Tense – Sara Mazariegos

Luis and I saw It Ends With Us last weekend. I keep accidentally calling it The Last of Us, but that’s not fair to The Last of Us. If you’re not aware of It Ends With Us, it’s a romantic drama starring Blake Lively, based on the Colleen Hoover novel by the same name. It’s controversial in how it deals with domestic violence. It’s also apparently controversial because Blake Lively and the director had different visions. My vision is perhaps this movie didn’t need to get made.

It’s funny because, initially, I thought it wasn’t as bad as I first imagined. It got pretty bad reviews, but romance movies are often harshly judged. But then I had more time to think about it when I wasn’t watching it anymore. And yeah, there is a lot that’s messed up about it. (I still love Jenny Slate, though. She’s in it as the best friend who kind of shows up in the story to be the best friend.)

Anyway, it’s a good lesson in how not to write things… Then again, Colleen Hoover is very successful, so it’s working for her. It definitely made me think. I don’t think I’ll read the book.

Speaking of books, I’m getting close to the end of The Good Part — that sounds sad — and I love it so much. It’s not what I thought it would be. It’s way more heartwarming. I also recently started reading The Dead Romantics. Both of these books should round out my reading challenge to read 15 books this year. I’m not going to stop reading, of course. It’s only August! 😅

The Dead Romantics is in past tense, which is throwing me a little now that I’ve read a few present tense novels. I know I once wrote that I don’t like present tense, and I still prefer past tense, but present has grown on me. It makes it feel as though you’re a part of the story, instead of watching it unfold. I think it works for certain stories more than others.

My new novel I’m working on is in present tense, so I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I’m trying something new! It’s a little intimidating, but I’m enjoying it so far. It’s bridging the gap between the last novel I wrote and the one I’m planning for November.

Okay, now back to the writing board!

When I first started writing my current novel, it was in third person, limited, following the female lead as she flailed through the story (her words, not mine.) After receiving beta feedback, I switched it to first person, still in the female lead’s perspective so there was no illusion that I might go into any other character’s head. The story is Celeste’s.

It’s interesting to me how varied the opinions are on POVs in romance novels. I’ve read both that readers hate third person and that they love and expect it. I’ve also read that readers prefer first person because it allows them to feel immersed in the plot, but some say they dislike it because it limits things. First person has even been called “easy.”

In my experience, it isn’t easy to write in first person. I like being able to play with all of the toys in the box, so focusing on just the feelings and thoughts of one character is challenging. It’s more fun to write, though.

Third person seems like the more traditional POV. The classics generally use it. The story being told is presented clearly and all of the important angles can be reached. This can make a story a little more boring and distant.

First person, present tense is the devil, in my opinion. I don’t want to feel like I’m reading a choose-your-own-adventure story. I know a lot of people these days like it, but it feels almost too informal to me. I want my novels to tell me a story, not make me feel like I’m telling it. I don’t want strange men touching me.

I can imagine it if I want to, but when I read I feel him/his… in novels, it mostly makes me feel grossed out.

Anyway, that’s just my perspective.

Tag: Tense

I’m a little bit wrong and you’re a little bit right.

Some Perspective.