Fiction writing format conundrum.......

[Blitzvogel]

Been wanting to write a science fiction story that I have had retained in my head (in it's basic format) for a while. The issue is I'm not to sure how I want to go about the two main parts of the story. I've been wondering if I should take on a sequential format of the two separate parts to the story, the first being past tense first person, with the second part in a third person present tense format. I've also considered the idea of alternating chapters, telling the past in one chapter, and the present in the next, relating the present chapter to the past, so on and so forth. However I'm having a tough time deciding which would be best. I can see telling a first person past tense chapter leading into a third person present tense chapter quite nicely, but at the same time, I feel like each part of the story should be told completely separately in order to magnify the main characters and actions associated with each part and in the end truly bring them together. This is a tough decision though. I want a coherent story, but I don't mind the idea of roughing things up a bit in order to force the reader to comprehend what is going on. Of course I want to keep it entertaining though........

Do any of you guys have suggestions on how to make this decision?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I suggest you start writing it down. This is the best advice you are going to get.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Write it straight sequential first person present tense and THEN play with style. If you get hung up on style, you'll never be able to develop the characters or story in a believable manner. Also, style questions are almost always better answered during the editing stage.