I remember picking up a book several years ago and opening to the first chapter. I don’t remember what book it was or where I was reading it. I do remember my first impression when I noticed it was written in present tense.

It was jarring, like my brain couldn’t adjust to the different tense. I’d been so accustomed to reading stories in the standard past tense that seeing a different tense struck me as odd.

Not just odd, but wrong. Out of place.

I’ve since softened my stance. I’ve read enough books written in the present tense since then that I’ve simply gotten used to reading it. Still, there are some hard-liners who refuse to read any book written in present tense. Do a Google search, and you’ll find plenty of opinions on the subject—both good and bad. Critics call it “unnatural,” “trendy,” and “a distraction,” while proponents say it makes the story more interesting, real and immediate.

Present tense writing seems like it’s a fairly new phenomenon, but actually, it’s been used for years. There are numerous top sellers that have used that feature. Rabbit, Run by John Updike is one, though I have not read it. This post on The Write Practice blog does a fairly good job of explaining the difference between past and present tense and provides the pros and cons of present tense

It does seem as if more writers are experimenting with present tense writing in recent releases. When combined with first person point of view, the story can pack a powerful and suspenseful punch by putting you in the scene along with the protagonist.

A good example of how it can work is The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, one of the most suspenseful books I’ve read in a long time. From the opening pages, readers are taken along on a suspenseful ride with the protagonist as she opens the front door and a young girl hands her a cryptic handwritten note from her husband.

When you’re right there next to your character seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, present tense can create a stronger impact on readers. Isn’t that what you want your readers to feel when they read your story?

That said, it would be a mistake to use it all the time. Some stories are simply better read and written in the past tense. It is still the standard in publishing, and it will never go away. It’s also the standard in verbal storytelling. Do you share a story with your friends in present tense? Hardly. It would seem odd rolling off your tongue. Why should written stories be any different?

My advice is to experiment with both styles and see which one works best for your story. There are three factors to consider:

* Genre – Some genres are better suited for present tense. Novels of suspense or action/adventure come to mind. The Hunger Games series is a case in point. Readers are present from the moment the story begins and they experience the suspense along with the narrator/protagonist. Meanwhile past tense is probably better suited for literary fiction and historical fiction.  

* Point of view – Present tense might best be used with first person to get a real “up close and personal” feel to the story. I don’t think it works as well with third person POV, though I have seen it done with some success.

* Readers’ preferences – This might be the most critical factor. Which tense do readers prefer to read? Are your readers willing to read a present tense story that you’ve written?

The truth is, many readers hate present tense writing, so much so that they will close the book and put it back on the shelf. If any of your intended readers fall into that camp, you could lose them.

On the other hand, there are other readers who say they don’t notice the tense at all when reading. As long as the story is well written, they don’t mind if it’s present or past tense. Perhaps that is the key point to remember. Make sure the story is so well written that readers hardly notice whether it’s written in present tense or past tense.

I’ll always stick with past tense as my preferred reading format. But an occasional trip through a story with present tense can be worth the journey.

In case you want to explore present tense stories, here are a few to check out (though in truth, I’ve only read the one by Laura Dave so I cannot vouch for how enjoyable they are):

The Hunger Games series
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Room, Emma Donoghue