|
Post by Knygathin on Jul 12, 2023 9:41:59 GMT
Why are most stories written in past tense? Doesn't that make the narrated events somewhat stale? Movies are told in present tense.
|
|
|
Post by Michael Connolly on Jul 12, 2023 10:34:57 GMT
Why are most stories written in past tense? Doesn't that make the narrated events somewhat stale? Movies are told in present tense. For some reason I find stories written in the present tense to be unreadable.
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Jul 12, 2023 11:55:44 GMT
Why are most stories written in past tense? Doesn't that make the narrated events somewhat stale? Movies are told in present tense. For some reason I find stories written in the present tense to be unreadable. Also not a fan of this. It sometimes generates speed, sure, but I find it tiring to read and avoid it.
|
|
|
Post by Shrink Proof on Jul 12, 2023 12:31:42 GMT
A year or so ago, Bag of Bones Press took this one step further. They decided to open for submissions for a horror anthology titled "Well, this is Tense", featuring stories written not just in the present tense but in the second person too. Basically because they reckoned that that was the toughest combination for writers, a real challenge. They were somewhat surprised to be inundated with decent submissions, to the point that they ended up publishing two volumes, the originally planned one and a follow-up, titled "This is too Tense", 60 stories in all. So present tense can be done, it seems.
Better still, profits from the books went to children's charities.
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Jul 12, 2023 15:03:35 GMT
A year or so ago, Bag of Bones Press took this one step further. They decided to open for submissions for a horror anthology titled "Well, this is Tense", featuring stories written not just in the present tense but in the second person too. Basically because they reckoned that that was the toughest combination for writers, a real challenge. They were somewhat surprised to be inundated with decent submissions, to the point that they ended up publishing two volumes, the originally planned one and a follow-up, titled "This is too Tense", 60 stories in all. So present tense can be done, it seems. Better still, profits from the books went to children's charities. Kudos to them, a great effort and even better result.
But second person is even worse Too many Marvel comics killed this for me, I just can't take it seriously. "It belongs to Poison-Lark, a name you would once have laughed at scornfully, Morbius, but you listen, as the satanic high priestess leads her demented chorus of this occult sect Demon-Fire, and her name is appropiate!"
|
|
|
Post by Michael Connolly on Jul 13, 2023 8:13:38 GMT
A year or so ago, Bag of Bones Press took this one step further. They decided to open for submissions for a horror anthology titled "Well, this is Tense", featuring stories written not just in the present tense but in the second person too. Basically because they reckoned that that was the toughest combination for writers, a real challenge. They were somewhat surprised to be inundated with decent submissions, to the point that they ended up publishing two volumes, the originally planned one and a follow-up, titled "This is too Tense", 60 stories in all. So present tense can be done, it seems. Better still, profits from the books went to children's charities. Kudos to them, a great effort and even better result. But second person is even worse Too many Marvel comics killed this for me, I just can't take it seriously. "It belongs to Poison-Lark, a name you would once have laughed at scornfully, Morbius, but you listen, as the satanic high priestess leads her demented chorus of this occult sect Demon-Fire, and her name is appropiate!" The present tense works better than the past tense in captions for comic books and comic strips.
|
|
|
Post by Knygathin on Jul 13, 2023 10:11:38 GMT
Perhaps since past tense is the traditional and natural way of retelling a story (or passed event), telling it in present tense will appear hysterical (almost insane), and hubris on the part of the teller.
Movies and comics work differently, they are a kind of 'magic box' into which you directly view another world.
|
|
|
Post by Knygathin on Jul 26, 2023 20:28:42 GMT
1: How do you define "good" story build-up? What is a "bad" story build-up? Evidently a story which doesn't work, I guess, but how often do you find readers agreeing 100% on the same piece? Even technicalities differ. Compare for instance a short-story by Agatha Christe and one by Dashiell Hammett. Very different in approach and writing. Who is to say what is better? Or works better? And then compare those with a romance story and a sf story.
Then perhaps one should simply scribble down uncensored whatever bizarre and horrible visions and events one has locked up inside one's head, and not care about 'structure' or 'form'. Maybe the fear of 'form' inhibits people and needlessly stops them from being creative.
|
|
enoch
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 117
|
Post by enoch on Jul 26, 2023 20:54:56 GMT
1: How do you define "good" story build-up? What is a "bad" story build-up? Evidently a story which doesn't work, I guess, but how often do you find readers agreeing 100% on the same piece? Even technicalities differ. Compare for instance a short-story by Agatha Christe and one by Dashiell Hammett. Very different in approach and writing. Who is to say what is better? Or works better? And then compare those with a romance story and a sf story.
Then perhaps one should simply scribble down uncensored whatever bizarre and horrible visions and events one has locked up inside one's head, and not care about 'structure' or 'form'. Maybe the fear of 'form' inhibits people and needlessly stops them from being creative. There's something to that idea. Ramsey Campbell's "Among the pictures are these:" has no form or structure, yet is quite disturbing and enjoyable to read. For years now I've asked my friends to tell me of their favorite nightmares, and I'd tell them of mine. It doesn't matter if they make no sense and don't tell a complete story; they're usually both frightening and fascinating. I enjoy a well-plotted story as much as the next reader, but it's not necessary in every case just to have a good scare.
|
|
|
Post by Knygathin on Jul 27, 2023 13:14:46 GMT
Ramsey Campbell's "Among the pictures are these:" has no form or structure, yet is quite disturbing and enjoyable to read. For years now I've asked my friends to tell me of their favorite nightmares, and I'd tell them of mine. It doesn't matter if they make no sense and don't tell a complete story; they're usually both frightening and fascinating. I enjoy a well-plotted story as much as the next reader, but it's not necessary in every case just to have a good scare. Reminds me of Lovecraft's Commonplace Book. Might evolve further, into 'prose poetry', with slightly more structure.
|
|
|
Post by Knygathin on Aug 1, 2023 6:50:31 GMT
It seems content (settings, events) is more important than form. One can write garbage prose, and still sell (especially with great cover art!). But where goes the line between content and form? Aren't they ultimately one and the same?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2023 22:22:55 GMT
I wrote a historical novel, it was about the year of the four Caesars. (Otho, Galba, Vitellius, Vespasian) I became those men and the narrative was how they would each have spoken and thought given the circumstances, and given the research that I did on their respective personalities.
Just become the person or the event and if you have even a modicum of talent, it will all translate into fine reading.
|
|
|
Post by Knygathin on Aug 3, 2023 22:33:27 GMT
Very interesting, Wicca! And deeply sensible advice. I bow to you.
|
|
|
Post by Knygathin on Aug 4, 2023 4:49:06 GMT
Writing may be dangerous. Too much EC Horror Comic style or Conan like stories is not good. You will start solving social issues with your neighbours in the same way.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2023 14:53:31 GMT
you will start solving social issues with your neighbours in the same way. I regularly hold witches covens at my home, my neighbors all fear me. I suppose they are concerned that I might lay down a powerful curse on them. That being said, I *NEVER* experience issues/problems with my neighbors. They won't even make eye contact with me.
|
|