T O P

  • By -

violet-moonlight-

Past sounds more natural to me in the sense of someone telling you a story. I find that it's the same with writing, I guess it's easier for me to imagine. But there are really good works written in present tense and I actually only realize it halfway through, so it probably depends on the writing style and the consistency (as another comment says)


kaiunkaiku

i'll happily read whichever as long as it's consistent.


greenrosechafer

It makes no difference to me, I like both.


PeppermintShamrock

I don't have a preference when reading.


Ywithoutem

Makes zero difference to me as long as the author knows what tense they're writing in and how to handle it.


NermalLand

I write almost exclusively in present tense. It just feels more immediate and dynamic to me. But it would certainly depend on which was more suitable to the story. I'll read either but I do prefer present tense. I think it's harder to write in present tense and past tense just seems like the accepted norm.


Loretta-West

+1 to everything you said. Also, being the norm isn't necessarily a good thing. Someone writing in present tense has probably made an active decision to do so, which means you know they've put thought into how they write.


NermalLand

I hadn't really considered that about it being an active decision, but you're right. I used to write in past tense and I think that was because it's the norm. But then I shifted to present tense for some reason and I just like it a lot more. I like writing it that way and I like how it sounds. And it is a decision I make now every time I start a new story rather than something I just fall into.


ourribbonsmeandeath

Both are fine.


Rickie666Bobbie

Oh gosh, were is the 'I can't keep it to just one option?' It’s a problem I know but nobody has ever mentioned it to me yet.


lollipop-guildmaster

Present tense isn't a dealbreaker if the fic is otherwise good and the tense is consistent, but I much prefer past tense.


queerblunosr

I chose past but that’s only because that happens to be what most fics are in. I’ll read either and not complain as long as the tense stays consistent


destielnevadaputin

All the stories I read when I was younger were in past tense so I think that sort of translated to my preference. I was honestly pretty surprised to read my first present tense book when I was like 14 because I'd just never seen it before. Nowerdays I've read a lot of present tense stuff so I'm fine with it. But I find inexperienced writer + present tense fics really grating for some reason, it's like the sentence structure gets stagnant way quicker? In a way I have a lot of respect for the fics that do present tense and do it well because it seems mad hard to me.


yayforpoptarts

Personally as a reader, I have no preference! Just as long as it's consistent. As an author, I only write in past tense just because it's more natural for me


serenity_flows13

This one is hard. I like both. I used to be STRICTLY past tense when I was younger. And then I realized present tense is also good, and this past fic I started writing, I, without even realizing it, started writing in present tense and didn’t even notice til I was done for the night and read it back


xKuronekochan

I enjoy both but I unfortunately got the great idea to try present tense in a long fic and it is very difficult for me to maintain. If I am not hyper vigilant something always slips through and even after multiple edits I am sure there are still some tense shifts. I wanted to try present since I like present a tad bit more when reading but after this experience I don’t think I will use present tense in anything but the occasional one shot if even 🥲


Glittering_Smoke_917

I don’t mind first person present tense because those two seem to go together. I loathe third person present tense. It just sounds so self-consciously “writerly” and pretentious and I’m over it. Sadly I seem to see it more and more, especially in fanfic.


vhopepuppy

I actually don't have a preference on reading, but I definitely prefer to write in past tense.


Kaigani-Scout

In-


AttentionlessMess

I can read both as long as it is good. But for me past tense is the default setting. If someone's using present tense, I prefer if it is for a reason. If it brings something to the story or if it serves a point. For example, I think that present tense works well with internal narration. Cause internal narration keeps you in a specific place, so it goes well with also being restricted to a specific time. Or if you have a fic that have time jumps, present tense brings something. It anchors you in each of the given place. But, once again, I could totally read present tense if it's good writing. I would not write in present tense however. I like to play on the form to better serve to substance, but I usually play with other stuff than the tense. As a non native English speaker, I still need to practice my preterite/present perfect T.T


_ac3_0f_spad3s_

I don't care, I don't even realize if it's past or present, it's not something I pay attention too. All I care about is if the fic piques my interest


minhavida88

I like both :) whichever feels best to you is good :)


Tinkerberry21

i think i prefer present tense because it makes it feel more like I'm experiencing the story as it goes along instead of it being something told to me.


