In what tense should you write your story?
The two most common and used time tenses are:
- present tense
- past tense
Present Tense:
Key words:
form of be (am/is/are)
Phrases like: now, at this moment
Writing in this tense means, the story is happening as the reader reads it.
It is actively happening.
Your characters get thrown into something as it continues.
This doesn't necessarily mean that your story is happening right now, even historical fiction is written in present tense.
I tend to write in this tense.
Pros:
- good for writing action (there is a difference between "the bomb exploded" and "suddenly the bomb explodes")
- the story feels alive, not like some already told tale
Cons:
- when writing flashbacks, the fluent style of the story is disrupted - this also counts for memories a character has
Example:
I'm walking down to the store.
At this moment, a car drives by and I can only spot her face through the dull window.
Past Tense:
Key words:
form of was (was/were)
Phrases like: yesterday, a week ago, happened
Writing in this tense means your story is already done before the reader reads it. Yes, this may sound confusing, but it is different to actually writing in present tense.
Writing in past tense usually equals to a low level of action or tension.
Pros:
- the story has a calmer sense
- writing flashbacks doesn't disrupt the fluent style of your story (sometimes flashbacks aren't necessary)
Cons:
- writing action in this style may appear harder
Example:
The train was crammed and I could barely turn around.
In the back, I heard some commotion.
In the end, it is your choice what tense to write in.
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