Are your writing in the present tense?
The issue of which tense to write in came up recently in our Writers for a Reason Unite writers’ group.
One of our writers is writing her book in the present tense, but her story spans a number of years.
Writing in the present tense can be tricky…
Here’s a quick tip:
Make sure you know who your narrator is, and where and when they are narrating.
So, are they telling the story at the end of the book, with all the knowledge of hindsight? Or are they writing in the moment, as each scene unfolds? (This is a tricky one to get right, and might work better in diary-style.)
Whatever you decide, make sure the tense you use makes sense. Perhaps writing in the past might be easier for you and less confusing for your readers?
If you need some help, ask a writing buddy! We have writing buddy groups as part of our Writers for a Reason Membership – if you’d like to try a week free, let me know – it would be great to have you.
Trust that helps,
Janet