Feeling Tense?
November 14th 2006 08:30
I don't normally talk about writing on here but I just wanted to chat a little about the use of tense in books and short stories and the like.
For the longest time, I thought that books could only ever be written in past tense.
EG.
"David went to the fridge and he poured himself a beer. It was a good beer, and he enjoyed it."
Occasionally I came across some stuff in written in present tense but it always felt jarring and usually the books I read it in made it seem like a gimmick the writer was using just to get an 'otherworldliness' across (if that makes sense) for certain sequences of their story.
Then I read 'Grendel' by John Gardner. Most of this book is written in present tense and it is fantastic and I finally came to an understanding of how it could be used.
EG.
"David goes to the fridge and pours himself a beer. It's good beer, and he enjoys it".
It took me a little time to get used to it but now I'm loving it when it gets used properly, and I now also occasionally write in it.
But I wonder... are there any books written predominantly in future tense?
EG.
"David will go to the fridge and he will pour himself a beer. It will be a good beer, and he will enjoy it".
It doesn't really seem all that workable to me. It sounds like it would get old and boring very quickly and that it would be near impossible to squeeze any drama out of it. I'm sure someone out there has tried it though, and someone out there will most probably eventually nail it, if it hasn't been nailed already.
Feel free to leave me a comment if you know of any books written in such a fashion.
For the longest time, I thought that books could only ever be written in past tense.
EG.
"David went to the fridge and he poured himself a beer. It was a good beer, and he enjoyed it."
Occasionally I came across some stuff in written in present tense but it always felt jarring and usually the books I read it in made it seem like a gimmick the writer was using just to get an 'otherworldliness' across (if that makes sense) for certain sequences of their story.
Then I read 'Grendel' by John Gardner. Most of this book is written in present tense and it is fantastic and I finally came to an understanding of how it could be used.
EG.
"David goes to the fridge and pours himself a beer. It's good beer, and he enjoys it".
It took me a little time to get used to it but now I'm loving it when it gets used properly, and I now also occasionally write in it.
But I wonder... are there any books written predominantly in future tense?
EG.
"David will go to the fridge and he will pour himself a beer. It will be a good beer, and he will enjoy it".
It doesn't really seem all that workable to me. It sounds like it would get old and boring very quickly and that it would be near impossible to squeeze any drama out of it. I'm sure someone out there has tried it though, and someone out there will most probably eventually nail it, if it hasn't been nailed already.
Feel free to leave me a comment if you know of any books written in such a fashion.
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Your post has got me thinking, I can't think of any books that are written in the future tense. Like you said, I wonder how workable it is? Hmmm, I'm pondering...
Tracy
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior