Hi all,
,
What are your opinions on this? I have written my children novel in present tense and have received feedback, is better to write in past tense. There will be so much work to change it to past tense. Does it really matter?
Any comments are very much appreciated.
Many thanks.
Kind regards,
Melinda
Hi, Melinda!
There is a wide difference of opinion on this subject. I chose to write my last book (for 3-to-8-year-olds) in the present tense. I have also advised a 13yo user of this web-site (Hello, Kashaf!) to use the present tense in her novel. (See https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/profile/kashaf-noor/work/55ed6cc3cf09c0e5a0d4a7d2 It's GOOD!)
There are several advantages:
a) (Especially in someone like Kashaf's case): For people writing in a 2nd or 3rd language, irregular verbs are trickier in the past tenses. You also have to decide WHICH past tense (pluperfect, simple past, past continuous, etc.) for EACH sentence.
b) (For VERY young readers) The present tense is easier to understand (also true for readers struggling with a 2nd or 3rd language).
c) If your book is ever a huge success, the translator's job is MUCH easier if it's all in the present tense. (As I also translate, this was one of the important reasons for my decision re: my last book. See http://jimmsfairytales.com/olivia.htm - ALSO good! ;p)
d) This is MY personal opinion: I think that the present tense can lend a feeling of immediacy to a book: help the reader feel like they're LIVING the story.
e) In YOUR case, the book is already written in the present, and changing it would - as you say - entail a lot of work. YOU have to decide whether this work is worthwhile.
Obviously, there are advantages to the past tense(s). I will let others deal with them...