Comments on: Do you find writing a novel in first person and present tense best?

By: Janie

Janie — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:29:59 +0000

I prefer third person, past tense. Present tense just annoys me, and 1st person is too overdone I guess. Plus, I can connect with third person better.
References :

By: jg3232323232323232

jg3232323232323232 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:42:59 +0000

I like 3 rd person because it allows you to see all characters. Yet I think it would be good to characterize all the other characters very well with different opions from other people not just the narrarator in your book so that you can devdlop the story well. I think present tense is best but flashbacks would be cool.
References :

By: BleuBleu

BleuBleu — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:30:59 +0000

Well, first of all you have what my first English teacher would call, " Poetic or creative writer’s license." It is your novel and you may do whatever you believe is best but if you truly want my opinion, I’ll be glad to give it.
I find exciting novels written in present great and when they are written in first person I find them often quite personal and inspiring. It all depends on what you hope your novel to say to your readers. Good luck with your novels and I hope this answer helps!
References :

By: mr.treadmill

mr.treadmill — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:15:59 +0000

I prefer the third person so the reader feels like he is present, but unseen & not part of the story. This gives greater flexibility since the reader is in a position to know various thing that are going on that no individual character could know.
References :

By: thecangopher

thecangopher — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:47:59 +0000

I think first person present tense is a bit awkward for the reader UNLESS your using it as a narrative device: it somehow furthers or develops the story in some way. Bloggers use first person present but their not usually telling stories, they’re just relating moments. But if your doing it just to do it…Id say stick to first person past tense – like a bio type story, or a third person narrative.
References :

By: Jasey Rae

Jasey Rae — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:01:59 +0000

As am I. I tried writing past tense, but, I don’t know, I feel like I am telling the story so I should tell it as it is happening..not how it did happen. I think it is all about what you are comfortable with. I wouldn’t change my story to fit what other people prefer because it just doesn’t work for me.
Good luck with your novel.
References :