Novels written in present tense — Page 3

#51

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:28pm

And this, Fiction Writer, is why you always have problems with credibility, no matter what your screen name. Take my word for it on this, because I know a thing or two about the subject, you're never going to be taken seriously if you exhibit such uninformed opinions combined with an almost complete lack of intellectual curiosity.

---

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#52

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:29pm

If you aspire to be a writer and you said you don't understand or like books written in the past tense then that is not an opinion. It's a statement of idiocy. It's like saying you want to write musicals but can't stand the theater.

I stand by my adjective. Past, present, or future.

---

Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

#53

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:36pm

You people are a bunch of bi*ches.
When did I say I hate reading? I love reading, and I always have.
I admire the classic works of Dickens, Austen, etc, and I've read most of them. Their books work great the way they are.

I don't think my book would be my book if I went back and changed everything to past tense.

#54

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:39pm

I don't understand what you want here. You asked in your original post if we found books in present tense to be distracting. The overwhelming answer was "yes, it's distracting and very difficult to do well."

You didn't get confirmation of your opinion so you lash out?

What was the point of asking?

---

Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

#55

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:41pm

I don't care about confirmation.
I just don't like being called stupid.
And none of you have read the finished product.

#56

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:48pm

ANYWAY . . . , Books in present tense are good if they are done right. I don't think writing in present tense with more than one focal character works, because then you are saying something about a character at the same time another character is doing something, but you can't describe both at the same time . . then it becomes a literary paradox where you have to say something in the past tense, since two written characters can not occupy the same page at the same time.

Snoogans!

---

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

Updated On: 8/8/06 at 05:48 PM

#57

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 5:59pm

I understand it's limits. And all of my chapters are written so they don't overlap.

Would you buy the published novel?

#58

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 6:00pm

la la la

Updated On: 8/8/06 at 06:00 PM

#59

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 6:04pm

Will it be self-published as is or will a skillful editor whip it into shape before offering it for sale from a publishing house?

---

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#60

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 6:12pm

I'm going to try and find an editor and see if I can get it published through one of the bigger houses.

I really don't care who publishes it. Most of the big named houses are all the same, in my opinion. I don't think I've ever not bought a book because the publisher.

And I know when you say "whip it into shape" that by the time he's through with it, I won't recognize it.

I think you'd be surprised.

#61

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 6:41pm

"Would you buy the published novel?"



It really depends on the story, but I would not say no, just because of it being written in first person.

---

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

Updated On: 8/8/06 at 06:41 PM

#62

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 6:48pm

I would look at it, see that it was written in present tense and then probably put it down.

UNLESS I had close friends that read it and said it was done in a way that it was bearable

Then i would get it at the library

#63

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:05pm

It seems to me that you asked a question and then got defensive because you aren't happy with the answers.

Anyway, I agree with the large majority of posters on this thread in saying that, unless you have a very specific narrative reason for telling your story in the first person present tense, it's going to feel distracting to readers. Writing it that way just for the sake of doing so if it doesn't serve the story is going to seem pretentious.

#64

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:07pm

Maybe I did get a little defensive.
I apologize.
I'm glad everyone's so used to the norm.
Ivan's home, but he's in the shower. I'll ask him if he finds the first 200 pages distracting.

#65

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:09pm

I don't want to start anything, but do you think Ivan may be a bit biased about his opinion, he being your boyfriend and all?

---

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia

#66

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:12pm

No. He knows good writing when he sees it.

#67

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:15pm

This thread is getting stupid.

Fiction Writer--If you want to do a story in first person, then do it!

Everyone else--There are more important things in this world to get uproarious about than this.

---

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

#68

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:24pm

Don't misunderstand, Fiction. I wasn't dissing Ivan's taste in books. I was simply playing devil's advocate, because there are people who find it hard to be truthful when pressed for an honest opinion, especially if it's by someone they know.

Please don't hate me. Shout at me, strike me, but say you don't hate me. (Okay, now I'm being melodramatic.)

---

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia

#69

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 9:28pm

very distracting.......

---

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

#70

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:55pm

You're going to find AN EDITOR before you have an agent or a publisher?

That makes a lot of sense. Sort of like hiring a house painter while you're still in high school for the place you're going to build after you graduate college and save up some money for a few years.

In other words, that's not how it's done. But good luck to you. You obviously know exactly what you're doing and the three people that I know of in this thread who actually work in publishing, obviously, must not.

---

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#71

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/9/06 at 12:06am

You're going to find AN EDITOR before you have an agent or a publisher?

Remember, he "already knows how to write." Why would he need an editor? To make unnecessary corrections? Come now.

#72

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/9/06 at 12:11am

"I'm going to try and find an editor and see if I can get it published through one of the bigger houses."

Still have that culinary-school application?

---

#73

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/9/06 at 2:53am

No, but I know the website.
Not that it matters, but -

#74

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/9/06 at 11:28am

Believe us, it matters.

---

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#75

re: Novels written in present tense

Posted: 8/9/06 at 11:28am

Why?
I don't live in San Francisco anymore.