If you guys haven't figured out by now that I am using you as guinea pigs for my writing exploits...well...I am :)
This week, I've been completely agonizing over the dreaded tenses. During my extensive internet procrastination time, I've been reading up on the use of past or present tense in first person novels and which one is more popular. It seems that first person/present tense is the YA equivalent of the literary tense world. By that I mean that it gets a pretty bad rep.
There are a lot of arguments against first person, present tense. The most common one by far would have to be that it's born of laziness and doesn't allow for additional character scope. I won't go into all of the arguments, but suffice to say, as a predominantly first person POV writer, I am slightly freaked out by this.
Of course, I am aware that first person/present tense POV is pretty popular in YA books these days, but when I grow up from writing YA, I want to try and branch out into other age ranges and I'm not sure how my affinity for first person/present tense will translate. Not to mention the other difficulties I have writing distinctive female MC's.
Here comes the guinea pig bit: I want to do a survey of what you guys think is the best tense and POV to read or write is. To sweeten the deal, everyone who posts a comment with their opinion will go into the draw to win a book to the value of $15 dollars from The Book Depository. Anyone can enter as long as TBD delivers to their country. The giveaway ends on 12 Feb 2012. I will draw the winner on the 13 Feb 2012. Don't forget to leave your email contact address.
I'm looking for your honest opinions so don't be shy in saying what you really think.
Good Luck and thanks guys! You're the best!
