tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post1432595247163058567..comments2024-01-30T12:33:15.670+01:00Comments on LesleyW's Book Nook: Present Tense ProblemsLesleyWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059048442986942270noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-20530213649679876582009-12-17T23:44:12.499+01:002009-12-17T23:44:12.499+01:00Nicole - I think that's my preference as well....Nicole - I think that's my preference as well. Using it to highlight a situation. I think that's why it worked so well for me in the Bitten prologue - that Kelley Armstrong wanted to highlight the immediacy of being in the wolf form.LesleyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14059048442986942270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-30083483565927686232009-12-17T23:38:06.207+01:002009-12-17T23:38:06.207+01:00I much prefer present tense to be used as a tool, ...I much prefer present tense to be used as a tool, rather than the entire narrative. Use it to shock me into realizing something's different, or to make a character's dreams more intense.<br /><br />"Moongazer" (M. Mancusi, I believe) has two separate parts to the narrative, one in past and one in present. Once you figure out the trick, it's an easy way to pick out who the narrator is.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415819230337026236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-9025474028333822902009-12-17T21:20:18.014+01:002009-12-17T21:20:18.014+01:00DBR - I can read a little bit of present tense. Bu...DBR - I can read a little bit of present tense. But so far I've struggled to read a whole book without my brain feeling like it's melting.<br /><br />I managed Grimspace by Ann Aguirre okay. I'm pretty sure that's present tense.LesleyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14059048442986942270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-91438293813637006302009-12-16T08:39:52.243+01:002009-12-16T08:39:52.243+01:00Present tense is okay, as long as it's first p...Present tense is okay, as long as it's first person present tense. Third person present gets a little confusing ... who is this guy and why is he talking to me? LOLD.B.Reynoldshttp://dbreynolds.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-83271965130239584992009-12-15T23:45:35.604+01:002009-12-15T23:45:35.604+01:00Nicole - I think the problem I have is exactly the...Nicole - I think the problem I have is exactly the same.<br /><br />Jenre - :), I'm looking forward to reading your review.<br /><br />Kris - it's making that initial commitment. I'm waiting to read a few more reviews.LesleyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14059048442986942270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-21663498464723960612009-12-15T23:30:52.279+01:002009-12-15T23:30:52.279+01:00I feel exactly the same way, Lesley. It puts me o...I feel exactly the same way, Lesley. It puts me off initially and I find I have to stick with it and hopefully find myself engaged with the story.Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18281267776361355788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-11069442717791773842009-12-15T08:39:58.695+01:002009-12-15T08:39:58.695+01:00I'm actually reading The Strongest Shape at th...I'm actually reading <i>The Strongest Shape</i> at the moment and whilst it took me a few pages to get used to the present tense, I've stopped even noticing it now.<br /><br />I was put off getting it for the reasons you have said. I read the extract and thought 'ugh, this is difficult to read', but got it anyway after lots of people recommended it at Good Reads. I'm glad I've stuck with it as it's a really good book.Jenrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492693697232134724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982413406210688800.post-77150468956627908222009-12-14T23:35:17.981+01:002009-12-14T23:35:17.981+01:00For me, I think the present tense issue is mostly ...For me, I think the present tense issue is mostly because it's easier for me to suspend disbelief in the past tense than in the present. Especially in first person narratives, it's hard to accept a story that is supposed to be happening "right now."<br /><br />Also, a lot of authors have trouble writing present tense. It's so easy to accidentally allow some future bit into the narrative.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415819230337026236noreply@blogger.com