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The Historical Present

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ByronLord
Active Ink Slinger
I recently submitted a couple of stories in which I had used the historical present.

I open the message from the moderators and find a rejection: My story changes tense and does not involve time travel. I am shocked, disappointed. Don't the moderators know that the historical present is a time honored device for establishing immediacy?
RumpleForeskin
The Right Rev of Lush
ByronLord wrote: I open the message from the moderators and find a rejection: My story changes tense and does not involve time travel. I am shocked, disappointed. Don't the moderators know that the historical present is a time honored device for establishing immediacy?

Judging by that rejection, I'd say the answer is probably, no. To any list of the uninitiated, please add my name.

To the best of my (very) limited memory, I've never heard of, 'the historical presnt' at least not under that lable. Sounds like an interesting writing tool, however. Please reveal all.
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WellMadeMale
Constant Gardener
Quote by DirtyMartini


I just read that...still not sure I understand it...the first paragraph had big words like "rhetoric"..."employment"..."evaluation"...

My mind got lost fast...


Yeah, it sounds like a pretty tough row to hoe. I don't know that I'd try that, unless I was Charles Dickens.

But I would take another beer. Alan. Yanno, while you're in there.
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Sensei
Active Ink Slinger
It sounds like rejection based on the quality of the writing.

I'm a little surprised by that. I had no idea that, beyond an obvious, purely minimalistic requirement, that the moderators' criteria included anything beyond the site guidelines.

Might it not have been clear that the characters were of the correct age due to the use of this literary device, somehow?
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RumpleForeskin
The Right Rev of Lush
Ah, so. At least a thousand thanks, DLizzie. I've heard of the concept and even used the sucker but never knew it went by 'historical present' when in high-lit society.

The idea is if you use a flashback in the middle of a story, drag the fool thing out of past tense into present tense ASAP Of course, the real trick is doing all that while not confusing the reader. At least I think that's what it's all about. ;)
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DirtyMartini
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Quote by WellMadeMale


Yeah, it sounds like a pretty tough row to hoe. I don't know that I'd try that, unless I was Charles Dickens.

But I would take another beer. Alan. Yanno, while you're in there.


Yeah, let's have another beer and ponder this whole Historical Present thing...

So, tell me Jeff...you mean you're not really Charles Dickens? Don't tell me that was just a line you were using in the Lush forum to impress chicks...

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overmykneenow
Active Ink Slinger
Unfortunately in modern writing it just tends to look a bit wonky. It's not helped by the fact that it's most commonly used these days in pub conversations, usually about football (soccer)

"So, yeah, he turns 'round to me and starts givin' it all that." "He gets the ball, cuts inside, leaves the defender lookin' like a fish in a tree and bang! Back of the net."
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Shylass
Gingerbread Lover
Quote by overmykneenow
Unfortunately in modern writing it just tends to look a bit wonky. It's not helped by the fact that it's most commonly used these days in pub conversations, usually about football (soccer)

"So, yeah, he turns 'round to me and starts givin' it all that." "He gets the ball, cuts inside, leaves the defender lookin' like a fish in a tree and bang! Back of the net."


I use this technique all the time when doing impressions of my shop customers for people

Perhaps the story did seem a little mixed up to the mod who got it? Or maybe it just didn't seem to flow? Did the mod give you any more idea over what the issue was?
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Guest
Lurker
Quote by overmykneenow
Unfortunately in modern writing it just tends to look a bit wonky. It's not helped by the fact that it's most commonly used these days in pub conversations, usually about football (soccer)

"So, yeah, he turns 'round to me and starts givin' it all that." "He gets the ball, cuts inside, leaves the defender lookin' like a fish in a tree and bang! Back of the net."


The historical present is also used in jokes:

A piece of string walks into a bar.
"Are you a piece of string? "says the barman.
"Why yes, I am!" says the piece of string.
"Sorry, we don't serve string here." says the barman, and the piece of string leaves.
A little while later a second piece of string walks into the bar.
"Are you a piece of string? "says the barman.
"Why yes, I am!" says the second piece of string.
"Sorry, we don't serve string here." says the barman, and the second piece of string leaves.
A little while after that, a tatty and grimy piece of string walks into the bar.
"Are you a piece of string? "says the barman.
"No, I'm a frayed knot."


Oh, and in the original Greek of Mark's Gospel. Since that had no punctuation and joins all the sentences with "and then" it would have been rejected by the moderators as well lol.
F_Star
Rookie Scribe
Quote by Graham_X


Oh, and in the original Greek of Mark's Gospel. Since that had no punctuation and joins all the sentences with "and then" it would have been rejected by the moderators as well lol.


That, and Mary was underage.
Guest
Lurker
Quote by F_Star


That, and Mary was underage.


Oh yeah, true. I didn't think of that