Point Of View & Tense: Understanding The Bounds Of Choice
“When you don’t understand the bounds of the choice you made, it's like writing yourself into a cul-de-sac over and over again. Present tense has intensity, but it doesn’t allow for almost any reflection, it doesn’t allow you to pop out and philosophize. It doesn’t allow you to demonstrate what grappling with those issues has given you or your character.” (21:10)
Most writers stick to the point of view and tense they started writing in, usually first-person present tense, never exploring the numerous options available. In this episode, Roxan and Desi make a case for experimenting with the available options and understanding the bounds of our choices. Tune in to hear the drawbacks and benefits of each tense and point of view.