Exactly what I was looking for. I was about ready to start choking on all the 'had's in my story. Can't wait to go back to it and make it better according to your advice.
Good explanation. You answered one question I have and that's how to get back from a flashback. I know going into one, you must have a trigger that says, "flashback coming." If we don't use a trigger, the reader will be confused where they're at. I won't use but 1 pr 2 flashbacks in story, so I want to do them right. Plus I don't understand why allot of teachers say don't use backstory or flashback because EVERYTHING the protagonist is today comes from His past, his wound, fear, flaw, and etc. His persona is what he has become BECAUSE of his past. Thanks.
Thank you for your help, Bryn. I do have a question. I am presently working on a flashback that takes place about three years ago, after which I begin a new chapter that takes place a few months ago, and finally I shift into a paragraph that brings the reader back to the present. I followed your advice with the flashback from three years ago. I started with a couple of sentences in past perfect tense, then I switched to regular past tense. But what should I do with the tense when I move forward chronologically, just a bit, but still remain in the past? Do I continue to write in regular past tense, since I have already established my past perfect tense in a previous chapter? Or do I begin my new chapter, which takes place in the very recent past, with a new past perfect sentence, followed by a quick shift into past tense again? Gosh, I hope that isn't too confusing. I would change it up a bit, but it is crucial to my story to take the reader back to several pivotal events from the past, each of which takes place at a different time.
this the first video I've encountered in this series and it made me go all the way to the beginning, I love this series it's too precious and generous of you to take the time and help other writers
Hi! I just found your channel and have been enjoying your videos. They're very helpful. Your note about using "now" even in past tense reminded me of something I encountered recently that confused me. A novel was written in past tense (third person limited), and the narrative kept switching between phrases like "last year" and "the previous year," and "two days ago" versus "two days before." Is this just a psychic distance issue? Is one more correct than the other, depending on the tense and POV? Thanks so much!
This was a wonderful and informative video. I'm glad I found your page! At the risk of asking a question you've already answered in a different video, I'd like to know if there is a preferred editing style for books? I recently took an editing course that specializes in the Chicago Manuel of Style and so that's what I've been studying. In my sociology courses in school they had us focusing on the MLA Style Manuel. As a publisher is there an industry preference? Thanks so much! And sorry if you've already answered this question somewhere! P.S. I hope you and your family are staying safe and finding peace in these turbulent times.
hi, Morgan! Thank you so much for the kind words! What a great question, and no, I don't think I covered it anywhere. For fiction editing, most people default to the Chicago Manual of Style. :) I hope you and yours are doing well, too! It's so nice to connect with you.
Hello Bryn ! Not everything useful for me today I'm afraid, since french conjugating system is quite different ;) but I'd like to ask about italics. I see them often used for thoughts. Would you recommend it ? Maybe you will make a video about characters thinking and inner monologue so I'll just wait… Greetings from France to you all !
Hi, Helene! This is the only English-specific one in the whole series, I think! Here's how it works for English when it comes to thoughts...I'm not sure if it's the same in French, though! If the thought is like a line of a dialogue, but only thought instead of spoken out loud, it goes in italics. I actually have an episode about internal monologue coming up soon. :) Have a wonderful week!
HI, I really enjoyed his video. I was reading an article online about examples of how past perfect and simple past were used in Kurt Vonnegut's book slaughterhouse five. Whats your thoughts ?
So, would there ever be times you'd use past perfect tense outside of flashbacks? For clarification, if your story is in past tense, when might you also use it or is it best to keep the word 'had' out? Thanks, as always!
Hey, I'm so sorry I missed this before! Yes, there are definitely other times you'll use past perfect in a story written in past tense. Sentences like, "She'd texted him three times already, but she hadn't heard back," or "He'd cleaned the apartment earlier." It's not a complete flashback; just background information! Hope that helps!
How do you describe a photo in book if the story is written in past tense. Someone mentioned that we need to describe the photo in a present tense narrative to capture the now moment altho the book is written in past tense. I'm very confused. Thanks a lot.
Hi there! It would be jarring to switch to present tense to describe a photo. If the story is in past tense, this description would also be in past tense. Thanks for asking, and thanks for watching!
How about past tense story and general truth? Such as： Jane went to church every Sunday. Sunday is/was the holy day of the Lord. Since Sunday is still the holy day. Should we use past or present tense here? Let's assume the whole story of Jane is in the past tense.
Hey there! Great question-lots of people get tripped up on this! It would still be past tense (although I would edit this to "Jane went to church every Sunday, the holy day of the Lord.") You are either in a character's POV or in omniscient POV, and either way, everything stays in the same tense. In this instance, we might be in Jane's POV. While Sunday is a holy day to Jane, for Jews and certain Christian denominations, Saturday is the holy day. You see this a lot in descriptions of places ("Chicago had many beautiful skyscrapers"), mentioning of scientific facts ("since helium was lighter than air, the balloon rose") etc.
Exactly what I was looking for. I was about ready to start choking on all the 'had's in my story. Can't wait to go back to it and make it better according to your advice.
