All writers struggle with certain creative decisions. First, whose story are they telling? That leads to questions regarding point of view. Next, when is the story happening? In other words is it happening now or in the past or in the future? If we’re writing in the present time, do we write in the present tense? Some people say No! Absolutely not. You must write in the past tense. But more and more writers are selecting present tense. Why?
Please note, I said unconventional. That’s because readers are accustomed to reading in the past tense. Even the most modern spy thrillers are written in the past tense. To make the decision to write in the present, the writer must have just cause.
Let me present some reasons writers might chose to write in the present and some examples of good writing, using the present tense.
- The writer wants to put the action right in front of us–in our face, so to speak. We want our readers there, not on the outside peering in.
- The readership is young. Young adult and middle grade books are often written in the present tense. Those readers like crisp writing that grabs them and won’t let them go. The present tense enables writers to accomplish that sense of urgency.
- The author wants to put us inside a character’s head. All authors do that with their point-of-view characters, but if we choose the third person, we give some detachment. Perhaps the goal is to write in the third person so the reader isn’t the character but looking at the character from afar. If the author then chooses the present tense, the reflection of that third-person character becomes clearer, sharper, like honing the end of a pencil.
- There is a time change. In other words the writer sets part of the book in the present day time and part of the book in the past. Writing in the present for those present day times is a way to clue readers about timeframe without telling them. It’s subtle but effective.
It’s to bring what is happening in the story to the front and center. I am grateful for the detachment in some books. For example, if your book describes disturbing times in history (the Holocaust, lynching in the South, wars, torture) or violent scenes, such as rape, the reader needs some space. Writing about those kinds of frightening events in the present tense creates too much discomfort.
Here are some examples of writers who chose the present tense for their stories:
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. The author chose to differentiate times in this book. The story begins in the present tense, and the chapters devoted to the protagonist are in the present tense. In alternating chapters, the story moves in time to the investigation into the death, which is in the past tense. As a reader, I was glad to be in that place for a short while because the chapters in the present seemed desperate. My heartbeat rose with each page turn until I got to the next chapter in the past where I could take a breath.
Here’s a clip from I Let You Go. “She crouches beside him, searching frantically for a pulse. Watches her breath form a solitary white cloud in the air. Sees the dark shadow form beneath his head and hears her own wail as though it comes from someone else.” Notice the intensity of the scene.
Fredrik Backman chose present tense for his hugely popular book, A Man Called Ove. You might wonder about the choice of present tense. But, in my view, the author wanted the reader to experience Ove first-hand. He was such a different sort of person. Perhaps giving us the detachment of the past tense wouldn’t have enabled us to know Ove. Written in the third person but in the present tense is a unique choice for a writer. It gives detachment but with urgency. The readers isn’t completely in the mind of Ove. Instead, the reader is meeting Ove and learning about him but with a clear sense of who he is, not who he was.
Here’s a clip from A Man Called Ove: “It’s four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon in November. He’s turned off the radiators, the coffee percolator and all the lights. Oiled the wooden countertop in the kitchen, in spite of those mules at IKEA saying the wood does not need oiling. In this house all wooden worktops get an oiling every six months whether it’s necessary or not.”
Backman uses the same technique in Britt-Marie Was Here. I’ve venture to say for the same reasons.
In Just What Kind of Mother are You? Paula Daly chose present tense and first person. The choice put the reader right in the center of the action. If you disliked what the character did, that’s too bad. You are in it with her. She also chose to write from the present tense in the parts dedicated to the villain. Here the reader is in third person, but still right in the center of the action. In my view Daly was quite effective with the use of present tense.
Here’s a bit from Just What Kind of Mother are You? “I open up the back door and the dogs rush out, just as the cats rush in. Winter’s here early. Snow had been predicted and there’s been a heavy fall overnight. The chill seeps into my bones in an instant. I hear the cry of an animal carry across the valley on the thin air and shut the door quickly.”
Some readers do not like the present tense. Why? Perhaps they are unused to it. Or, perhaps they prefer the bit of detachment. As writers, however, we must determine what will give our books the most impact. This is an important decision and one not taken lightly. I wouldn’t write in the present, just to do it. You need a good reason.
Do you enjoy books written in the present or the past? Share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.
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Great post! I used to HATE present tense, basically for the reasons you said. I wasn’t used to it, but I also had this strange fixation that the words I’d already read ought to shift into past as I turned the page, otherwise they were all happening at once. It was silly, I know.
