Swapping tenses

Question

In creative writing, when is it okay to switch tenses? I feel like I might have a misunderstanding of past and present tense.

Example:
Desmond sat inside the barren room, pondering what he was here for - as well as who might be on the other side of that one way mirror.

Should it instead be?:
Desmond sat inside the dramatically empty room and pondered what he was here for - as well as who might be on the other side of that one way mirror.

I also do this a lot with dialogue:
“Well, did you hear about the party tonight? Please come!” she pleaded, reaching out and tugging on his sleeve.

vs:
“Well, did you hear about the party tonight? Please come!” she pleaded and reached out to tug on his sleeve.

Is one of these more correct than the other?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI feel like I might have a misunderstanding of past and present tense.

Yes. I can see that. You think you're confusing past with present, but you're confusing the present tense with present participles.

Anonymous1 pondering what he was here for / 2 and pondered what he was here for
1 she pleaded, reaching out and tugging on his sleeve. / 2 and reached out to tug on his sleeve.

The expressions numbered 1 do not contain the present tense. With an -ing form you need to add an auxiliary form of be to make a present tense. "is pondering" is present tense. "pondering" is a participle; it has no tense. "is reaching out" is present tense. "reaching out" is a participle; it has no tense.

Participles take their tense from the main verb in the sentence; they have no tense of their own. Both of your examples have a main verb in the past (sat; pleaded), so the participles (-ing forms) are implicitly in the past as well. It is irrelevant that the -ing forms are used to form the present (continuous) tense. Without the auxiliary they can't express any tense of their own.

The expression numbered 2 in each pair doesn't have the exactly the same meaning as the corresponding 1. In those numbered 1 the actions of the main clause and the participle clause take place at the same time. In those numbered 2 the actions take place one after the other.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you! That clears things up so much. I wasn't sure what term I'd stumbled upon here, and I'd never heard of participles before this. Now I can continue to write without fearing that my writing is clunky. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Anonymous · Answer

In the context of creative writing, this kind of "is-the-grammar-correct"-type of question shouldn't even be asked.  This is creative writing - where you create - not a textbook grammar exercise.  Literally, anything goes in creative writing, even things that are technically "ungrammatical."  If it entertains the reader, it's okay, no matter what it is.

Blue Jay · Answer

AnonymousIn the context of creative writing, this kind of "is-the-grammar-correct"-type of question shouldn't even be asked. This is creative writing - where you create - not a textbook grammar exercise. Literally, anything goes in creative writing, even things that are technically "ungrammatical." If it entertains the reader, it's okay, no matter what it is.

I disagree. Grammar and vocabulary choices are part of the writer's craft. He or she may be able to bend the rules at times, but repeatedly flouting them is not likely to produce good writing.

Anonymous · Answer

In creative writing you're looking to entertain, rather than get an A on a grammar exam.  To entertain you've got to create rhythm, flow, atmosphere; the prose has to literally reach out from the paper and grab the reader.  That's what the writer should be looking to do, not score perfect on a grammar exam.

Swapping tenses

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