History Main / PresentTenseNarrative

* NealStephenson mainly writes using this.

* {{Interactive Comic}}s, being a hybrid between InteractiveFiction and a webcomic, also frequently follow this formula.

* A trope often found in {{Chuck Palahniuk}}'s work, such as Literature/{{Haunted 2005}}, {{Rant}}, or FightClub.

* [[PlayingWithTropes Played with]] in the {{novelization}} of ''[[VideoGame/{{Crysis}} Crysis 2]]'' (called ''Crysis: Legion''). The novel is told in the first person by the [[HeroicMime normally silent]] protagonist, Alcatraz; it's presented as if Alcatraz is being debriefed, and he's recounting the events of the game, but oddly, he describes them in the ''present'' tense. This is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the when [[TheGhost the unheard interviewer]] doing the debriefing asks Alcatraz why he's talking like that ([[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic and so eloquently]]), and Alactraz just shrugs and says that he sometimes gets caught up in the story himself, and feels as if he's reliving it.

* The {{Doctor Who Expanded Universe}} novel ''Tomb of Valdemar'' also does this.
* The German novel ''DasBoot'' is written in the present tense.

* ''TheYiddishPolicemensUnion'' by MichaelChabon is written in present tense.

* CharlesDickens' ''Bleak House'' switches back between a first-person, past tense narrator and a third-person omniscient narrator in present tense.

* The second half of ''TheOnesWhoWalkAwayFromOmelas'' by Ursula K. Le Guin, the page for which has mysteriously disappeared.

* The {{DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse}} novel ''Tomb of Valdemar'' also does this.

* [[PlayingWithTropes Played with]] in the {{novelization}} of ''[[{{Crysis}} Crysis 2]]'' (called ''Crysis: Legion''). The novel is told in the first person by the [[HeroicMime normally silent]] protagonist, Alcatraz; it's presented as if Alcatraz is being debriefed, and he's recounting the events of the game, but oddly, he describes them in the ''present'' tense. This is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the when [[TheGhost the unheard interviewer]] doing the debriefing asks Alcatraz why he's talking like that ([[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic and so eloquently]]), and Alactraz just shrugs and says that he sometimes gets caught up in the story himself, and feels as if he's reliving it.

* A trope often found in {{Chuck Palahniuk}}'s work, such as {{Haunted}}, {{Rant}}, or FightClub.

* [[PlayingWithTropes Played with]] in the {{novelization}} of ''[[{{Crysis}} Crysis 2'' (called ''Crysis: Legion''). The novel is told in the first person by the [[HeroicMime normally silent]] protagonist, Alcatraz; it's presented as if Alcatraz is being debriefed, and he's recounting the events of the game, but oddly, he describes them in the ''present'' tense. This is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the when [[TheGhost the unheard interviewer]] doing the debriefing asks Alcatraz why he's talking like that ([[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic and so eloquently]]), and Alactraz just shrugs and says that he sometimes gets caught up in the story himself, and feels as if he's reliving it.

* [[PlayingWithTropes Played with] in the {{novelization}} of ''[[{{Crysis}} Crysis 2'' (called ''Crysis: Legion''). The novel is told in the first person by the [[HeroicMime normally silent]] protagonist, Alcatraz; it's presented as if Alcatraz is being debriefed, and he's recounting the events of the game, but oddly, he describes them in the ''present'' tense. This is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the when [[TheGhost the unheard interviewer]] doing the debriefing asks Alcatraz why he's talking like that ([[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic and so eloquently]]), and Alactraz just shrugs and says that he sometimes gets caught up in the story himself, and feels as if he's reliving it.

* Many who [[{{Hatedom}} dislike]] ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' cite the present-tense, first-person style as a factor.

The present tense tends to give a work a sense of urgency and immediacy, and as such is often used to increase tension in the story. The narration may switch from past to present- with or without explanation- to fulfill this end.

Overlaps in many cases with SecondPersonNarration. See also HowDoIUsedTense, for when this is done on accident.

* ComicBooks using ThoughtCaptions naturally have PresentTenseNarrative, since the "narration" is the character's thoughts. ''SpiderGirl'' combines it with SecondPersonNarration: "You are Spider-Girl!"

* ''Halting State'' by Charles Stross is written in present tense and ''second person''. As in "You turn on your computer and check your email". With multiple viewpoint characters all referred to as 'you'.

* Damon Runyon notoriously wrote most of his stories in present tense.

* ''TheYiddishPolicemensUnion'' by Michael Chabon is written in present tense.

* ''Halting State'' by Charlene Stross is written in present tense and ''second person''. As in "You turn on your computer and check your email". With multiple viewpoint characters all referred to as 'you'.

* Many who [[{{Hatedom}} dislike]] {{Twilight}} cite the present-tense, first-person style as a factor.

* The novel {{Elsewhere}} is entirely written in the present tense. YMMV as to whether or not it works well, or makes the book sound stilted and awkward.

* The novel {{''Elsewhere''}} is entirely written in the present tense. YMMV as to whether or not it works well, or makes the book sound stilted and awkward.

* The novel [[''Elsewhere'']] is entirely written in the present tense. YMMV as to whether or not it works well, or makes the book sound stilted and awkward.

* ChooseYourOwnAdventure books are often written in present tense.

* A trope often found in {{Chuck Palahniuk}}'s work, such as {{Haunted}}, {{Rant}}, or FightClub.

* John Updike's novel ''Rabbit, Run'' is one of the first major novels written entirely in present-tense.

* CharlesDickens' ''Bleak House'' switches back between a first-person, past tense narrator and a third-person omniscient narrator in present tense.