Chapter 8
Narrative Tenses

1^st person, 2^nd person, 3^rd person

past, present, future

Past

My personal favorite narrative tense. It tells the story in the past like a story should be told. A story is something that should be about something that happens in the past, due to the meaning of a story being something that has already happened, consequently, the definition of a story!

Examples

• 3rd Person:

She went around the corner to see if it was there. There was nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time had frozen. Therefore, she scratched her head in confusion.

• 2nd Person:

You went around the corner to see if it was there. There was nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time had frozen. Therefore, you scratched your head in confusion.

• 1st Person:

I went around the corner to see if it was there. There was nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time had frozen. Therefore, I scratched my head in confusion.

Present

This tense unravels in the present as if everything you are reading is happening right now in front of your eyes… well, your mind’s eyes.

Examples

• 3rd Person:

She goes around the corner to see if it is there. There is nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time has frozen. Therefore, she scratches her head in confusion.

• 2nd Person:

You go around the corner to see if it is there. There is nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time has frozen. Therefore, you scratch your head in confusion.

• 1st Person:

I go around the corner to see if it is there. There is nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time has frozen. Therefore, I scratch my head in confusion.

Future

The tense unravels in the future. It is a strange one to use as it sounds and feels like the Star Wars persuasion tactics Jedi would force onto the simple-minded, heh. Not a fan of this tense, but it does open interesting creativity aspects. It could be used in trying to sway people’s opinion or try to make them do something, like a Jedi using the Force.

Heed, the future tense can also be used while writing in another tense, when the circumstances demand it. There is no golden rule specifying you must always be stuck on one tense throughout your whole story. But it’s easier if you do, sophisticated if you don’t. Why sweat in the sun when you can go under the tree’s bask of shade.

Examples

• 3rd Person:

She will go around the corner to see if it will be there. There will be nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time would have frozen. Therefore, she will scratch her head in confusion.

• 2nd Person:

You will go around the corner to see if it will be there. There will be nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time would have frozen. Therefore, you will scratch your head in confusion.

• 1st Person:

I will go around the corner to see if it will be there. There will be nothing but empty air and a sight of stasis, as if time would have frozen. Therefore, I will scratch my head in confusion.