Friday, February 26, 2010

what would Hemingway do?

Something weird happened between the last re-write and this one -- I don't remember making a conscious decision about it, but for some reason I'm now writing Nine Days in present tense. This concerns me for a couple of reasons.

1. I don't usually like reading books in present tense. It always seems gimmicky to me.

2. I've heard on the grapevine that publishers don't like present-tense novels.

3. It's making some things easier and some things harder. I'm able to say things in my character's voice that I couldn't figure out a way to say in the last draft, but I'm losing a certain objectivity that might be crucial to the telling of the story.

My fear is that the only way to know for sure if the present tense is going to work for the book is to write it that way. I guess if I have to go back and change it to past tense, it won't be the end of the world, but it's a lot of work.

The other thing that occurs to me is that at some point in the book the tense could shift, with attendant symbolism; but, man, I don't know if I'm good enough to pull that off. Also, there could be parts of the book that are written in past tense and part in present tense, but -- again -- that involves some high-wire literary chops that I'm not sure I've got.

What say you, Universe? Referrals to good present-tense mystery or crime novels gratefully accepted...
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1 comments:

  1. When the inside of my eyes fells like concrete from staring into a computer screen, and Burn Notice is a re-run, I find my copy of, 'Guys and Dolls and Other Writings,' by Damon Runyon. It calms me better than a double Glenfiddich.

    Runyon gets away with the present tense. I don't know of anyone else who can. From 'It Comes Up Mud,' " Personally, I never criticize Miss Beulah Beauregard for breaking her engagement to Little Alfie, because what she tells me she becomes engaged to him under false pretenses, and I do not approve of guys using false pretenses on dolls, except, of course, when nothing else will do."

    Present tense for dialogue, but it's always he said, not he says. My advise, stick to what your agent wants, no matter what. We will never be able to write like Thomas Wolf, D. H. Lawrence, or Damon Runyon. Just do what gets your crap sold. Final answer!

    "...Only a rank sucker will think of taking two peeks at Dave the Dude's doll, because while Dave may stand for the first peek, figuring it is a mistake, it is a sure thing he will get sored up..."
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