Then I read several fantastic books written in present tense, and suddenly it *clicked*. Present tense brings the reader closer faster, and it is a natural (and easy) way to maintain an emotional connection with character, especially if the character is an unreliable narrator. Plus, the verbs look cleaner on the page without all the “ed”s and “had”s. I recently revised a MS to present for these reasons (…and there’s time travel in that novel, too, so, yes, it was extra confusing all in past tense).
Every tense has its place, but I’m sticking to my guns about using present when writing young adult sci-fi. It grew on me!
Hi Jess, Thanks for your comment. Indeed, present tense has to grow on readers. But, once it does, it really heightens the reading. To me, it can also create more suspense. But, again, there has to be a good reason to use it. As with so many things writers must decide, tense is one, and it can make a huge difference! I appreciate your stopping by today.
My latest WIP is in first person present. I hadn’t planned on it, but from the first page I kept slipping into it, so I decided to stop fighting and just go with it. But its also the first book I’ve ever written in first, so maybe that part of it. Thanks for sharing.
If your book kept slipping into the first person, then that must be the best place for it. But, proof it very carefully because I have noted when I use first person, there are a few instances when I accidentally type “said” because we’re so used to doing that!
I did my first mystery novel in present first person. At first it was easy. I guess I put on her skin and lived most of it in my mind. But as the editor got involved it had its own challenges. I’m not sure I’d do it again.
Great learning experience though. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Most editors don’t like the present tense, especially for the first book, unless the book is YA or Middle Grade. I like that you “put on her skin and lived her story in your mind.” Thanks for stopping by! Joan
I like both. I enjoy present tense especially if the narrator is someone I can identify with, is like me in mannerisms, politics, faults, etc., because I can put myself in her shoes. I’ve written in both and find both challenging. This is a terrific post! Thanks, Joan!
Thanks, Raimey for your input. As a reader, I’m like you. I like reading both. But, I’ve had readers and writers tell me they hate reading in the present tense. I don’t get that. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Personally, it’s best if I don’t notice the tense (that is, as a reader). Then, the author was successful.
Wow! This is well thought out material, Joan. Thanks so much for sharing it with Author Toolbox readers. I haven’t ever written in the present tense. Hmm…
Hi Victoria,
I’m sure you’ve read books written in the present tense. More and more of them are coming out. It’s definitely something authors need to consider!
Since I read a lot of YA, I end up with a solid balance of first person present and third person past. It’s probably why I have never had an issue with first person present. I love the examples you provided here.
For writing, my first several works were in first person present, and I even started transitioning one WIP from 1st present to 3rd past. I ended up writing a selection of scenes in 1st present, 1st past, and 3rd past to see how it changed the way the story was told. It was much harder than I expected to rewrite them, but I learned so much about the pros and cons of each.
Yes, Erika, writing in both tenses in one WIP is quite a challenge. I did that as well. I’ve now changed the portions in the present tense back to the past because I’ve reorganized the story. But writing in the present brings a new feeling to the book. I liked doing it and it makes me wonder if YA is primarily in the present, why aren’t other books? Are we too old for the urgency of the present tense? Just curious…
I like past tense better mostly, but I have enjoyed books that are really well written in present tense. If you use present tense, it has to be done well. I’ve always written in past tense, but have thought about trying present. I feel like it might be harder.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Charity,
I usually write in the past tense as well (except for my current WIP). But, I find I’m reading more and more in the present tense. I wonder if that’s a trend or just me? Thanks for stopping by.
I love to practice writing scenes in different tenses. Sometimes the triggers my imagination and gives me a new way to look at a scene. I usually decide at the beginning of a first draft what tense I’ll write in or if all the scenes will be in the same tense. Lots of fun.
Hi Kristina,
Writing the same scene in a different tense sounds like a good exercise. I may have to give that a go! Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for sharing this piece.
I definitely think I tend towards past tense writing, but part of that is how dominant that is. I haven’t seen too many pieces that discuss the merits and techniques of present tense in such depth. You’ve definitely given me some things to think about.
Hi Adam,
Thanks for stopping by. Indeed there’s so much to think about as writers. Most of what I read says new writers should stick with the past tense. But, I’m finding a lot of writers deviating from that advice because of some of the reasons mentioned in my post. A good way to start, if you’re not used to writing in the present tense, is to write a short story in the present or as one writer suggested here, a single scene. See how that feels. Does it change what you are trying to accomplish with your story? Like everything else, we have to play around with tense.
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