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help me! starting a new novel....my first actually, need help with the tense

emilyhercockemilyhercock
edited October 2014 in - Writing Problems
i had an idea for a book when I was 14. I am now 23 and I just can't shake the story, it has really stuck with me.
being a first time writer however I'm getting a little confused with tenses.
for example

I had decided I didn’t like Notting Hill as soon as mum announced that we were going to move there. Not only did I have to change school halfway through my GCSE’s , I had to leave behind our picturesque cottage that I had lived in my whole life and loved so much.

is this past tense?
I have dyslexia so I struggle with this.
if its not can anyone help me out?
thank you!

Comments

  • Tiny NellTiny Nell
    Hi Emily,
    Yes, that's all past tense. It's to do with the verbs. As soon as you put 'have' or 'had' in front of another verb, you make it a past tense. Also, if you add
    '-ed' to the end of a verb, it becomes past. (There are different types of 'past' but I won't go into that)

    So:

    PRESENT
    I decide/I am deciding
    Mum announces/Mum is announcing
    We are going
    I am to change school
    I am to leave behind

    PAST
    I have decided/ I had decided/I decided
    Mum announced/Mum has announced/Mum had announced
    We were going
    I have to change school/I had to change school
    I had to leave behind/I left behind

    There are so many rules.

    However, you have followed your gut instinct without knowing what those rules are, so stick with that; you're doing fine!
  • heatherheather
    Yes, it's past tense.

    There are different types of past tense however (names are escaping me but someone else will chip in).

    'I had decided' is longer ago than 'I decided', but both are past tense.

    e.g I was unhappy in my new home. I had decided as soon as Mum announced it that I wouldn't like Notting Hill.

    The 'unhappy' part is past tense and is happening at the time of the story. The 'I had decided' has happened before the time of the story. Hope that makes sense!
  • boredrobotsboredrobots
    Yes, it is past tense. If you're describing anything that has already happened it is past tense. Be careful with how many "had's" you add. It's a mistake newer writers make. For example you can remove the first one and it actually makes the setence stronger:

    I decided I didn't like Notting Hill...
  • boredrobotsboredrobots
    Damn slow work computers and cross posting :P
  • CarolCarol
    And if you've changed tense you'll hear it if you read it aloud.
  • snailmalesnailmale
    The others have put you right. Good luck with the novel, emily.
  • Phots MollPhots Moll
    I wouldn't worry too much about things like tense at the moment. Get on and write the first draft first. You'll almost certainly have to do a lot of rewriting and tidying up and can sort it all out then.

    You might decide you want to make it present tense, or switch to third person or have this bit as a flashback ...
  • emilyhercockemilyhercock
    hi guys thank you...wasn't sure anyone would reply.
    do excuse me if I use txt slang on here lol
    I do write properly in my book lol
    I started this first chapter completely different! from first person.
    it was really hard to follow and my husband proof read it and pointed out that much of it just didn't add up.
    so I restarted and im getting on much better writing from past tense.
    I love Jodi picoult and want to do the whole each chapter is a character style but that involves time scale complications.
    this writing lark is the long haul eh?
    :-)
  • Tiny NellTiny Nell
    Yep. Say goodbye to your free time from now on...
  • Phots MollPhots Moll

    this writing lark is the long haul eh?
    :-)
    Oh yes.
  • LizyLizy
    Everyone else got in first with their advice, and despite what people say, you CAN have too much, so I'll refrain from adding to it.

    What I will say is that if you've had this idea for seven years it definitely has to be written. And that it might be a good idea to find a second reader - husbands are never the best judges.

    And welcome to the forum.
  • Tiny NellTiny Nell
    Yes, a belated welcome, Emily.

    When new members join, they usually start a new thread introducing themselves. You'll get to meet a lot more TBers if you do that. Only the odd few will respond to this thread.
  • snailmalesnailmale
    You're a fine one to call anyone odd, TN!
  • Tiny NellTiny Nell
    It takes one to know one, sm...

    \:D/
  • Phots MollPhots Moll
    the odd few
    Oi! I may be odd, but I am legion.

  • JenJen
    I know what you mean about having a story you can't shake. I keep re-writing the same one, I don't know if I'll ever get around to writing a decent version of it. I'm a bit stuck. But the story won't leave me be
  • Mrs BearMrs Bear
    the odd few
    Oi! I may be odd, but I am legion.

    I'm French Foreign Legion.

  • LizyLizy
    edited November 2014
    I'm Royal British Legion - especially this month with an open air Remembrance Service to organise.
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