tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.comments2023-12-26T09:58:45.306-06:00Writer MusingsTabithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comBlogger6530125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-70689656876670410832022-07-02T06:30:50.425-05:002022-07-02T06:30:50.425-05:00I include present and past tense in my novels. As ...I include present and past tense in my novels. As pointed out elsewhere here, it enables immediacy (present tense) whilst writing the main bulk of the novel in the past tense (easier). <br /><br />I never mix tenses in a paragraph. one paragraph: one tense. I don't keep switching from one to another in paragraph after paragraph either or else this would confuse the reader and the writer, me.<br /><br />One has to check carefully in each paragraph for accidental tense errors. It is an easy mistake to make. Present tense suits fast, unfolding action well. And suddenly brings a story alive and more vibrant in such moments. One can switch back to past tense as the 'dust settles'.<br /><br />molMol Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041550019202488024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-65320782448841651952022-06-22T11:51:21.995-05:002022-06-22T11:51:21.995-05:00I'm beginning to look at my own writing in a n...I'm beginning to look at my own writing in a new way. I use a version of present tense, but not the YA version where all past-tense verbs are simply converted to present-tense verbs. I don't think that works well. The present moment is of course where everything happens, but it's impossible to grasp it in our minds. All it really is is a dividing line between the past and the future. Trying to tell a story from that dividing line never really seems to work well at all.<br /><br />Bleak House by Charles Dickens was written this other way. Elena Ferrante, who has won the Booker prize, also sometimes uses this technique.<br /><br />I base this on how human awareness works. We have three types of memory: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory, or experiential memory, last for milliseconds, and is how we experience events that happen. Long-term memory last for a long time. This is where we store our memories.<br /><br />In between those on the timeline is working memory, also known as short-term memory, which lasts about 30 seconds. This is where all awareness takes place. It's where all human creativity and decision-making take place. All expression. It is the space of time that happens directly after the present moment, and since the present moment is constantly moving forward, short-term memory also is constantly moving forward.<br /><br />Since this is a chunk of time, it includes the immediate past. This is what gives it the ability, in narration, to use past-tense verbs for things that have happened in the last 30 seconds, and present-tense verbs for things that are still ongoing.<br /><br />To distinguish this from thinking of present tense as referring to the present moment, I think of this as 'current tense', meaning it encompasses that 30 seconds of awareness that keeps moving forward, that moving chunk of time that represents what we experience in life as we experience it.<br /><br />An easier way to think of this, let's say if you were writing in first person and wanted the temporal position of the main character to be directly in the scene, telling the reader what is happening as it happens, is to simply confine what you write to that character's current awareness of what is going on around them, including that 30 seconds of the immediate past. Then use past-tense and present-tense verbs appropriately to modify subjects and objects in the sentences—past tense for incidental events that happen and end, and present tense for events that have not ended quite yet.<br /><br />So it's much broader (and accurate) than simple present tense (and much more immediate than simple past tense) and much more natural sounding. And it is essentially invisible to the reader. It will feel to them as if it reflects 'what is happening' in the story. This is the way that everyone navigates the world, so to me it makes perfect sense as a way to show a first-person main character navigating their world.<br /><br />Not that this is easy to do. To write in this style one must be constantly aware of what the precise temporal position of the main character is. But it's worth it, because it has all the immediacy of simple present tense with none of the drawbacks of either that or simple past tense.<br /><br />It does have its advantages beyond that, including that the presence of present-tense verbs implies that the past-tense verbs in the same scene refer to the immediate past and not the distant past, and that can make the scene feel as if it's happening right now.<br /><br /> It has another advantage in that the character can let a little bit of time pass, and then summarize what has just happened, which allows the narrative to include small chunks of summary, something that is quite common and even expected. And even then, the summary feels like it's happening right now.Thomas Harvard Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12952208208980684709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-6336497215809167922022-04-30T15:34:01.114-05:002022-04-30T15:34:01.114-05:00In the past, media like television had hardly any ...In the past, media like television had hardly any changes to the play and story. Over the last 50 years, visual media now has rapid changes with a mixedstory of past and present. The viewer has moved on and evolved in theway they digest stoies. This is true in written media as well. I believe modern novel writing benefits from shifts in past tense and present tense. Yes, it is difficult not to accidently mix the two in say, a single paragraph, nut that work in some instances. I tend to use both tenses over tracts of several paagraphs or pages, doing it right from the start so a reader adjusts quickly to the device.<br /><br />Presnt tense is good for action or a moment when you need to pull the reader right into the story close up. An example...<br /><br />He wanted her, but as she looked at him and realised his intention, there was nothing to stop her engaging in what she desired too.<br /><br />She removes her clothes. He pulls her into him. Lust grips them... blah... blah... blah<br /><br /><br />I hope you see my point. Excuse the corny example.<br /><br />molMol Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041550019202488024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-60478943814166886092021-08-13T03:51:26.940-05:002021-08-13T03:51:26.940-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Thomas Harvard Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12952208208980684709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-50485693309831333632021-01-07T01:10:40.253-06:002021-01-07T01:10:40.253-06:00To Hayden.
