deborahjross: (tower)
[personal profile] deborahjross
Literary agent Jessica Faust offers some thoughtful answers to a question about the advisability of writing in the present tense.

Arguments against the present tense usually range from "it's pretentious" to "it's unusual, so it's one more hurdle for a reader to overcome to get into the story." But Faust put her finger on another reason, one that has been hovering at the edges of my thoughts for a long time:

I think the trouble writers have when writing in present tense or even first person is that it becomes a little too much about you telling a story, and the important pieces of storytelling (the showing) are actually left out. You forget the importance of other viewpoints, body language and description, for example. Of course writing present tense, just as writing first person, feels easier because it’s about you and this moment you’re in. However, when you really sit down to read it, it’s not easier to read. In fact, it’s more difficult. It doesn’t give the information that makes a story really sing for the reader or listener.

An an experienced, skillful writer can "get away" with present tense, first because she doesn't make the beginner's mistakes cited above, but more strongly, because she has chosen the right tool for the right job -- the tense itself plays a crucial role in how the story is put together.

My second novel, Northlight, was written in alternating sections of first and third person. Originally, the first person sections were in present tense. I thought I was increasing the emotional immediacy, a typical newbie misconception. My agent -- oh, so very tactfully -- suggested I reconsider. As an exercise, I tried rewriting those sections in past tense. Quickly, I discovered so many flaws in plot logic, in flow, in character development, in scene setting -- all disguised to the writer's eye (but not the reader's!) by the artifice of present tense. Needless to say, when the novel was sent on to my editor, all those sections were in past tense. I did not strike "present tense" from my list of possible style elements, but I did vow not to use it unless absolutely necessary. Almost 20 years later, I have not found a single instance which demands present tense.

Date: 2009-10-21 06:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/
That's a very insightful piece. I can live with the present tense in fiction in short stories, but find it wearing over longer pieces. What I really hate is the so-called historic present ('Alexander invades Persia where Darius is ready for him'). Drives me nuts. It glosses everything with a sheen of 'relevance' ignoring context and it implies a sameness of experience and attitude which is unhelpful. SO far it's a tv thing, but it's going to get into print eventually, which will be deplorable.

Date: 2009-10-21 10:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] deborahjross.livejournal.com
Hmmm... I think I'm the opposite. Present tense is a bit jarring for me, so I'm still in the acculturation phase by the time a short story is over, but with a novel, I'll settle into ignoring it. Second PERSON, otoh, never loses its abrasive edge for me.

"Historical present" -- as in, all of history is still going on, like a past-imperfect verb? Sheesh.

Date: 2009-10-21 09:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] beth-bernobich.livejournal.com
I just wrote my first story in first person, present tense.

I've never wanted to do this before. Never. None of my WIPs wanted it. But with this one? After one or two attempts at past tense for the project, I had to revert back to present tense.

That's the thing, though--recognizing when it does and doesn't work.



Date: 2009-10-21 10:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] deborahjross.livejournal.com
I love your responsiveness to the needs of your WIP. I think that's exactly right for this kind of choice -- the story dictates it, demands this element of voice and tone.

Any ideas on why this story works in present but not in past tense?

Date: 2009-10-21 11:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] beth-bernobich.livejournal.com
I'm still processing what happened. I am sure I made the right decision, but I can't tell you anything more than "it felt really, really right."

But yes, the whys are something I want to examine--why this story and not others.

Profile

deborahjross: (Default)
Deborah J. Ross

November 2020

S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 8th, 2025 12:12 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios