Fanfic Question

[jetpack_monkey]

Do you find first-person present-tense narratives an enjoyable read? Would you read one? I'm writing a fic right now, and it just feels like a first-person present-tense narrative. I've been intrigued by the style since my introduction to the work of Dave Eggers, but if it's not something that people will find readable, then I'd rather not waste a lot of time on writing that way.

Comments

[sache.livejournal.com]

Ack, no.

Not that I have anything against that particular narrative. It's just that so many people TRY it and so few actually succeed at using it effectively.... And if that style isn't done effectively, it becomes an eyesore REAL quick.

[thevelvetdays.livejournal.com]

I echo her sentiment. It is so very difficult to pull off effectively and I'm convinced that 75% of the time, it's a crutch used by fanfic authors to create a distinction in their piece because they've otherwise run out of new ways to write about their chosen subject (I.E I've yet to see it done well in the fanfic universe. Eggers is a whole different realm.) In any fiction, I think that first person present defeats the primary purpose of fiction which is to reflect on the subject at hand. This style does not allow for the reflection element due to the immediacy of the action.

I'm trying to think of the author who does this, but I perfer first person past with some passages of first person present to move along the action. It doesn't sound confusing to the ear and actually is a very effective literary device in the proper story, given the proper plot.

This has been Literary Thoughts by Jack Handey under a large amount of snow.

[hjcallipygian.livejournal.com]

For me, it's all about the quality -- and the quality is usually on one end of the spectrum or the other, not in between. It's hard to write it without the aloof, slightly neurotic arrogance that Eggers has.

That said... hell, try it. The worst that happens is that you learn something about your writing; the best, you write a kick-ass fic. =)

[packmentality.livejournal.com]

Not my favorite style, but if it's written well I usually enjoy it.

Of course, I'm one of those crazies who would dare try to write in second-person present, so I may be too nutso to take seriously.

[qkellie.livejournal.com]

I think for something short, it works fine. For something longer, it can almost become illogical after a point.