What tense should be used in writing a story or review?
Moderator: Official Reviewer Representatives
- Kaushik Roy
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 13 Feb 2021, 06:00
- Bookshelf Size: 0
Re: What tense should be used in writing a story or review?
-
- Posts: 329
- Joined: 02 Mar 2020, 03:31
- Currently Reading: Rise of the Savior
- Bookshelf Size: 55
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-wildflowertheorist.html
- Latest Review: Deadly Waters: The Vietnam Naval War And Its Aftermath by Randy Miller
-Friedrich Nietzsche
- Review Writer
- Posts: 251
- Joined: 06 Mar 2021, 09:36
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 70
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gideonwrites-review.html
- Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
-
- Posts: 41
- Joined: 03 Jun 2021, 01:58
- Currently Reading: Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
- Bookshelf Size: 2
- Nonso Samuelson
- Posts: 936
- Joined: 27 Mar 2019, 19:01
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 166
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nonso-samuelson.html
- Latest Review: Doctoroo & the Case of the Hacking Hippo by Dr. Rachel B. Wellner
I think being consistent is more important than whatever tense rule there is. I personally write mine the way you do; I try as much as possible to stick to present tense when summarizing the book, but I switch to past tense in the analysis section of my review. I feel it makes more sense because I'm explaining what I "felt" about the book.Rosemary Wright wrote: ↑11 Dec 2017, 08:18 Sometimes, some writers get confused about what tense to use in narrating a new story. They ponder if they should use the present tense or past tense in terms of verbs and the action of the story.
It's proper to use either past tense or present tense in writing a story. I use either of them in narrating a story but I prefer using the present tense in the summary part of my reviews. I make sure I stay consistent with a particular tense because it's atrocious to use both present tense and past tense at the same time.
What do you have to tell us about this topic?
There are times, though, when summarizing a story will only make sense in a particular tense. In such cases, you should "acquiesce" to the tense that makes the most sense for the story.
- Stephanie Runyon
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 3120
- Joined: 17 Aug 2019, 06:37
- Favorite Book: The Omicron Six
- Currently Reading: The White Coat Effect
- Bookshelf Size: 1652
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stephanie-runyon.html
- Latest Review: Juris Ex Machina by John W. Maly
- Reading Device: B07R3HTWLN
Present tense is considered active writing style. It is sometimes harder to use when writing a review because it is something occuring now and the phrase "to be, has been" both fall under passive writing. I found story writing is easier using this style.
"Don't try to keep up with me, I live on the edge too thin to see." Ryan Upchurch
"See, one man's inconvenience is another's joy." NF
- Charlize Venter
- Posts: 164
- Joined: 30 Nov 2021, 00:15
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 34
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-charlize-venter.html
- Latest Review: Mysteries Of the First Instant by Daniel Friedmann
With a review you are recounting your experience(past-tense) or giving your analysis(either prest or past, stick to one or the other).
Consider what you are writing and adapt accordingly
- Samuel Mamo
- Posts: 232
- Joined: 23 Dec 2021, 03:14
- Favorite Book: The Maestro Monologue
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 36
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-samuel-mamo.html
- Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel