First off I find it strange there is no writing category on a site dedicated to writing :)

Ok on to the meat of the topic. I have read several books that state the standard narrative tense is past tense though on occasion present tense is used to tell a story. These books have said that the reader is more detached from present tense.

Personally I find that strange. I think that writing in present tense brings the action to life more than in past tense. So when I wrote the second book I told it completely in the present. Recently reading part of balaspa's preview post and some further investigation I see many people use past tense.

So how do you all feel about writing a story in past vs. present? Which do you prefer to use? Which tense do you actually like to read more? Have you ever bothered to think about it? I am beginning the reading and editing phase of the second book and I am contemplating if I should change the story to past tense from its current present tense configuration. Am I just being over-analytical?

ARGH!