So if someone was doing something right now that I write in present tense and their thoughts featured a recollection of a past event, one that is definitely finished I`d use the "he had done so and so"?
If it is the character recollecting without a flashback, yes. But it is even best to leave it out then for effective, clean writing, and just use past tense. You can indicate it was a past event by phrases, such as "remembered." Such as: "As he washed the dishes, he remembered when he went to brunch every Sunday after church." (*reminds self to make examples that make sense*) If that seems too "not-subtle", it is. It's this finesse of writing so the audience knows what time they're reading about.
And then of course there is past dialogue. *drops dead*
If it's direct quoting/dialogue, it's iffy. It depends on how you bracket/bookend it with narration or other dialogue: He stared at the cliff-edge of the water-hole. "I told you it was dangerous," he had said. I love you, he had said. I love you, he said once.
What I never really know what to do with things that "linger", like feelings. Say if I want to establish that person A had a certain effect on person B they would presumably still have, only A and B currently don`t interact so it`s all technically in the past.
Yes, you can use "had/have" for this. Such as: "He had fallen for her/him/shim." However, this feels like the definite past event that may not still be true. Again, it is best to cut the "to be" verb: "He fell for her/him/shim." See how it feels more "lingering"? The audience immediately will ask questions in their heads, like: "Is he still in love?" Because the "had fallen," carries with it the connotation that it is an isolated event in the past, with a definite beginning AND END.
ARGH. Just send whatever to me and I'll edit with you.
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Date: 2008-03-23 12:23 am (UTC)If it is the character recollecting without a flashback, yes. But it is even best to leave it out then for effective, clean writing, and just use past tense. You can indicate it was a past event by phrases, such as "remembered." Such as: "As he washed the dishes, he remembered when he went to brunch every Sunday after church." (*reminds self to make examples that make sense*) If that seems too "not-subtle", it is. It's this finesse of writing so the audience knows what time they're reading about.
If it's direct quoting/dialogue, it's iffy. It depends on how you bracket/bookend it with narration or other dialogue:
He stared at the cliff-edge of the water-hole. "I told you it was dangerous," he had said.
I love you, he had said.
I love you, he said once.
Yes, you can use "had/have" for this. Such as: "He had fallen for her/him/shim." However, this feels like the definite past event that may not still be true. Again, it is best to cut the "to be" verb: "He fell for her/him/shim." See how it feels more "lingering"? The audience immediately will ask questions in their heads, like: "Is he still in love?" Because the "had fallen," carries with it the connotation that it is an isolated event in the past, with a definite beginning AND END.
ARGH. Just send whatever to me and I'll edit with you.