Local Revision: Tense Usage

Anonymous, "Eight is Past Tense" via FailingFifth.com 08/13/2007 Noncommercial ShareAlike 2.5 License It is difficult to remember to stay in one tense, rather than switching tenses within one sentence. I definitely have a very bad habit of not paying attention to my tenses. But in writing in mostly the present tense, I bring the reader into the action, rather than just telling them what had happened. Past Tense Started Saw Had Been Wanted Decided Grew Grew Grew Was Was Began Accompanied Had Failed Failed Had Been Had Considered Was Has Had Began Brew Has Been Involved Dedicated Failed Became Released Had Started Began Began Needed Released Has Been Implied Has Been Were Backed Said Been Contaminated Had Was Was Made Elected Declared Had Was Was Stated Wanted Realized Could Gave Take Leaked Worried Worried

Presence Tense Is Working Leave Billowing Following Complaining Use Prevent Happening Notify Is Fighting Is Is Holds Are Sits Sit Tapping Sitting Sitting Be Get Is Has Working Brew Isn't Working Are Trying Make Persecuting Is Going Like Gets Is Care Have Squash Get Is Acting Is Showing Provides Notify Complain Drilling Shut Begin Has Has Providing Have Moving Are According Itching Vomiting Are Have Bring Including Are Suing Implement Notify Are Have Has Had States Lie Admit Has Is Is Has Declares Is Give Fixing Could Ignore Puts Leaking Dictates Cap Is Cause Is Are

Future Tense Will

• The tense that is most prevalent in my draft seems to be the present tense, as if I was telling the story as it is happening.
• I feel like telling the story in the present tense allows the audience to imagine like they are actually there as the story is unfolding. 
• At some points I switched accidentally from past to present or vice versa. I think that shows weakness in writing skills, especially when it happens in the span of a single sentence.
• The fact is that most of my story is being told in the present tense, which I really think helps the story telling, makes it interesting to listen to. Rather than being told about some story that happened long ago, they are actually there, experiencing the action.