I have written my story in a third person present tense. I have posted some things on writers forums that I needed critique on.
These writer dudes are heartless and will rip your shit apart. But the only commonality, that put a spoke in my wheel and paused my process…was the fact that they always questioned my third person present. They said why? Do it past tense, unless there was a reason.
I took that in. Everyone’s norm is past tense.
I battled with that, to the point it stopped me from going forward.
At the end of the day, I stayed with my gut. I said, screw you to the norm. I am keeping present tense, cause that isn’t the norm.
With all that being said. I would love to go back in time. Visit my old high school teachers, be it… what’s his name? Wyatt?… Or that one with the big …um…eyes. And say, I spend my Friday and Saturday nights arguing with myself about what tense I should be in. If only I could have that convo…haha…bet I wouldn’t have been kicked out of class that much ..huh.. huh .. huh..
Just kidding… I would have still been kicked outta class.. not fooling anyone.
End of the day though, any avid readers out there that have a strong opinion on tense? I’m curious.
RR
I’m also curious if anyone reads anymore.
THE ROMA SEVEN 
August 22, 2015 at 11:06 pm
My goal is to read a minimum of 1 book per month.
When I read the 1st few paragraphs of your story I wondered about the tense, but it seems to work. It’s all in the story I think and as a reader wanting to continue with it to see where it goes.
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August 23, 2015 at 9:59 am
Wow one book a month. You’ve probably read more books in 1 year than I did in a lifetime. That’s my dirty secret. Well I will do present tense till I’m done editing. Nothing I can’t change later if I must.
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August 26, 2015 at 2:16 am
Well, I am glad I read this to understand you, fellow writing forum member. I am wainscottbl in one of the writers forums. I did say I do not like your present tense style. But it’s a matter of choice. You have to weigh your own wants and the market’s wants. I hope that does not sound patronizing. Just my view on what you said.
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August 26, 2015 at 6:52 am
Not at all. I want and am prepared for critique. When people disagree with how I do it, it doesn’t bother me, it helps me. It doesn’t hurt me, but I will be asking a lot of “whys” to understand. Keep your critiques coming, good or bad.
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