tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post5185240133973779850..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Why so tense?Laurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-58910828060092182972012-09-29T12:28:48.641-04:002012-09-29T12:28:48.641-04:00I'm stopping by through the blog hop. I'm ...I'm stopping by through the blog hop. I'm a new follower and will be visiting often. <br />This is an *excellent* post on tense and such a creative way to demonstrate and visualize the proper way to use it.<br />See ya:)<br />Talynn Ink in the Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03117718811407968345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-3598429529684771772012-09-27T22:43:08.528-04:002012-09-27T22:43:08.528-04:00Popping in from the blog hop - tickled to find you...Popping in from the blog hop - tickled to find your blog!Donna B. McNicolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15209611782116113024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-59598295930163444502012-09-25T14:32:48.077-04:002012-09-25T14:32:48.077-04:00Stopping by from the Follow Swap Blog Hop to say h...Stopping by from the Follow Swap Blog Hop to say hello! Also, my stepdaughter actually does narrate her life as it's happening. I'm not sure if she actually enjoys the storytelling aspect or if she just likes to hear the sound of her own voice, but she narrates everything, so, "Seriously, do you go about your daily routine with a running commentary in your head describing what you're doing? Probably not." made me smile. :)Kay Kauffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548015800317146108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-53490303005438211602012-09-24T23:05:00.494-04:002012-09-24T23:05:00.494-04:00I never tend to focus on things like this when I w...I never tend to focus on things like this when I write, but sounds like I should get some practice insjphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05772883091207430753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-70801432033922758592011-06-07T22:19:06.293-04:002011-06-07T22:19:06.293-04:00Loved the discussion about present tense! I haven&...Loved the discussion about present tense! I haven't tried it, and I tend not to like it in novels, but I can see your point. Fascinating!Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-50370162656935278832011-06-07T19:48:01.063-04:002011-06-07T19:48:01.063-04:00I have to constantly watch my tenses. It's so...I have to constantly watch my tenses. It's so easy to shift tenses.Peaches Ledwidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13406881743264774589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-77251414998475874742011-06-07T14:48:16.292-04:002011-06-07T14:48:16.292-04:00This is so helpful Laurel... Thanks.This is so helpful Laurel... Thanks.Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-3814550942644797762011-06-07T13:20:13.915-04:002011-06-07T13:20:13.915-04:00I definitely switch tenses a lot when going being ...I definitely switch tenses a lot when going being a flashback and present in the story. This is something my critique partners have had to sift out for me. Your points are all so true, Laurel! I need to re-read with them in mind.Saumyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517289532769906489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-87386419144266431302011-06-07T12:39:30.020-04:002011-06-07T12:39:30.020-04:00Visual prompts are the only way I learn. Thank you...Visual prompts are the only way I learn. Thank you very much. I notice I do write in present more than past. It comes easier to me. Also, thank you for the information on the flashbacks. In my current WiP (written mostly in present), I have a lot of flashbacks. Your information has helped me understand the tense it should be in. <br />I will definitely put a sticky note on my screen with some verb tenses to help me focus. <br />I so need to focus. Thanks again.Christine Danekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00979611961825725350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-14817961186117051702011-06-07T09:50:43.278-04:002011-06-07T09:50:43.278-04:00Kelly: The visualization tools may help you hang o...Kelly: The visualization tools may help you hang onto a think-back mindset while you write.<br /><br />Christine: Because of your interior design background, I thought a visual prompt might be the most helpful way to keep you focused in the right storytelling timeframe.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-12243513593793878102011-06-07T09:46:28.895-04:002011-06-07T09:46:28.895-04:00Jessica: You're right that in present tense th...Jessica: You're right that in present tense the chacter can express hindsight about events BEFORE the story time frame. They just can't have hindsight on things they haven't yet experienced, right? That would be illogical. <br /><br />Personally, I found that blocking this knowledge from my character was really helpful for telling my story. She herself doesn't know if she's psychologically unraveling or if what she's experiencing is real. If the character knew what was real all along, she'd be tempted to filter too much, if you know what I mean.<br /><br />I happen to love present tense, but I'd never recommend it unless one has a compelling reason to do it. It is trickier for inexperienced writers.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-10405719849437715192011-06-07T09:37:31.041-04:002011-06-07T09:37:31.041-04:00Laura: I think reading helps more than grammar boo...Laura: I think reading helps more than grammar books. For me, visualization does too.<br /><br />Clarissa; I've seen some variation on this--some authors keep all narration in one tense and put the flashback portions in italics. That's more the exception than the rule, however.<br /><br />Angela: that's the "immediacy" effect. Some people love it, some hate it. Cutting off the character's knowledge of how the story will end certainly adds something, I think.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-15433638800492374072011-06-07T09:37:01.687-04:002011-06-07T09:37:01.687-04:00Thank you so much, Laurel. This helps me a ton.
T...Thank you so much, Laurel. This helps me a ton. <br />Thanks and I will be bookmarking this.Christine Danekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00979611961825725350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-50021745791176600142011-06-07T09:16:48.129-04:002011-06-07T09:16:48.129-04:00this was great. I nornally write in past tense, bu...this was great. I nornally write in past tense, but sometime I'll find a spot where present somehow managed to show up!Kelly Lymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773120663217816189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-23176470442872915282011-06-07T09:08:14.785-04:002011-06-07T09:08:14.785-04:00I write in present tense. Always. I don't know...I write in present tense. Always. I don't know why but it comes to me more naturally. And I don't think it stops a character from having hindsight. Just because things are being narrated as they are happening, doesn't mean the narrator hasn't had any life experience to draw from. String Bridge is in present tense, first person. And my MC has plenty of hindsight. What's stopping the narrator from analyzing what he/she has just done? I see this complaint about present tense all the time, and I just don't understand the quandary.Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-4734811829054541492011-06-07T08:54:00.462-04:002011-06-07T08:54:00.462-04:00Maybe it's taboo, but I love present tense bec...Maybe it's taboo, but I love present tense because it brings me into a story faster so I feel like I'm actually there.<br /><br />Some of my favorite authors who write in present tense are: Kristin Higgins, Suzanne Collins, Libba Bray, Simone Elkeles, and Laurie Halse Anderson.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12399082789777816445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-49899590013543500742011-06-07T08:13:15.816-04:002011-06-07T08:13:15.816-04:00I was wondering about flashbacks lately and you an...I was wondering about flashbacks lately and you answered the question exactly. Thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-16389751355028462902011-06-07T07:44:05.521-04:002011-06-07T07:44:05.521-04:00Great advice. I like reading books I like to see h...Great advice. I like reading books I like to see how they deal with it.Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.com