in this case, the storyteller is there in front of the audience, making the "action in the past" obvious and implied, and the first person narrator is a given. So, I guess, if you're writing a story with a narrator that begins with, "Sit down kids and I'll tell you of my great adventure," then, okay, first person. I'm still probably not gonna read it, but that's just me. And a lot of others.

 

[Aefener]

Past tense! Always! It's a story, being told about something that happened. If it hasn't happened, there's nothing to tell. If it is happening right now, then the characters are busy either doing or observing. So, there's a reason past tense predominated for so long. Of course, clearly readers can adapt, but present tense is still weird and awkward to read.

I've seen it suggested that people just telling stories use present tense, and sometimes this is true. "There we were, on patrol. We pull up to the checkpoint. I step out, my head on a swivel with a bad feeling about the whole operation...." But, in this case, the storyteller is there in front of the audience, making the "action in the past" obvious and implied, and the first person narrator is a given. So, I guess, if you're writing a story with a narrator that begins with, "Sit down kids and I'll tell you of my great adventure," then, okay, first person. I'm still probably not gonna read it, but that's just me. And a lot of others.

Thanks for that comment, you make a very interesting point. I've never thought about it like that before. Always learning something new. And seeing how much the certain kind of stuff I read influences me.

 

[Temple]

^ See, web novels readers are really used to it. Modern YA is starting to be present tense, but still mostly past.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I never really thought about it. All the sentences I write sound like present tense but I use past tense a lot since there is a lot references to past events so I guess I write in present tense.

 

[patbateman123x]

I prefer the present because in my mind it puts me right into the world i am writing about . Not just as the protagonist but as the side characters .Kinda like having a conversation with your friends in your dorm . I use the past tense for memories and stuff but that's just my own way of justifying what sounds more organic to me

 

[BenJepheneT]

Neither. I prefer men.

 

[Temple]

I prefer men.

present men or past men

 

[BenJepheneT]

present men or past men

i think i know where i align

 

[BlackKnightX]

Past tense makes writing seems invisible if you’re an avid reader. Writing in past tense is just a convention established since the dawn of time. It’s how we tell a story—recalling and reliving the memory of the past. So, it’s more natural to write and read a story in past tense, and I prefer writing it that way.

As for present tense. It’s like a new trend that’s only occurred not too long ago in the publishing world. It‘s pretty common in YA genre because it gives off that sense of immediacy as if you’re there with the character or you’re the character themself. Though, it can be quite jarring at first since it’s not very common, but if you keep reading it for a while, you’ll get used to it, and the writing can be just as invisible as the past tense.

 

[Daitengu]

Either as it depends on the situation.

Past tense is the norm as most story telling is based on past events and being third person.

But the norm actively hinders some genres such as mystery and horror imo. To me a present tense first person perspective can aid the tension of those genres immensely.

Present tense for first person also doesn't allow the reader to infer the person survives later.

 

[Aefener]

Though, it can be quite jarring at first since it’s not very common, but if you keep reading it for a while, you’ll get used to it, and the writing can be just as invisible as the past tense.

That's exactly what happened to me. After reading so many YA novels, present tense became invisible to me.

Either as it depends on the situation.

Past tense is the norm as most story telling is based on past events and being third person.

But the norm actively hinders some genres such as mystery and horror imo. To me a present tense first person perspective can aid the tension of those genres immensely.

Present tense for first person also doesn't allow the reader to infer the person survives later.

I also think it depends on the situation. Epic fantasy or historical fiction with several points of view is naturally more suited for past tense. As for romance or horror, which are genres that should express a lot of emotions, present tense and first person narrative are better I think. But that might be just my personal preference.

 

[Deleted member 57675]

Past

 

[tiaf]

When I started I had a bit of a hard time writing continuously in past tense. But when I reread it fresh eyes, I realized how much present tense irked me.

I can get used to present tense when reading, but preferably when it’s 3POV. I read once 1POV present and it was rather hard on me (1POV in general is).

Yes, I’m one of those readers that avoid present tense. It’s mainly because I write in past and got so used to it that present triggers my editing mode.

The reason why I write in past tense is simply because I can’t tenses for life. I already struggle with past and past perfect. The horror I saved myself from by abstaining from present is something I don’t want to imagine.

 

[Comiak]

If you're writing a "once upon a time" or "How I *inserting thing*" or any type of story like that, then yeah, past tense makes sense; but present tense feels like you're there watching it all unfold rather than being told a story. It's the difference between being a bystander watching from the sidelines and being in the middle of it all.

 

[Ai-chan]

Either one is fine. For us Asians, we write in present tense in our original language. So writing in present tense in English feels like a no-brainer.

The reason why English books are often written in past tense is because culturally, they tell their stories as something that has happened in the past. That's perfectly fine, because that's how English works. Tenses based on time is the very basic element of an English sentence.

Take Ai-chan's last sentence from above:

English: Tenses based on time is the very basic element of an English sentence. (present tense)
Asiatic languages: Tenses based on time be the basic of an English sentence. (no tense)

Or a more easily understood sentence:
English: I hunted deer yesterday. (past tense)
Asiatic languages: I hunt deer yesterday. (happened in the past)

This is a simple example, but this is how Asiatic languages work. Time is not part of the sentence. You insert time into the sentence by adding the words that denote the time. Therefore, Asians do not need to tell the story in past tense or present tense, we just need to tell the story because tenses are not part of the sentence.