Novels written in present tense

Do you guys find it odd to read a book in present tense? I shared a chapter of my book with GuyFromGermany, and he said that it was distracting.

I know most books aren't written like this, but I think it makes more sense.

No, not at all...

*digs nose in "Choose your own Adventure"*

Oh God...there's an enraged cyclops down the hall way...

Noooooooo....

---

Figures, Namo, your first post today is about you criticizing me.

Why would I take classes? I know how to write.

Those books are great!

"If you want to fight the Cyclops, turn to page 50."
"If you want to run, turn to have 4."

Namo never offers a word of advice.
I'm all up for criticism, but it has to come from people I trust. I can't just give it out to a group of strangers.
Ivan's read everything I've written, and he doesn't think it's distracting. I dont't think he's ever said anything, actually.

It just bugs me that books are written in past tense. Characters live in present tense. The only time I've used past tense is in dialogue.

Characters don't necessarily live in present tense; a third-person narrator can be relating events that have already happened. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to the past or present tense question. It all comes down to personal style.

Namo, you're not offering me a "word of advice".
Would you want to read something?
That might clear some things up.

"I never said I didn't want someone to criticize. I'd rather have my criticism from a professional ..."

That's called having an EDITOR. Which is what you get when somebody makes an offer to publish your novel. But it has to be written and rewritten and critiqued and rewritten some more before you'll find somebody who wants to market your book to publishers. That's called having an AGENT.

You've always had a fairly above-it-all attitude about your skills, let's not forget how you were going to go to culinary school and become a top chef, but the idea that you wouldn't take part in a group with a lowly bunch of beginning writers such as yourself speaks volumes (and in the present tense!).

Writers groups generally involve people at all levels of the publishing world. But then, why would you know that if you're not interested?

---

Updated On: 8/8/06 at 01:44 PM

I never predicted that I'd be a top chef. I just said I was going to culinary school (which I still could do).

I know the terms, thank you.

You keep on putting words in my mouth. When did I say I never researched writers groups? I have, just haven't found any that suited me.

The first one I read written in first person was DREAM BOY by Jim Grimsley. I recommend this book to everyone.

That's the beginning of a limerick, isnt it?

---

I have to agree with PalJoey. I tell my students all the time to stick with the past tense when writing mostly because it's extremely difficult to do well, and frankly, it's kind of pretentious. The past tense is the accepted form of writing for most English novels (I don't know about other languages) and more often than not writing in present tense comes off as gimmicky, just like using second person. I really don't have a problem with my kids writing in first or third person -- I leave that up to them (and I've found that what works best varies from kid to kid). I've had students try doing present tense writing and it ALWAYS ended with them giving up and switching to past tense.

---

The novel I'm working on right now is written in present tense, but I'm aware of how distracting a method it is. As I'm going for a somewhat distracting, conversational sort of narrative, I find it ideal. Since present tense narration deviates from the norm, it's my personal opinion that you should have a good reason for doing it, other than the fact that you like doing different things, or you just prefer it that way. Is there something in the story that requires that sort of narration?

Unless you're incredibly skillfull, it WILL be a distraction and the people on this board who you think are giving you "criticism" are actually your target audience. If they say they find the device distracting, they're certainly not the only ones. You would like people to actually finish reading your book, wouldn't you? Like Namo pointed out, writing groups usually contain people who are at different levels -- those who've never written before, those who have several things published, those that are in between. You don't think the opinions of such a wide variety of people would be important?

Really excellent points, PalJoey and KeatonByNumbers.

Especially the part about being pretentious. Most writers roll their eyes when some newbie talks about working on "my novel," because it doesn't exist yet, it's not out in the world, how do you even know what it's going to be, let alone a novel?

Sounds impressive when dropped into casual conversation with people who don't know what writing a novel takes. But then reality creeps in: "I've finished ten or so short stories, but no novels."

"Namo, you never answered my question: Would you want to read a snippet?"

See? I get paid to do that. That's what happens in the professional world.

---