Talking about much earlier happenings in a story written in present tense?

Y

Yuko

New member
Can you use present tense for things that happened so much earlier or can you use simple past or even present perfect?
It sounds kind of awkward when you use simple present for everything...
 
All I ask is that you make clear of the flashback when it happens. A lot of people have trouble with this and it actually takes readers a few lines before they realize they're reading something that happened in the past.

Present tense can work, seeing as it's a flashback I think. It gives good contrast.
example;
"She waited at the bus stop, the streets around her almost deserted. Slowly, her eyelids began to droop and her mind began to wander.
'It's seven o'clock and her dress rips along the hem, causing her to give a cry of anguish. She's late and she knows now there's absolutely no way of getting to her destination. Not now with her dress looking like this. She ties up the lose threads and hobbles back through the doorway.'
Her eyes snapped open as the sound of breaks squeaked on the bus as it rolled up in front of her."
 
When writing about events happening to the MC _right that instant_, present tense is the way to go.

When the MC has a flashback, or you want to show some back story, write past tense.

Good example books:

(1)THE HELP

(2) IF I STAY

Good luck.
 
When writing about events happening to the MC _right that instant_, present tense is the way to go.

When the MC has a flashback, or you want to show some back story, write past tense.

Good example books:

(1)THE HELP

(2) IF I STAY

Good luck.
 
It's not quite clear to me what you mean. Usually a story is written in the simple past with some past perfect. I can't imagine a story written entirely in the present or present perfect. You can move into the present tense to add a sense of suspense or immediateness to some parts of the story.
 
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