Mastering the Art of Foresight: Exploring the Subtlety of Writing in Future Tense
In the world of storytelling, the past and present tenses are the most commonly used to narrate events, but what about the future? Writing fiction in future tense is an unconventional choice that can add a unique perspective to your narrative. Here's a guide on how to write in future tense, along with examples, and the pros and cons of its usage in storytelling.
### Mastering Future Tense in Fiction
To write in future tense, use auxiliary verbs like "will" or "going to," followed by the base verb. For continuous or progressive actions in the future, use constructions like "will be doing." Narrate events that the characters or narrator anticipate will happen.
**Example:**
- "She will walk into the room and will see the surprise waiting for her." - "By the time the clock strikes midnight, the city will be sleeping, unaware of the danger approaching."
### The Advantages of Future Tense in Fiction
Using future tense can create a sense of anticipation and suspense, as everything is told as if it's about to happen. This unique narrative style can differentiate your story from the common past or present tense narratives, offering a fresh perspective. It's particularly suitable for speculative or prophetic tales where the emphasis is on what is yet to come.
### The Drawbacks of Future Tense in Fiction
While future tense can be effective in creating suspense, it can also feel awkward or unnatural to some readers, as they are accustomed to past tense storytelling. It may disrupt immersion and limit flexibility for flashbacks or reflections. Maintaining tense consistency can be challenging, and switching between tenses can confuse readers.
### Context and Conventions
Traditional fiction mainly uses past tense to recount events, but present tense is gaining popularity for its immediacy. Using future tense could be effective in short story hooks or framed narratives that imply unfolding events. Generally, future tense is rare in extended fiction but can be employed authoritatively in dialogue, prophecy, or internal monologue.
### In Conclusion
Writing fiction in future tense means narrating events as if they will happen, using verbs like "will go" or "shall do." It is an unconventional choice with potential benefits for suspense or thematic purposes, but carries challenges in readability and narrative flexibility. If you choose to experiment with future tense, ensure tense consistency and consider your story's style and audience expectations carefully.
While the future tense is not commonly used in fiction writing, it can be experimented with to add a fresh and engaging twist to your storytelling.
- Delving into the realms of education and self-development, understanding and mastering future tense in fiction can provide a unique avenue for improving one's narrative storytelling skills.
- By employing future tense in their writing, aspiring authors can differentiate their works from conventional past or present tense narratives, fostering a captivating sense of anticipation and offering fresh perspectives, thereby contributing to personal growth in the realm of storytelling.
