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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/44009
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I'm writing a story told mostly in first person point of view in present tense where the narrator alternates between two characters from chapter to chapter.

I have gotten some critics about this point of view, that it seems "wrong", which I sort of understand where it comes from, since it is a very limited point of view, but I think it is nice since I can fully show the discrepancies in the characters limited view of the world, and that is the main focus for instance.

However, I'm planning to have a third person omniscient point of view for describing important events in the future.

While I was thinking about doing it in present tense, the critics about present tense made me think it might be better to write it in past tense instead.

I do see people saying that keeping a consistent tense is better, though, but it is at the same time true that past tense should be better for the storytelling in this point of view.

Shall I keep the present tense in this point of view for the consistence (since it happens in the same timeline)? Or is it okay to switch to past tense? (is it risky if not done correctly? Or it just doesn't matter since the pov switches as well?)

Original score: 2