I agree that the second (2b) sounds ri...To Hayden.<br /><br />I agree that the second (2b) sounds ridiculous. I think the reason is that in any book, including those told about past adventures written in simple past tense (95% of all books) dialogue always uses present tense verbs (unless the speaker is speaking of something in the relative past referenced to that conversation).<br /><br />This is not a 'mix' of tenses. A verb tense is independent, meaning one verb references one object or one subject only, and if one object or subject takes a past or present tense verb, that does not lock everything else to that.<br /><br />For example, here is a (dialogue) sentence that uses both present and past tense correctly, in the same sentence: "I am under the impression that he did not know." There is the present tense verb 'am', referencing the speaker's current impression, which happens to that speaker in that speaker's present, and a reference to something in the past that someone 'did not know', so the past tense verb 'did' is used there.<br /><br />It is not a 'mix', because one verb references a subject that is independent of the object and the tense that object takes, while the other verb references something from the past. One is not dependent on the other.<br /><br />Professor Google says 'don't mix tenses', but that is a gross oversimplification. What Prof Google should be saying, to be more accurate, is 'don't use the wrong tense in the wrong place'.Jack Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00125186402043136829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-59596178744217814002021-01-06T21:32:55.994-06:002021-01-06T21:32:55.994-06:00I am writing a book but I'm still unsure of pa...I am writing a book but I'm still unsure of past/present tenses. They don't make sense. Here is a sample below. The first one has past and present combined(and 1 future word 'will') The second has only past language and sounds illiterate and ridiculous! Should a book read well or must it be written in an illiterate way to appease scholars. I'm unsure and would appreciate some advice. Thanks.<br /><br />Sample 1 a & b: Past/Present/Future<br /><br />Past Tense 1a: <br />As the craft came to a halt and locked itself into the holding bay, a voice spoke throughout their ship.<br /><br />Present Tense 1b:<br />"You are now in the hands of our race. We are Graylings. The exits to your vessel will open. There are many of us, and we bear arms. It is in your best interests not to use your weapons."<br /><br />will (future tense)<br /><br /><br />Sample2 a & b: All Past Tense <br /><br />Past Tense 2a:<br />As the craft came to a halt and locked itself into the holding bay, a voice spoke throughout their ship:<br /><br />Past Tense 2b:<br />"You were now in the hands of our race. They were Graylings. The exits to your vessel would open. There were many of us, and we bear arms. It was in your best interests not to use your weapons."Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07721160612708187772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-67594795745058587792020-12-23T13:18:04.304-06:002020-12-23T13:18:04.304-06:00I'm going to correct an earlier comment (2018)...I'm going to correct an earlier comment (2018). I am not changing my position, but I referred to what I was speaking about as Historical Present Tense. That's not really accurate: Historical Present Tense is using present-tense verbs with events not in the present, such as all advertising does: "Our product cleans your commode effortlessly!" or news headlines "Stock market drops 500 points—Film at Eleven!" No, the stock market closed hours ago. Technically, that news show teaser should take the past-tense verb, 'dropped'.<br /><br />What I was talking about is more-accurately 'temporal positioning'. If the author uses past-tense verbs for incidental events and present-tense verbs for ongoing conditions, it transports the reader into the scene, real time live, along with the 1st-P character. The present-tense verbs then imply that the past-tense verbs refer to the immediate past.Jack Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00125186402043136829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-48638822909772300162020-08-23T19:14:42.891-05:002020-08-23T19:14:42.891-05:00Markus leaves the ending up for discussion. Rather...Markus leaves the ending up for discussion. Rather than saying that it was definitely him at the end of the book, he never says that. It's up for your own determination. Some people think it's Ed's own subconscious, others think it's a god or the god. It's really open ended and up for interpretation. Although I still didn't like the ending, it's harsh to say that the ending was a slap in the face because it was Markus who did everything in the book.<br />:)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01066310843985676485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-59702809194851608872020-08-23T19:14:41.611-05:002020-08-23T19:14:41.611-05:00Markus leaves the ending up for discussion. Rather...Markus leaves the ending up for discussion. Rather than saying that it was definitely him at the end of the book, he never says that. It's up for your own determination. Some people think it's Ed's own subconscious, others think it's a god or the god. It's really open ended and up for interpretation. Although I still didn't like the ending, it's harsh to say that the ending was a slap in the face because it was Markus who did everything in the book.