I wish fiction writers wouldn't write in the present tense.

[raccoon]

Example:

Dick sees Spot across the street and whistles to him. Spot comes bounding over to Dick.

And it seems to be more and more prevalent these days.....aargh!

Fiction writers, please quit it!

[krispos42]

1. Is this a current fad?

Makes me wince, although I've seen it in stuff that's narrated. I think it's done to increase tension.


But nothing I read is current, currently.

I just read "The Thin Red Line", and I'm rereading some Dan Brown "Deception Point". Don't judge me...

[raccoon]

2. I like to read non-current stuff as well, 1970's and 80's. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. That, and the lack of quotation marks....

I won't read anything with no quotation marks...
reading is supposed to be relaxing, dammit, not a chore.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Oh, thank god that I have not run into that yet.

How does that even work????

[Paladin]

9. If the lack of quotation marks bugs you......

you might have a problem with McKinlay Kantor's classic Civil War novel, "Andersonville." I've seen it referred to as one of the three best novels ever written about the Civil War (the other two being "The Killer Angels" and "The Red Badge of Courage&quot . The lack of quotation marks is a bit distracting at first, but it's something you get used to, and it is one hell of a great book.....

[Curmudgeoness]

5. You give your age away.

That example is priceless!

I have not noticed this present tense fad, and I am not sure if I would notice it or not. But you can be sure that I will pay attention from now on, and will see it whenever it comes up.


On edit: Aggghhhhh! I have already stumbled onto an example that is not Dick and Jane, in the next OP that I opened, regarding Pynchon's newest book-----------“On the way home she passes the neighborhood firehouse. They’re in working on one of the trucks. . . . She threads among the daily bunches of flowers on the sidewalk..."

[Paladin]

8. Pynchon's taking on 9/11. I'll cut him some slack. (nt)

[LWolf]

6. I spend a whole year

explaining this to 6th graders, who give me the "deer in the headlight" look, because that's the way they talk, and they don't notice they're rambling all over various tenses.

Published fiction writers, and their editors, should know better.

In my opinion.

[SheilaT]

7. I agree. And it's all too common.

Recently I read something that alternated between present and past tense, and it was very distracting.

[DUgosh]

10. Elly Griffiths

Writes Ruth Galloway mystery series that has potential, but is such an awkward read.... "Ruth is getting her her car" "Ruth drives down the lane" "Ruth drives up and sees her front door open" frankly this reader is getting exhausted