What tense should be used in writing a story or review?
Moderator: Official Reviewer Representatives
- Rosemary Wright
- Bookshelves Moderator
- Posts: 847
- Joined: 14 Nov 2017, 03:06
- Favorite Book: Spanky
- Currently Reading: Culture Man
- Bookshelf Size: 689
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rosemary-wright.html
- Latest Review: Gods Whisper Always Near by Sharon Williams
- Reading Device: Android
What tense should be used in writing a story or review?
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?
- Yahnieh
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 22 Oct 2017, 11:34
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Insightsintobooks729
- Posts: 293
- Joined: 04 Dec 2017, 10:28
- Currently Reading: Meet your soul
- Bookshelf Size: 25
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-insightsintobooks729.html
- Latest Review: "Discovering My Life's Purpose: From Tragedy to Triumph" by Bridgid Ruden
- Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
I agree, there are rules that should be followed when writing a story, or anything for that matter.
- Rosemary Wright
- Bookshelves Moderator
- Posts: 847
- Joined: 14 Nov 2017, 03:06
- Favorite Book: Spanky
- Currently Reading: Culture Man
- Bookshelf Size: 689
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rosemary-wright.html
- Latest Review: Gods Whisper Always Near by Sharon Williams
- Reading Device: Android
Good to know but it'll be quite helpful if someone tells us about these rules.Insightsintobooks729 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2017, 12:08I agree, there are rules that should be followed when writing a story, or anything for that matter.
- MrsCatInTheHat
- Posts: 3817
- Joined: 31 May 2016, 11:53
- Favorite Book: Cry the Beloved Country
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 376
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mrscatinthehat.html
- Latest Review: Marc Marci by Larry G. Goldsmith
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
- Publishing Contest Votes: 0
- Rosemary Wright
- Bookshelves Moderator
- Posts: 847
- Joined: 14 Nov 2017, 03:06
- Favorite Book: Spanky
- Currently Reading: Culture Man
- Bookshelf Size: 689
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rosemary-wright.html
- Latest Review: Gods Whisper Always Near by Sharon Williams
- Reading Device: Android
Thanks CatinTheHat. It's permitted to use either of them. Its just being consistent with the particular tense you choose.CatInTheHat wrote: ↑16 Dec 2017, 09:21 As long as you are consistent within the review, whichever you do should be fine.
- Yahnieh
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 22 Oct 2017, 11:34
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Rosemary Wright
- Bookshelves Moderator
- Posts: 847
- Joined: 14 Nov 2017, 03:06
- Favorite Book: Spanky
- Currently Reading: Culture Man
- Bookshelf Size: 689
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rosemary-wright.html
- Latest Review: Gods Whisper Always Near by Sharon Williams
- Reading Device: Android
"the tense you use is the main factor to have a good story or retelling the story"
I don't agree with that. Maybe you should do some research about this topic. The tense you use virtually has nothing to do with the content of your story. It's only a grammatical issue. Past tense has been used for ages to narrate stories and using present tense is a new trend but either is correct. Any tense can still make your story readable.
- Stephen23
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 16 Dec 2017, 17:28
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
- Rosemary Wright
- Bookshelves Moderator
- Posts: 847
- Joined: 14 Nov 2017, 03:06
- Favorite Book: Spanky
- Currently Reading: Culture Man
- Bookshelf Size: 689
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rosemary-wright.html
- Latest Review: Gods Whisper Always Near by Sharon Williams
- Reading Device: Android
- mamalui
- Posts: 322
- Joined: 15 Feb 2018, 11:11
- Favorite Book: Trip to Adele
- Currently Reading: Split Adam
- Bookshelf Size: 198
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mamalui.html
- Latest Review: The MECE Muse by Christie Lindor
- Reading Device: 1400697484
Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.
-
- Posts: 286
- Joined: 20 May 2020, 08:15
- Favorite Book: Tortured in Ashram
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 38
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-emidio125.html
- Latest Review: The Fox by M. N. J. Butler
-
- Posts: 188
- Joined: 09 Jul 2020, 03:57
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 17
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-a-y-reviews.html
- Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz
- Candy tutu
- Posts: 71
- Joined: 28 Jul 2020, 08:38
- Currently Reading: Behind the Cabin Door
- Bookshelf Size: 45
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-candy-tutu.html
- Latest Review: Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks by Morton E Tavel, MD
- Reading Device: B00I15SB16
- Dzejn_Crvena
- Posts: 1140
- Joined: 20 Jan 2021, 02:17
- Favorite Book: The Greater Understanding
- Currently Reading: The Wish List
- Bookshelf Size: 2318
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dzejn-crvena.html
- Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi
I mean, I prefer to write my reading experience in past tense, but I'm more comfortable writing the book summary in present tense.
Maybe I will just follow the tense that is used in the book?