Authors and writers have been long debating about the use of
present tense vs. past tense in writing novels. Silly nitpicking among writers
or is there a logic behind it?
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Why Go With Past Tense
When you read novels or news, 9 out of 10 the writers use
past tense. It’s so natural to use
past tense to tell stories and past events.
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Think about it for a minute! How many times have you used
present tense when you tell a story?
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Since people expect past tense when hearing and reading
stories why not just give it to them. Many people even hate reading stories
written in present tense. If you ask them, the answers may not even sound
logical. They just dislike it as it sounds off.
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Stick with using past tense if your novel has many parts
where the story often shifts to events in the past and future. Using past tense
also allows you to play with the narrative in a more flexible manner.
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Why Go With Present Tense?
For a fast-paced novel, present tense is an excellent
choice. Done well, a novel written in present tense can be immersive.
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The Hunger Games
is a great example of a novel written in present tense. The use of present tense allows the readers to
live in the exact moment as the characters and be in the characters shoes as
the events unfold. We’re always on our toes not knowing what the events will
lead to.
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Keep in mind that writing your novel in present tense doesn’t
mean you cannot use past tense at all. In the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins used
past tense to describe past events such as when her sister got her cat, why
Gale called her Catnip, and how his dad met his mother. It would be absurd to
stick to present tense to describe such things.
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That said, going back and forth between past and present
tense as you describe the characters action throughout the book is a huge no-no. It’s a common pitfall for novice
writers, so do your best to avoid that.
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Which One’s Better?
In the end, it all depends on the writer’s skill to make
things work. If you have a novel in progress, stick with whatever tense you’re already
using. There’s no point revising it all since each tense can still provide
immersion when executed well.
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Writers should spend more time on figuring out the plot, twist, and character development
instead. After all, they are the ingredients that can make a story addictive or
bland.
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All things said, if you always write in present tense and
wish to experiment using past tense or the other way around, please do. Writers
can learn a lot when they go out of their comfort zone and play with different
styles.
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And whatever tense you’re using, be sure to check your work thoroughly for
spelling or grammar mistakes. If you’re planning to send your manuscript to
a publisher, you seriously don’t want typos littering your prized work. It
could be humiliating and a major turn-off for the publishers.
Keyword: light novel
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