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It's interesting that novels tend to be written in the past tense, while screenplays are written exclusively in the present tense. I write both, and I don't fee
by ggambetta 6y ago
It's interesting that novels tend to be written in the past tense, while screenplays are written exclusively in the present tense. I write both, and I don't feel strongly about it; the usual way is fine by me.
- chmod775 6y agoIt is a matter of preference to readers of novels. Someone may have trouble enjoying novels written in present tense because they're accustomed to past tense - or vice versa. A writer probably wouldn't write something they wouldn't enjoy reading themselves.
- wodenokoto 6y agoMaybe I’m overthinking / overrationalizing, but to me a screenplay is a set of instructions for what happens at a given time step. “After A be will happen” A novel is typically seen as a recollection of events that has been gathered after the fact, typically by an all knowing narrator or the main character. “After A happened, B happened”.