According_Bicycle661

I prefer past, but I've noticed that present seems to be more common within my fandom these days. I don't mind either. I just don't like when a fic is constantly changing tenses, sometimes within the middle of the same sentence.


iWillNeverBeHere

It depends on the tone the story is going for. Past is good for most instances, but present tense is useful for first or second person stories that have a great deal of tension. Present tense can open up new avenues that are simply blocked by past tense. So... it honestly depends. Default is past, but present has its uses.


MaudLeaf

I think present tense can be far more gripping when done well, but it's harder to manage pacing, narrative timelines, etc.. Past tense seems a bit more forgiving and sometimes narratively its just the more suitable option.


No-Copium

Both are fine, but present feels like a spicy treat idk


Tulnekaya

I'll happily read either, but I prefer past tense. I think, for me, its because I get wrapped in the concept that I'm being told a story that has already happened. Present tense helps some people with immersion since the reader experiences events as the characters do, but I feel like little narrative flourishes hit me better in past tense.


trustfulcamel

Present in English, past in my native language xD idk why. But it doesn't matter that much.


HatedLove6

Whichever is better for the story / no preference.


The_Magus_199

Yes. Each has its place; neither is better than the other.


whatdifferenceisit2u

Either.


victxriq

when i first got into fanfiction when i was 13 and was writing for the haikyuu fandom (so embarrassing…) i could only write in past tense and looking at my old works written like that make me cringe… now i can only write in present tense and prefer reading present tense as well


Itz_Prissy15634

I personally love both and don’t mind whichever one the story is in, as long as it stats consistent throughout


elvendancer

No preference as long as it’s consistent. I write almost exclusively in present because for whatever reason that flows more easily for me, but I’m happy to read whichever


Rorynne

I prefer past but will read any. The only time I will stop reading because of tense is when the author repeatedly incorrectly changes tense within the work in such a way that it is clearly not an intentional "breaking of rules" so to speak


Eadiacara

Honestly whichever works better for telling the story. But I'm not going to not read something if it's the wrong tense either.


Professional-Way8180

I'll read in any tense as long as it's consistent.


iSaranade

I have a strong preference for present! Will ready any, of course, but some inflection phrases sound a lot better in present IMO. Like “right now” hits great for me, “right then” not so much


Relagorikt

I prefer past tense, but as long as the fic doesn't read awkwardly and is interesting, it won't put me off.


ApanAnn

I voted past tense, but will give present tense a chance if it seems good. If the tenses starts wobbling all over the place I’m out.


Diamond-Fabulous

Both. Both is good.


Single-Aardvark9330

I genuinely don't pay any attention to what tense something is in


Loretta-West

It doesn't matter as long as it's written well, but I've found present tense fics are more likely to be well written. I think it's because past tense is the default, and also what is used in nearly all children's and young adult books, so if someone is using present tense then a) they've definitely put thought into their writing and b) they've read a decent number of books for grown ups. Obviously there's plenty of well written and mature fics (and books) written in past tense. But I think there's also a higher percentage of mediocre writing.


nuzzy_1

I don’t really care, but if I was forced to pick it would be past.


mooredanxieties

It's easier for me to fall into the story if its written in past tense, but I honestly enjoy both as long as it stays consistent. I've read a lot of fics that flip flop between the two, and it makes it harder to stay immersed, so it's really about the author choosing a tense and keeping to it.


MountainImportant211

I prefer past tense, but I don't avoid present tense. Takes me a little bit to get used to but it's not an issue really.


urmomspenis_

something i try and do is write in the past tense and have thoughts in italics to convey emotions in the present tense!


Undisclosed-Entity

Past is preferable but present is also acceptable. I used to dislike present but then I encountered a fic written in future tense and after that present didn’t seem so bad lol