Poll time! *inquiring mind wants to know*

[syredronning]

Because I'm procrastinating, and the question of present & past tense is constantly popping up when I write Draws, the series in which I can neither keep consistent tenses nor character naming. Sigh ;)

[Poll #1474897]

Comments

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

I only answered for Reboot since I don't really read or write TOS. I tend to prefer past tense in writing, though sometimes present seems the better choice for a given fic. Similarly in reading I prefer past tense on the whole, but I chose "no preference" because present tense doesn't keep me from reading anything.

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

Good take on it. I guess tenses are much less of a deal breaker for readers than the POV thing (first or second person).

In fact, I usually wouldn't realize the tenses if not for writing myself and therefore often keeping a lookout on the current writing style of others in my fandom :)

[gokuma.livejournal.com]

As a reader, I prefer past tense - but generally, I think that present tense is good in shorter texts/drabbles; longer stories are better if they are told/written in past tense.

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

I think you're entirely right and that's possibly the take I should settle with. However, in a long series with shorter and longer stories, I guess I should keep to one tense :)

[ailurophile6.livejournal.com]

I have no preference, I don't understand why anyone cares, as long as it's consistent :)

I recently read a story in which one of the character's names changed from Sandra to Susan in the middle...boy, was that total beta failure!! I couldn't even bring myself to comment on the story.

(my icon is a hint to the fandom, lol)

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

In Draws, it's consistent within each story, but they are all present tense except for one in past tense, so it's possibly a little confusing if anyone reads the series in one go *chuckles*

The naming problem for me is more the question of writing Pike, Kirk, McCoy or Chris, Jim, Bones or something. But he, name change in the middle must, eh, suck :P *grins at icon*

[illariy.livejournal.com]

As a reader, I answered "no preference" in the poll. I do have a slight preference for past tense in longer fic but it won't keep me from reading or anything. One exception: if it's not an omniscient POV and the POV character dies at the end of the story and doesn't end up in afterlife or something, I actually prefer present tense. Just a weird quirk I have because otherwise, I am slightly puzzled at the end just when the character is supposed to have told their story. XD

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

LOL, good point about the killed POV *giggles* Will keep that in mind :)

[spikeface.livejournal.com]

I just can't help but write in present tense (although I'm sure there's tense slippage even within that). I remember I used to hate it as a reader, but now I've come to enjoy it.

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

Reboot is so much about being in the present, it's inviting present tense like whoa.

I got influenced by the new writers - I always wrote past tense in the past (sic *G*).

[vail-kagami.livejournal.com]

I don't care about the tense when I'm reading. And for writing, it's all a matter of what suits the story - and what I feel like writing at the time.
It only gets problematic when I write two stories at the same time, one in present, one in past tense. I tend to randomly switch tenses because I get knots in my brain.

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know the "knots in brain" effect, and that what the story demands might be a special tense.

The survey IMO shows that most readers don't really care for the tenses (or at least probably wouldn't stop reading even if it's not their preferred tense).

[igrockspock.livejournal.com]

I am utterly incapable of writing in past tense. It makes the story feel far less vivid to me, and the one time I tried, I got myself ridiculously confused about grammar. I don't really notice past vs. present in other stories though.

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

Vice versa here, the first fic in present tense was utter chaos, tense-mix wise :)

I predominantly wrote past tense in TOS, but Reboot feels better in present tense.

[weepingnaiad.livejournal.com]

It's weird, when I'm drafting, I often draft in present tense and then have to switch it all. Haven't yet posted a story in present tense, but I have to admit there are times when it seems like Reboot needs very much PRESENT.

I have other fanfic writers that experiment... you know, try first person, different styles... guess I'm too much of a coward and still so new at all this... well, it feels new, anyway. ;)

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

YES. I have that "Reboot needs present tense" effect too and so my reboot fic is predominantly present tense. I like to experiment though less with tenses (clause chaos, duh) but it sucked me in.

[cyranothe2nd.livejournal.com]

Past tense allows the storyteller character to examine and to explain some of the actions taken at the time the story takes place. It adds another layer of meta-analysis and I like that. But there's also the chance of the unreliable narrator, who changes the story in order to make himself look better. But again, that possibility is intriguing too.

Present tense works well in the author wants to instill a sense of urgency to the story. Not as much room for analysis or dwelling on the internal narrative here but it does work for Trek particularly well because Trek is at heart an adventure story.

However, if I had to choose it would be past tense because I like the ability to let the character explain himself with the benefit of hindsight.

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

I choose the tense based on the story. With some short things, I want the sense of immediacy that present tense gives. however, since I almost always write limited 3rd instead of 1st person POV, present can get wiggly.

I almost always, while writing, slip into present tense, for some reason. I drive my betas INSANE. I think it's because as I write, I'm visualising, and "telling myself the story" a lot of the time, and when we tell a story verbally as opposed to in prose, many English speakers almost ALWAYS slip into present tense. It's a weird quirk of spoken language.