Past VS Present (In First Person)

First of, don't stress about choosing a tense. Its important, but not THAT important. Now here's what I learned in my quest for the "perfect" tense for my current novel.

First of all you should know that Present Tense is the more difficult tense to pull off. Foremost because is is a newer trend. Previously books were only written in past tense. (Generally speaking)  Readers are accustom, and familiar with this (Past Tense) style of writing. Therefore, its easier to make the Past Tense meld into the background, while Present, if not done right, will stand out like a sore thumb.

For this reason I suggest to beginning writers (unless you have a real passion for present tense) to write their first novel in past tense. Save the present for a later story. There are so many new things to be learned and worked on, don't add a unusual tense to the mix. (Though I know I know, sometimes you have your heart set on that Present Tense, if so go for it! More power to you. :) )

I'd say 99% of the first person books I have read have been Past Tense. You also have probably read more Past Tense than Present Tense books. So I suggest if you do decide to write in Present, read some well written Present Tense books. (I have a few issues with the book itself, but Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" Does an excellent job with writing in the present tense.) If you settle on Past Tense, get some good books that are in first person Past and study how the author uses the tense as a tool. Reading and writing are two of the greatest things you can do to help yourself as a writer. You can't read to much.

Another helpful exercise is to write a scene or two (Dialogue, description, action, or back story) In one tense and then rewrite them in the other. One should be easier to write, reads better, or more interesting. Get a few friends (Or your mom. :) ) to read them and give you input. Ask which which tense is preferred and why.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about.

A) The overpowering sent of lavender told me Arula had been here, even before I even noticed the pink bandages on my bed. I braced myself before I turned and looked in the mirror. Ash had warned me about my face, but still I hadn't expected what I saw in the mirror. I gripped the table for balance and stood for endless minutes staring at my reflection; the reflection I didn't recognize. Tiny cuts were scattered about my face, and on my left cheek - only millimeters below the eye - a gash that badly needed stitches. My lip was cracked and the taste of the salty, metallic blood still linguerd in my mouth. My face had definitely taken the brunt of the flying glass. It wasn't me, couldn't be, I told myself over and over. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I forced myself to turn away.


B) The overpowering sent of Arula's lavender nearly smothers me as I open the door to my quarters. I immediately notice the basket of neatly wrapped pink bandages on the bed, no doubt Arula had been here, taking care of me like always. I walk across the room, my head down. I take a deep breath and bracing myself, turn to look in the mirror.  Ash had warned me about my face, but still I hadn't been expecting the gruesome reflection that now stares back at me. I bite my lip and grab the edge of the table to steady myself. I stand there for endless minutes just staring back at my reflection; the reflection I don''t recognize. Tiny cuts are scattered about my face, and on my left cheek - only millimeters below the eye - a gash that badly needs stitches. The sharp pain and the salty taste of metallic blood makes me aware of a cut across my lip. My face had definitely taken the brunt of the flying glass. My hand touches my cheek, as though I need to test and be sure that the reflection really belongs to me. My lip trembles, It wasn't me, couldn't be, I tell myself over and over. As tears roll down my cheeks, I force myself to turn away.


Of course A is past tense and B is present. I had fun writing both, and the exercise was good for my writing as well.  I got input from a couple good friends as well as family. (I choose Past if you were wondering)  Now, back to the tenses.


When I began my novel I needed to hurry up and decide on a tense before I started writing. So I researched it and got people's opinions. There were people on both sides of the fence. The Present Tense readers who liked the more unusual tense, feeling as though the story was unfolding as they read. Then there were the Past Tense readers who found present tense harder to get into and liked the past tense they had grown up reading. Now, there are more people who prefer past tense and don't care much for present. However, well written present tense is just as good as past tense. (At least in my mind, as it took me a bit to even notice "The Hunger Games" was written in the present tense! {Talk about an oh duh moment!} That is how you want it. You want it so natural that the reader doesn't notice the tense at all.)

Now although I took into consideration that more readers like past better than present. Don't write for the readers, write for you! Choose the tense you want to write with, it'll make that 400 page novel much easier to write!  Besides, you can always change it later on, or save the tense for another story.

To summarize:
Read a lot of book in the tense you choose.
Practice both tenses and see which way you prefer to write.
Don't stress to much, you can change the tense later if you want to.

So, what tense do you like to write in or read? Did you like my paragraph written in past tense, or present? Share your thoughts bellow!