#tense errors

[tuliharja]

When I finally managed to write something after such a long time and got it even finished, comes the most dreadful step in the whole progress. Finding a beta reader.

I mean, finding a beta to specific fandom is already hard enough, but finding one who is willing to beta crossover? Next to impossible. I understand the beta readers want to be familiar with the fandom they're betaing for as it'll be easier to beta it (not to mention understand what is going on), but because of that, it's hard to find one who is willing to beta crossover fics. I especially find it unfortunate since I'm usually looking more technical beta (checking if my grammar is alright, did I spell everything right, are my tenses correct, etc.), because, despite the fact many people have told me my English is pretty good, I'm still not confident enough just to hit that 'post' button when it comes to my fics.

I can easily ramble like this on Tumblr or any other social platforms and not be that concerned if I ended up messing my text here and there, but when it comes to a fic it's a fully different story. I have this crippling anxiety if I end up posting unpolished, un-betaed fic online I'll be called out. (I've been called out in the past, which probably has made me like this.) I know these days people are more laidback about any technical errors as long as your text is at least readable. (At least in some platforms.) That change is a good thing since I remember how in the past you would get mercilessly called out if your fic's grammar wasn't top-notch. I know all that, yet even so...I can't help but worry. Each time I've written a fic, I just want someone, an English speaker to check my fic to make sure it's at least readable. Because while I could justify my grammar/spelling/etc. isn't top-notch because English isn't my mother tongue, I feel like at the end of the day it's just an excuse. I've studied English, so I should know basic grammar rules and other things. Yet even so...each time I look at the version the beta had sent to me, I'm surprised to see just how bad my English is even after all these years. Just like I'm surprised if they actually end up praising my skills. I mean, I've had my moments when my English writing is good, but I've also had my moments when it's just...not so good.

Because of that, I'm always dreading it a bit when I've to find a beta reader to my crossover fic. After all, it can take as much time as writing one fic, since finding a beta that suits your tastes isn't that easy. (Just like beta readers finding someone who suits their tastes.) But that doesn't mean I'll give up. After all, I already wrote that fic, and I'm proud of it. Even if anyone wouldn't read it (let's face it, not that many people read crossovers, especially if the other fandom is a very niche one), I still want to post it. And even if I know it would be more sensible to write just about one fandom, I can't help it if my heart beats for those crossover fandoms together.

Fingers crossed, I can find a beta to my crossover fic!

[jay-eddy]

Hi there, I was wondering if you could help me! Ummmm, in my writing, I notice that I keep writing in present and past tense. I want to keep it in one tense. So, my question is, how do I stick to one tense instead of mixing it up? Looking forward to your answer.

Hi!

Don’t worry, this is a problem that a lot of writers have and keeping to one tense while writing is something that comes with practice and editing. With time and practice, you will learn which tense is more natural to you; for instance, I tend to write in past tense whereas my friend chooses to write in present tense. This varies depending on who you are and is often influenced by what you read, but with time, you’ll learn what works for you.

When you start writing, take note of which tense you want to work in and try and train your mind to see the story that way. For instance, if you’re working in past tense try and remind yourself that your story has happened, the characters walked, said, fought, etc. But if you’re working in present tense, try and remind yourself that it’s happening to them right now, so they walk, say, fight, etc.

When rereading your work and editing it, take note of when you change tense and don’t be afraid to look up references on tense! There are a lot of references out there that can be helpful and if you’re still confused about what tense a word is you can always Google it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some times tense changes come from your notes or planning; if you plan the story out in present tense but write it in past tense, some of the errors filter through.

There are times when you need to change tense in your work. For instance, when you’re writing in present tense and use past tense to signify a flashback.

Don’t let this get you down! Tense is one of the hardest parts of writing and there are a lot of people out there who have the same problem, including me sometimes. The upside is there’s a lot of resources out there to help you too.

Hopefully this helps and all the best with your writing!

- AJ