Past vs Present. Which one?

[pocoscon]

I've noticed that many VN's are in present tense. I was wondering if people do past, and if readers like it. I ask this because I'm having trouble picking which one to write in. Any advice is greatly appreciated

[Holland]

I prefer that visual novels (especially kinetic novels) are in past tense. I'm used to reading books. Books are almost always in past tense. Whether it's in a digital format with pictures or not, I feel more comfortable reading as if I'm re-living someone else's experiences (even when there are choices for me to make personally).

I do have some exceptions. If the book is written in second person (meaning it's written "to you") and has a lot of decisions, then present tense is probably best. I otherwise find it distracting.

[pocoscon]

I prefer that visual novels (especially kinetic novels) are in past tense. I'm used to reading books. Books are almost always in past tense. Whether it's in a digital format with pictures or not, I feel more comfortable reading as if I'm re-living someone else's experiences (even when there are choices for me to make personally).

I do have some exceptions. If the book is written in second person (meaning it's written "to you") and has a lot of decisions, then present tense is probably best. I otherwise find it distracting.

I agree. My sister says the same thing. I like present tense, but it's a bit hard to do at times. So I think I'll write it in past tense. It's good like present, but seems smoother to me. Thanks

[trooper6]

My background is in table top RPGs...so I tend to be used to present tense.

But honestly? I don't care what tense people write in, as long as it is well done.

[pocoscon]

My background is in table top RPGs...so I tend to be used to present tense.

But honestly? I don't care what tense people write in, as long as it is well done.

Rpg's do really well with present tense. But like you, I don't mind reading either as long as they're done well. Just can't write present tense well, so I usually stick to past

[Kate]

I agree, writing present tense trips me up.....buuut it does make it seem a little more engaging in an interactive game? So it's worth the occasional sticky writing situations to get the engaged feel. But that's just me. I never seem to mind terribly as long as it's consistent. Nothing worse than occasional lapses in tense to mess up the flow of the story!

It really depends if your novel is more kinetic or directed by the player's choices.

[netravelr]

For me, I feel if the story is being told to me, past tense is good. However if I'm taking the role of the player (or there are choices that we make) I tend to like present as it makes me feel as if I'm in the action and my choices have consequence.

[theSardonyx]

For me, I feel if the story is being told to me, past tense is good. However if I'm taking the role of the player (or there are choices that we make) I tend to like present as it makes me feel as if I'm in the action and my choices have consequence.

I agree with this. If the story relies more on explication and narrative than on decision-making, I'd suggest using the past tense.

But anyway, it wouldn't matter if the storyline itself is good.

[pocoscon]

I agree, writing present tense trips me up.....buuut it does make it seem a little more engaging in an interactive game? So it's worth the occasional sticky writing situations to get the engaged feel. But that's just me. I never seem to mind terribly as long as it's consistent. Nothing worse than occasional lapses in tense to mess up the flow of the story!

It really depends if your novel is more kinetic or directed by the player's choices.

Mines not Kenetic, so I'm a bit worried if using past tense is okay . I don't know if there are many vn's who use past tense. But you're right in that present tense is hard to write. Tried it, and kept writing both past and present

[pocoscon]

For me, I feel if the story is being told to me, past tense is good. However if I'm taking the role of the player (or there are choices that we make) I tend to like present as it makes me feel as if I'm in the action and my choices have consequence.

Can one not do that in past tense? I too feel like I'm more engaged in present tense when I play certain games, but writing it can be really difficult for some reason

[Mad Harlequin]

For me, I feel if the story is being told to me, past tense is good. However if I'm taking the role of the player (or there are choices that we make) I tend to like present as it makes me feel as if I'm in the action and my choices have consequence.

Can one not do that in past tense? I too feel like I'm more engaged in present tense when I play certain games, but writing it can be really difficult for some reason

There's no reason you can't.

[pocoscon]

For me, I feel if the story is being told to me, past tense is good. However if I'm taking the role of the player (or there are choices that we make) I tend to like present as it makes me feel as if I'm in the action and my choices have consequence.

Can one not do that in past tense? I too feel like I'm more engaged in present tense when I play certain games, but writing it can be really difficult for some reason

There's no reason you can't.

Thank you . Get's confusing sometimes, but glad people are giving me advice

[DeletedUser160413]

I've noticed that many VN's are in present tense. I was wondering if people do past, and if readers like it. I ask this because I'm having trouble picking which one to write in. Any advice is greatly appreciated

I prefer VNs in past tense aswell.

[Ran08]

I sort of agree with netravlr, but... I have to admit, present tense can be a little tricky for me to write sometimes! With some scenes or dialogue, I just find past tense easier. However, personally, it feels right to write a VN in present tense, because of the choices and such. I mean, if everything had happened in the past, then why add choices to change things? They already happened. Haha. That's just my personal take on my own works, though. With kinetic novels, anything is fine.

[pocoscon]

I've noticed that many VN's are in present tense. I was wondering if people do past, and if readers like it. I ask this because I'm having trouble picking which one to write in. Any advice is greatly appreciated

I prefer VNs in past tense aswell.

As do I