Last week’s blog discussed narrative point of view and the differences between them (first person, third person limited, third person omniscient, and second person). This week, let’s talk about verb tenses, the when the story is happening. Is it happening in the present? Or is it happening in the past?
Of course, there’s a debate between which is better, typically with a person firmly on one side or the other. I’m firmly on the past-tense side. Past tense has always felt more natural to me as a reader and a writer. Present tense sticks out to me, as it does for many readers.
Past tense is most prevalent in a wide range of mediums—from genre fiction to newspapers to scientific writing. Present tense is more common in literary fiction, memoirs, autobiographies, and short stories. It has been seen more often in genre fiction in the past couple of years, but the number of works in past tense far outweighs the present tense ones.
If you’re just starting out or if you’re intending to submit to agents and publishing houses, I would advise sticking to past tense. I’m not saying you shouldn’t stick with present tense if that’s what works for you. If it works, own it.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of present tense.
Advantages of present tense
- Immediacy. The reader is experiencing the events at the same time as the narrator. This allows the reader to connect to the narrator while also giving a sense of consistently moving forward and progressing.
- Simplicity. Present tense verbs are a lot simpler and easier to navigate for a lot of newer authors. The had had of past flashbacks can confuse the best of us. Present tense takes the guesswork out of action.
- Can reflect the theme of the novel. When the theme in a narrative is about moving forward or time passing in general or someone living in the present, present tense can reflect that beautifully. It can even help with characterization.
Disadvantages of present tense
- Lack of invisibility. As mentioned earlier, nearly everything we see is past tense, so we’re familiar with it and expect it. When that changes, it makes us pause, and the tense becomes visible, something we now consciously notice. We all want our writing to stand out, but our characters and writing should shoulder that work, not the tenses.
- Harder to manipulate time. In past tense, you can skip ahead or back in time as it suits the story. This helps avoid telling and parts that aren’t important. In present tense, it’s a little harder to fast forward in scene because it doesn’t feel as natural. The story is happening in real time and has to play out like it’s real time for it to be convincing. Breaks in time can often feel abrupt.
- The bigger picture can get lost. Because we’re focused on the here and now, it’s harder to see the picture as a whole, the whys and hows of what’s going on. There also isn’t a lot of room for reflection.
Past tense, of course, has its own drawbacks, but it allows for more flexibility and is usually easier to work with and manipulate. Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer. That’s the beauty of creative writing, especially if you’re an indie author. Just make sure it’s consistent and justified, as all your choices should be.
What tense are you most comfortable in? What are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of present tense? If you liked this post, consider sharing it with your friends!
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