Good explanation. You answered one question I have and that's how to get back from a flashback. I know going into one, you must have a trigger that says, "flashback coming." If we don't use a trigger, the reader will be confused where they're at. I won't use but 1 pr 2 flashbacks in story, so I want to do them right. Plus I don't understand why allot of teachers say don't use backstory or flashback because EVERYTHING the protagonist is today comes from His past, his wound, fear, flaw, and etc. His persona is what he has become BECAUSE of his past. Thanks.
You have the most calming, pleasant energy. Thank you for the great tips!
I appreciate this so much! Thank you!
Bless you, for making this video. This topic is something that has wracked my brain for years. I appreciate your simple explanation.
Thank you for your help, Bryn. I do have a question. I am presently working on a flashback that takes place about three years ago, after which I begin a new chapter that takes place a few months ago, and finally I shift into a paragraph that brings the reader back to the present. I followed your advice with the flashback from three years ago. I started with a couple of sentences in past perfect tense, then I switched to regular past tense. But what should I do with the tense when I move forward chronologically, just a bit, but still remain in the past? Do I continue to write in regular past tense, since I have already established my past perfect tense in a previous chapter? Or do I begin my new chapter, which takes place in the very recent past, with a new past perfect sentence, followed by a quick shift into past tense again? Gosh, I hope that isn't too confusing. I would change it up a bit, but it is crucial to my story to take the reader back to several pivotal events from the past, each of which takes place at a different time.
this the first video I've encountered in this series and it made me go all the way to the beginning, I love this series it's too precious and generous of you to take the time and help other writers
Awww, thank you so much! You are way too kind. So glad you like them!
I love that you have a big smile throughout, you're so cute!
Wow thank you for this...using too much "hads" felt frustrating
Hi! I just found your channel and have been enjoying your videos. They're very helpful.
Your note about using "now" even in past tense reminded me of something I encountered recently that confused me. A novel was written in past tense (third person limited), and the narrative kept switching between phrases like "last year" and "the previous year," and "two days ago" versus "two days before."
Is this just a psychic distance issue? Is one more correct than the other, depending on the tense and POV?
Thanks so much!
This is fantastic- thank you!!
Thank you for this!
This was a wonderful and informative video. I'm glad I found your page! At the risk of asking a question you've already answered in a different video, I'd like to know if there is a preferred editing style for books? I recently took an editing course that specializes in the Chicago Manuel of Style and so that's what I've been studying. In my sociology courses in school they had us focusing on the MLA Style Manuel. As a publisher is there an industry preference? Thanks so much! And sorry if you've already answered this question somewhere! P.S. I hope you and your family are staying safe and finding peace in these turbulent times.
hi, Morgan! Thank you so much for the kind words! What a great question, and no, I don't think I covered it anywhere. For fiction editing, most people default to the Chicago Manual of Style. :) I hope you and yours are doing well, too! It's so nice to connect with you.
This was very helpful. Thanks!
Thanks for watching, Cheryl!!
Hello Bryn ! Not everything useful for me today I'm afraid, since french conjugating system is quite different ;) but I'd like to ask about italics. I see them often used for thoughts. Would you recommend it ? Maybe you will make a video about characters thinking and inner monologue so I'll just wait… Greetings from France to you all !
Hi, Helene! This is the only English-specific one in the whole series, I think! Here's how it works for English when it comes to thoughts...I'm not sure if it's the same in French, though! If the thought is like a line of a dialogue, but only thought instead of spoken out loud, it goes in italics. I actually have an episode about internal monologue coming up soon. :) Have a wonderful week!
HI, I really enjoyed his video. I was reading an article online about examples of how past perfect and simple past were used in Kurt Vonnegut's book slaughterhouse five. Whats your thoughts ?
So, would there ever be times you'd use past perfect tense outside of flashbacks? For clarification, if your story is in past tense, when might you also use it or is it best to keep the word 'had' out? Thanks, as always!
Hey, I'm so sorry I missed this before! Yes, there are definitely other times you'll use past perfect in a story written in past tense. Sentences like, "She'd texted him three times already, but she hadn't heard back," or "He'd cleaned the apartment earlier." It's not a complete flashback; just background information! Hope that helps!
How do you describe a photo in book if the story is written in past tense. Someone mentioned that we need to describe the photo in a present tense narrative to capture the now moment altho the book is written in past tense. I'm very confused. Thanks a lot.
Hi there! It would be jarring to switch to present tense to describe a photo. If the story is in past tense, this description would also be in past tense. Thanks for asking, and thanks for watching!
@@BrynDonovanWriter much appreciated.
How about past tense story and general truth? Such as： Jane went to church every Sunday. Sunday is/was the holy day of the Lord. Since Sunday is still the holy day. Should we use past or present tense here? Let's assume the whole story of Jane is in the past tense.
Hey there! Great question-lots of people get tripped up on this! It would still be past tense (although I would edit this to "Jane went to church every Sunday, the holy day of the Lord.") You are either in a character's POV or in omniscient POV, and either way, everything stays in the same tense. In this instance, we might be in Jane's POV. While Sunday is a holy day to Jane, for Jews and certain Christian denominations, Saturday is the holy day.
You see this a lot in descriptions of places ("Chicago had many beautiful skyscrapers"), mentioning of scientific facts ("since helium was lighter than air, the balloon rose") etc.
This is really helpful, thank you so much!