<br />:)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01066310843985676485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-48896941055991882332020-08-23T19:14:38.428-05:002020-08-23T19:14:38.428-05:00Markus leaves the ending up for discussion. Rather...Markus leaves the ending up for discussion. Rather than saying that it was definitely him at the end of the book, he never says that. It's up for your own determination. Some people think it's Ed's own subconscious, others think it's a god or the god. It's really open ended and up for interpretation. Although I still didn't like the ending, it's harsh to say that the ending was a slap in the face because it was Markus who did everything in the book.<br />:)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01066310843985676485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-68126751354041887042020-04-29T10:16:39.559-05:002020-04-29T10:16:39.559-05:00How exactly dose Trudy die ? How exactly dose Trudy die ? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-31042700418772707682020-04-17T11:48:42.787-05:002020-04-17T11:48:42.787-05:00Yeah that how i felt
This book meat up my mentali...Yeah that how i felt <br />This book meat up my mentalityAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903355344515048300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-270096268143202352018-10-28T09:41:11.087-05:002018-10-28T09:41:11.087-05:00I use a version of Historical Present Tense with 1...I use a version of Historical Present Tense with 1st-person. This has the advantage of being in the present for the reader (as for the protagonist) without the gimmicky awkwardness of present tense.<br /><br />If you divide 'what happens' in the narrative into two categories, A) incidental events (things that begin and end) and B) ongoing conditions, the incidental events all take past tense (because the narrator observing/commenting on them means they have already occurred in their immediate past). But ongoing conditions can take present tense, because they still exist in the narrator's present.<br /><br />Example: "Parker crossed her arms and stared at me. She's difficult to fool. I can't lie to her and get away with it."<br /><br />It's told from present using present tense ('she is', 'I can't'), because her 'being difficult to fool' is an ongoing condition for the narrator as is his inability to 'lie to her and get away with it'.<br /><br />At the same time, 'crossed her arms' and 'stared at me' are incidental events. They happen, then they're over (although she may continue to stare), then the narrator tells us that he observed them, using past tense. Since these things have happened in the narrator's immediate past, it still feels as if the narrator is speaking from his present, a 'present' shared by the reader.<br /><br />The same passage in simple present tense (Parker crosses her arms …) feels awkward and amateurish. In simple past tense (She was difficult to fool, I couldn't lie …) it feels like a story we're hearing about after the fact. In HPT it feels immediate, yet natural, as if it is happening right now, and it is not an error in mixing tenses, because past events get past tense and ongoing conditions get present tense, and those are the proper tenses. You can do this in the same paragraph or even in the same complex sentence, and the reader should have no issue with it.<br /><br />So a story told using Historical Present Tense can feel natural. It masquerades as past tense making it feel familiar and comfortable to the reader, yet it also has all of the immediacy of present tense (without the inherent negatives) that place the reader directly in the room with the protag and the action. It's a combination, rather than a mash-up. And it is not a compromise between past and present tense because nothing is sacrificed.<br /><br />It's the best of both worlds. This can be very effective. But it's tricky to do.Jack Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00125186402043136829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-1634423487953728912018-05-03T13:04:19.753-05:002018-05-03T13:04:19.753-05:00Conversations too correct?Conversations too correct?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00160075913352224006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-20538539865503906712018-05-03T13:01:13.085-05:002018-05-03T13:01:13.085-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00160075913352224006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-45991833740878701602018-05-03T05:32:45.466-05:002018-05-03T05:32:45.466-05:00I think it is great to do that. Your character is ...I think it is great to do that. Your character is flashing back in her thoughts. In her thoughts, it is happenening right then. You must use present!Davisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16598332673499155104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-63783314342993281792018-05-02T19:00:52.952-05:002018-05-02T19:00:52.952-05:00Hi. I am writing a fiction but my intro is presen...Hi. I am writing a fiction but my intro is present tense, my protagonist flashes back to her last few years living in another country. It becomes a narrative from Third Person POV. My question is, I am writing in past tense but i am including my protagonist's thoughts and conversations with others. Is this okay to do? This is my first book. Thanks for your help :O)Cynthia M. Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13250398515014898900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-38347040855127638832018-02-20T07:00:55.075-06:002018-02-20T07:00:55.075-06:00Diаrу of a wimру kid Bооk Sеriеѕ
