Question for Writers (and Readers too)

[Deleted]

I had my first fiction writing class this week and it was really good. I'm excited to get writing again.

My teacher gave us 10 essential writing tips and I wanted to get some opinions on two of them.

1. Stories must have hurt.

Thoughts? It was a little controversial when he mentioned it but I guess it hinges on what you define "hurt" as.

2. Write in the past tense.

I immediately thought about action novels and disagreed with that one but I guess it makes it easier to keep things in the same tense as you're going. Can you think of any books you love that weren't written in the past tense?

Anyway I would love to hear what others think.

[taylormillgirl]

I'm guessing he meant that hurt = conflict. In that case, I absolutely agree. During my earliest attempts at crafting fiction, the biggest mistake I made was not vamping up the conflict enough.

As for #2, third person past tense is my preference, both as a reader and an author. I even write my YA in third person past. A couple people tried to convince me to switch it to first person present (because that's been a trend in YA), but I refused to give in and it still sold.

There are some novels (Hunger Games, for example) that use first-present and do it well, but for some reason, I still prefer third-past.

[chicacocodrilo]

I agree that hurt is conflict. Conflict is a challenge to your protagonist, and makes the read a compelling one. You need to ratchet up the conflict/tension to keep your reader engaged. It doesn't have to be overt, but it should be there, on every page.

As for #2, I tend to write in the past tense, but Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies spring to mind as great examples of present-tense novels. I figure if you want to play with it, go for it. It may or may not work, but experimenting with your writing only strengthens it.

[Deleted]

Jun 29, 2012 13:23:46 GMT -5 chicacocodrilo said:

As for #2, I tend to write in the past tense, but Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies spring to mind as great examples of present-tense novels. I figure if you want to play with it, go for it. It may or may not work, but experimenting with your writing only strengthens it.

I laughed at that. ;D

[Deleted]

I wish I had taken more notes but I definitely don't think he meant just conflict. I think he said something like "people are more interesting when they suffer."

[taylormillgirl]

He's absolutely right. You should make your characters suffer. Internal conflict is even more important than external.

[chicacocodrilo]

Jun 29, 2012 13:34:48 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Jun 29, 2012 13:23:46 GMT -5 chicacocodrilo said:

As for #2, I tend to write in the past tense, but Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies spring to mind as great examples of present-tense novels. I figure if you want to play with it, go for it. It may or may not work, but experimenting with your writing only strengthens it.

I laughed at that. ;D

Hah, reading it over, it's kind of contradictory in a sense. But I'd say that while you might not like what you churn out in a certain tense, having done it flexes your writing muscles. And the key to writing, at least for me, is to just keep on doing it. Once I get going, I have the confidence to keep going.

[Deleted]

Thanks gals. It's good to know there's other writers around. I hope I am able to finish a story finally.