So the third draft is on. I’ve done a re-jig of the text which requires (gulp) a change of tense in great big chunks of the story.
I’ve always thought writers, like drummers, have a natural rhythm. If you’re talking music my natural rhythm is a slightly skewed 5/4. Read into that what you will.
As far as writing is concerned my natural rhythm is first person, present tense.
I may deal with point of view later, but tense is definitely a sticking point for me. Most literature is written in past tense. It works pretty well, the idea that someone is telling you a story that happen some point in the past seems plausible to any audience.
Present tense though shoves the story right in a reader’s face. When you read present tense you tend to perceive an urgency to the story. Everything that happens is right here, right now. Maybe that’s why I like it. As a reader, you experience it like an observer.
Anyway, i find even when I try to write in past tense, present tense slips out at every opportunity, which makes for an uphill battle to edit.
All of which brings me to the case in point. Early drafts are usually in present tense, so if I decide that the story needs to change it inevitably involves detailed investigation of every sentence with painstaking edits galore.
There is an upside, however. By the third draft, writers have a tendency to skim, rather than read properly, which means editing can be a little less than thorough. Changing tense has a tendency to sharpen your eye though.
Hi ho.
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The Books
I find tense is an interesting thing. I find present tense compelling and I find tense can also creep in a little as you have said above, where you read through and either past or present has slipped into the flow of the text.
I wrote a story recently in present tense and I think it makes the story more exciting but sometimes it is difficult as well to say anything more than presenting the actual action.
First person flows for me as well. Although sometimes I like third because you can bring so much more into the narrative that is not just based on one person’s perception well unless it is third person limited which most modern fiction tends to be. Anyway, it is an interesting thing tense and POV. I am writing my novel in first person. I tried it both ways but was advised by Veny Armanno and (also could feel) that the first person flowed better.
It does seem to work easier for me, first person sometimes anyway. A voice is easier to access, the character’s voice and their personality can be accessed much easier in first person, I find. But anyway, I seem to be rambling here, so that is all.
suzanne
If you can’t ramble in the comments of a blog, then where the hell can you ramble (if not in the blog itself)?
Thanks simon. I like to ramble on my blog as well…