I can't decide....?

Question

whether to use the present tense of past tense in my story.
At first, I used the past tense, but then I was curious to see what it'd look like in the present, and then I couldn't decide what to do.
How will I know which is better?

Answer 1

None of those can be better. You have to decide as a writter what do you want to tell and which atmosphere to create. Usually sreenplays are written in present tense. Many of the novels are written in past tense, as if it already happened and the writter is telling us a story/his experience. Depends also what's your naration. If it is a narator which doesn't know what will happen and goes thruoght the story with us, then use present tense. But if you narator is omniscient, most probably you will use past tense. But present is not out of the choice. Think. See. Decide.

Answer 2

It all depends on how you've written the plot sometimes. I had a story that was past tense right up unitil the 'main fight against the bad guy' then it was present tense. Though most of the time I use past tense because it's easier. Somehow I get sick of writing 'I do this, then that... and all of a sudden I feel this..." Present tense does sound more personal though, like the author is actually there when the story is happening... as opposed to past tense that's just a story being retold.

Answer 3

I like to read in the present tense. I think that it easier to understand

Answer 4

You should use both, according to the circumstances. You can't write a novel using just present or past. Think

Answer 5

write in the present but at the end do something that changes the story and all along it ment the past

Answer 6

You should probably use whichever one makes the story flow better. But it's really up to you.

Answer 7

I prefer present, but whatever seems right to you.....

Answer 8

With the one that was your first choice.