WIP Day - Past or Present?

I will start today's post with admitting:
I am such a huge slacker.

I was supposed to dive into editing ITB as soon as 2012 started.  Well... last night I finally began.  I am full of the excuses:

I am mad at my missing chapters.  My kids are absolutely crazy.  I just need to finish watching the last season of Charmed.  My brain went on vacation and let me here in a mindless drooling lump.  I am hungry.

Honestly though, it is just because I am a slacker.

Last night I finally opened my ITB file, and began my first read through of my Camp NaNoWriMo 2011 novel, pen and notepad in hand.  And let me tell you... it has much editing ahead of it.  I knew it would before I even started.  But actually seeing it... *sigh* I have to keep reminding myself that this is perfectly normal.  That it is part of the writing process, right??

Here is one thing I am finding though.
I wrote ITB in 1st person.  And for some reason, I tend to bounce between past and present tense at times.  (I blame it on the word sprints.  Frenzied fingers equal confused tenses.  Ha.)  So now I am wondering: Which tense should I keep?  Is one more appropriate for this piece than another?  Is one better overall?

Oh, the questions.

I am thinking I will need to fully write an entire chapter in each tense, then see which flows with my story better.  It sounds like a decent plan to me.  I already did it with a short blip from the story, and that didn't help me much.  I am clearly seeing the strengths with each option... and am in quite a bind!  Tell me your thoughts! Please!

Let us talk, Past vs. Present.  And... go!

Aside from that... WIP day is just wip-ping along.  I will read/notate more tonight.  I will!  If you find me on Twitter or Facebook goofing off, please... do yell at me.

PN Update:
Just a quick note.  Tomorrow (aka Thursday) I will be ordering another box of books for my personal stock. If you just so happen to want to order a signed copy from yours truly, please let me know via email before then so I can make sure to have enough in stock for you!  Signed copies are $13 (which already includes the s/h) You know you want to...

Now for more kicks and giggles... I want to share a few of the photos I received recently from bookish friends.

Trisha showing off her copy of PN! My book is across the globe!
Ruthie with her very own copy :)
I couldn't help it.  I need to jump in for a pic too!
Don't forget... Kindle copies rock too!

Vince sharing his newest ebook purchase!

That is about it for my WIP day.  How be yours?

Happy Writing!

Comments

Everytime you wrote 1TB I thought one terrabyte...which is a huge amount of information storage. I was taken aback and experienced many "whoah" moments.
Jenni Merritt said…
Oh man, I am actually saving up to get myself a 1 TB external hard drive. They are so pretty... I need one, or twenty...

But no... it is ITB. As in "In the Blood" ;)
Anonymous said…
Don't be hard on yourself for procrastinating – it's normal for writers. In fact, I worry that there's something wrong with me because I almost never do it!
Hehehe - I'm special! I'm in your blog! LOL Have you figured out the past tense present tense thing yet?
Jenni Merritt said…
LLLW - Yes, you ARE special :)

I think I may have decided on my tense... we will see what I settle on by Wednesday. Who knows...

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