Should I use past tense for a third-person novel?

It varies. If the author wants to draw the reader into the action as it happens, present tense might be the way to go. But if a broader perspective or a more classic storytelling approach is desired, past tense is commonly used.

Well, both can work. Present tense can add a sense of urgency, but past tense often gives a more straightforward narrative flow. It really comes down to the style and effect you want to create.

Past tense is often used in novels to give a sense of events that have already happened. It creates a more traditional storytelling feel.

It depends. Sometimes using the past perfect tense can add depth and clarity to your story, especially when dealing with multiple timelines or complex sequencing of events.

It depends on the story you want to tell. Sometimes, past tense can add a sense of nostalgia or history to the narrative.

Whether you use the first or third person when writing a novel depends on the writing style and the theme of the story. The first person is usually used to tell personal experiences or directly show the inner world of the character so that the reader can better understand the characters and plot in the story. This style of writing is more likely to resonate with the reader's emotional response, but it may also limit the development of the story because the reader can only start from the author's point of view. The third person allowed the author to control the plot and direction of the story more freely. At the same time, it also provided more perspectives and background information for the readers to better understand the relationship and psychological state of different characters in the story. The choice of first or third person depended on the writing style and the theme of the story. If you want the reader to better integrate into the story, you can consider using the first person; if you want to have more freedom to control the development of the story, you can consider using the third person.

Not all third-person English novels are written in the past tense. In English, the third person singular refers to a story told from the first person's point of view, but when used to describe the number or state of other people or things, the past tense of the verb is used. For example, she had been to Paris several times before. However, some third-person English novels may use different writing methods such as using the present or past tense to describe the state of other people or things. Therefore, not all third-person English novels were written in the past tense.

Yes, it can. Writing a novel in the past tense is a common choice as it helps create a sense of distance and storytelling.

It depends on the tone and style you want to create. Present tense can make the story feel more immediate and immersive, while past tense is often used for a more traditional narrative.

You might use the past perfect when you need to clarify the sequence of events in a story. It helps avoid confusion. Say, 'He had finished his homework when his friends came over.'