Lаtеr оn Diаrу о...Diаrу of a wimру kid Bооk Sеriеѕ <br />Lаtеr оn Diаrу оf a Wimpy Kid саmе uр in the fоrm of Bооk but асtuаllу a full bооk series . And the firѕt bооk in this ѕеriеѕ wаѕ Diаrу оf a wimру kid bооk 1 whiсh wаѕ аn оngоing bооk franchise. <br /> <br />And now wе hаvе thе current book with titlе Diary оf a Wimру Kid: Thе Gеtаwау (book 12) whiсh was rеlеаѕеd оn 7 Nov 2017 . All оf these book are also available in PDF format аѕ well , you саn ѕimрlу ѕеаrсh in this site by tурing diary of a wimру kid PDF.To read mоrе please viѕit hеrе: <a rel="nofollow">Wimру kid</a>. <br />Fahionisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02591622432001376246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-92208116989652145922018-01-23T09:22:01.335-06:002018-01-23T09:22:01.335-06:00I red this book once and it's a really good st...I red this book once and it's a really good story<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17094808329082037993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-86113966315419217182016-12-11T19:03:18.806-06:002016-12-11T19:03:18.806-06:00Correction, THG is in first person present tense. ...Correction, THG is in first person present tense. Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873913471183443743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-39983781307537455332016-12-11T19:01:32.521-06:002016-12-11T19:01:32.521-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873913471183443743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-30506672611708225772016-12-11T19:01:31.829-06:002016-12-11T19:01:31.829-06:00The Hunger Games is written in third person presen...The Hunger Games is written in third person present tense. It's not hard. All movie scripts are written in present tense. I write everything in present tense whether first person or third. Then when I describe something that happened in the past, I use past tense. <br /><br />The only people who get confused are the people who think it should never be done under any circumstances. If you do it with purpose, and you are consistent within your own convention, it shouldn't be a problem. Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873913471183443743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-44746574401345020192016-12-08T07:42:54.543-06:002016-12-08T07:42:54.543-06:00thanks for the tips and information..i really appr...thanks for the tips and information..i really appreciate it.. <a href="http://www.cheappsychicreadingss.com/" rel="nofollow">John Ryan</a><br />2009 DREAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481856703447919606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-11721649061118828772016-08-11T19:22:39.918-05:002016-08-11T19:22:39.918-05:00My novel, so far, is a mix of present and past ten...My novel, so far, is a mix of present and past tense. I've spent hours trying to get to the bottom of this, knowing the criticisms. I start to write and then I find myself switching tense. It seems natural to me!? It's exactly like how I would tell a story to a friend if they were sitting next to me. I would say that things happened. Then I would say, for example, that I have a particular opinion about that. I'm a thinking being. I can write/tell a story in whatever tense I like (I hope). Here's an example:<br /><br />My brother slowly rolled to the edge of the bed an then connected his feet with the slippers that I bought him. I can't believe that he still has those. They are 10 years old!<br /><br />Basically, I'm taking a "pause" moment to get right up in the readers face to let them know what I think. Then, I'll retract and move back to past tense to leave a little distance.<br /><br />Thoughts?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695960828303072356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-15787480371851827502016-03-19T14:59:01.457-05:002016-03-19T14:59:01.457-05:00In my novella, I go in and out of past and present...In my novella, I go in and out of past and present seamlessly. Even within a paragraph. <br /> <br /> I sat down on the couch with my glass of chianti. The phone rings. <br /><br />Anything confusing here? No. I especially do this when I want a scene to evolve into a stream of thought immediacy. When I ask friends to read a chapter, I'll frequently ask them if they noticed a tense change. They never do. I don't use quotation marks in dialogue either. I do what I want. <br /><br /> Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.<br /><br /> PicassoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com