Anyone here write in present tense?

[barrett1987]

I've got a 500 word dream sequence in my wip. I want to write it in present tense to match the flowery dreamlike way i'm writing it. I know i'll only get away with this if its a sufficient way into the story and that it doesn't go on too long.

Does anyone here have experience in this style or a link with some guide to it?

I've written it but i'm unsure about the mechanics of the tense.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/534393-mayhem-first-two-pages.html

I wrote a whole novel in present tense. Above is the first few pages.

My advice is to be careful, because there is more to writing in present tense than merely verb changes. You are literally that character, functioning in real time etc It does give an illusion of a faster pace so finding ways to reduce that in the writing is the real challenge especially when you want to give a flowery dreamlike feel.

 

[tinkerdan]

Here's a little piece I found helpful

Writing Fiction in the Present Tense | Precise Edit's Blog

I did two novels in Present Tense and had at least one detractor because they felt that Present Tense had too much immediacy to it; which is what some people will tell new writers and then those people who hear that will take it to heart. By the second book the detractor took back what they had said. Just the fact that they read the second one told me something as it was.

You can make it tiring if you get into the characters head and try to express everything they think. I would almost think that would cause it to drag rather than to become intensely immediate. And that's what I'd be more attentive toward.

A small portion should be alright as long as the dream is clearly defined with some warning otherwise it might throw some people out to make a switch.

 

[HareBrain]

Does anyone not, these days?

I think as a dream sequence it could provide an effective contrast. I once went from third-past to second-present for a long-ish "flashback" and was nervous about the reaction it would get, but no one had any problem with it. Though when I tried the same thing somewhere else, everyone had a problem with it, so I guess it depends on something or other.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Read some young adult - loads of it is in present/first.

I've done this a couple of times - a few little vignettes in present, usually first, - within a larger third book. It seemed to work okay. So long as your sections are short, go for it.

 

[Hex]

I usually write in present tense.

I think it's mainly about feel and I'm not sure writing to rules really helps that much. Many of the authors currently writing present tense take all sorts of crazy liberties with it and do things they're not supposed to and it works. Of course, in a dream sequence you don't need to worry about all that.

I agree with springs that it helps to read other things written in present (have a look at a couple of pages of The Hunger Games, for example, or Never Let Me Go (which wasn't sold as YA, but could have been)).

Also, as Anya said, don't write it in past and then try to switch -- that's just making more work for yourself.

But I really don't think it's much of an issue (but then I would say that ). Try it and see how it goes.

 

[barrett1987]

Thanks guys, i'll look those two links over and at some point ill get the 500 words up in the critique area. As i say, its only 500 words so its a minor thing, i just felt it could be kinda cool.

 

[Devon.Q.Ly]

Hi Barrett,
I've made a very deliberate decision to write in present tense. I wanted two main things
1. I wanted the reader to feel like they were there that very second with the character, not even 1 second later. As some have already pointed out, it provides a sense of immediacy but I also feel it adds closeness to the character because you're learning things the very second your character is.
2. I could clearly distinguish a current event from a recollection in the past. Switching tenses can be confusing if not done right, so there's that to be mindful of. I guess I'm mainly using past tense for exposition.

Having said that it's bloody tough initially, I was often catching my out subconsciously drifting back into past tense. Anyway, happy to send a chapter or 2 if you'd like just PM me.

 

[tinkerdan]

Here's another link since grammar girl is always a good mainstay.
Grammar Girl : Present Tense Books :: Quick and Dirty Tips

What's interesting here is her mention of it being cinematic. What you might see in a movie, seems appropriate for a sort of dream sequence because many of my dreams remind me of movies; albeit B rated movies.

Also what is interesting is the mention that the article came from noticing Present Tense in a fiction recently read and having it stick out. Then later mentioning that they had forgotten or didn't quite so consciously realize that had recently read another present tense novel that obviously didn't stand out so much.

It would be interesting to compare the two styles of the two books to see what the difference might be.

But the bottom line is that since in a way you could pass this off as a mini movie within the novel the present tense might work quite well when handled well.

 

[Null_Zone]

Deleted.

Completely wrong thread.