In fiction, when and why do you favour the present or past tense?

Question: In fiction, when and why do you favour the present or past tense!?

if you like reading novels in the present tense, please say why you find it so effective; similarly, if you prefer the past tense, please suggest why and when and how!.
i am a writer, andhave my own preferences in different settings, but i would like to hear from others (writers and readers) to gauge more opinion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The present tense can be effective because it gives the story a "modern" feel; the narrator seems to be telling *you* the story directly!. We often use the present tense when we tell stories to each other naturally !.!. "So I go downstairs, right, and I find her waiting there for me and she's like --"

But with the past tense, the events of the story actually register in your mind!. With the present tense, it's easy for a reader to feel detached and uninvolved with a story that they seem to be only watching rather than experiencing!. Past-tense stories invite the reader to think and visualize what's happening !.!.!. while the present-tense seems more informal, and going along at a quicker pace!.

That's kind of what I've observed, anyway :)Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm not particularly partial one way or another!. I tend to prefer first person present tense for dramatic scenes, while i find third person past tense to be more effective for humor!.
In general I like past tense for lighthearted books, and present tense for depressing books, mainly because if someone is talking about something sad in past tense, it sounds hopeless!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Present tense can be good for action and interaction/reactions between characters, but the drawback is that you can't make any judgments about the characters!. You have no time to think, you're just running along beside!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I love present tense!. In present tense, there is much more detail and feeling about the situation at the time!.Www@QuestionHome@Com