While tense might not be the first thing you think about when you start writing, the right tense can make or break your story. Let’s explore how to master this often-overlooked aspect of writing.
Tense determines the time frame of your narrative of your story. It significantly impacts the reader’s experience. While there are various options, the most common ones used in fiction are past, present, and future.
Past Tense
Past tense is the most common tense used in fiction. It allows you to narrate events that have already occurred, creating a sense of nostalgia and distance. This tense is particularly effective for traditional storytelling, as it allows the reader to experience the story as a completed event.
Past tense is used to describe actions or events that have already happened. It’s the most common in storytelling.
Examples:
- Regular verbs: walked, talked, played, worked
- Irregular verbs: went, saw, done, been
Here’s a sentence: “Yesterday, I walked to the store and bought some milk.”
In this sentence, “walked” and “bought” both indicate that these actions occurred in the past.
Present Tense
While less common, present tense can be used to create a sense of immediacy and urgency. This can be particularly effective in genres like thrillers and horror, where it can heighten tension and suspense. However, overuse can make the writing feel disjointed or forced. It’s important to use this judiciously and only when it serves a specific purpose.
It is used to describe actions or states that are happening now, or that are generally true.
Simple Present: Used to express habitual actions, general truths, or scheduled events.
- Example: “I play tennis every weekend.”
- Example: “The sun rises in the east.”
Present Continuous: Used to express actions happening at the moment of speaking or actions happening around now.
- Example: “She is reading a book right now.”
- Example: “They are studying for the exam.”
Present Perfect Tense: Used to express actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or actions that have been completed recently.
- Example: “I have lived in this city for ten years.”
- Example: “She has just finished her homework.”
Present Perfect Continuous: Used to express actions that started in the past and are still continuing, often emphasizing the duration of the action.
- Example: “We have been working on this project for hours.”
- Example: “It has been raining all day.”
Future Tense
Future tense is rarely used in fiction, as it can limit the reader’s ability to connect with the characters and the story. However, it can be effective in speculative fiction or to create a sense of anticipation. For example, a story told from the perspective of a time traveler might use future tense to describe events that have not yet occurred.
Future tense is used to describe actions or events that will happen in the future.
Common ways to express future narrative time:
- “Will” + base form of the verb:
- Example: “I will go to the store tomorrow.”
- “Be going to” + base form of the verb:
- Example: “We are going to watch a movie tonight.”
Here’s a sentence example: “Tomorrow, I will study for my exam and will go to the library.”
By carefully considering the impact of different narrative times, you can choose the best tense to suit your story and engage your readers.
Mastering Narrative Time Usage: An Editor’s Guide
To ensure a smooth and engaging reading experience, it’s crucial to maintain consistent tense usage throughout your writing. Here are some tips to help you master this essential skill:
Plan Ahead: Before you start writing, decide on the narrative time you want to use and stick to it. This will help you maintain consistency and avoid unnecessary shifts in perspective.
Be Consistent: Once you’ve chosen a tense, be consistent throughout your entire story. Avoid shifting between past, present, and future tense without a clear reason. Inconsistent tense usage can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of your narrative.
I’ve mentioned consistency in every one of our posts so far… Why? Because inconsistency is one of the biggest issues we find in books we edit. Regardless of the narrative time you choose, it’s crucial to maintain consistency throughout your writing. Shifting tenses can confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of the narrative.
Avoid Tense Shifts: If you must shift narrative time, do so intentionally and for a specific purpose. For example, you might use a shift in tense to signal a flashback or a dream sequence. However, these shifts should be used sparingly and with care.
Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask a beta reader or editor to review your work for consistency in tense. A fresh pair of eyes can help you identify any unintentional shifts or errors.
A (Slightly Relevant) Side Note: The Perils of Passive Voice
Something that often goes hand-in-hand with past narrative time, is passive voice.
While the passive voice has its place, it’s generally best to avoid it in creative writing. Overuse of passive voice can make your writing dull, vague, and less engaging.
Why Avoid Passive Voice?
- Lack of Clarity: Passive voice can obscure the subject of the sentence, making it less clear who is performing the action. For example, “The ball was thrown by the boy” is less direct than “The boy threw the ball.”
- Weak and Wordy: Passive voice often leads to longer, more convoluted sentences. Active voice, on the other hand, is more concise and impactful.
- Reduced Engagement: Passive voice can create a sense of distance between the reader and the story. Active voice, in contrast, draws the reader in and keeps them engaged.
Active voice can make your writing more dynamic, concise, and impactful. By understanding the nuances of tense and applying these tips, you can create compelling narratives that engage your readers.
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