Is a book better wrote in present or past tense?

It depends on the book and the author. Some people say that present tense makes the story more immediate and exciting, to which I say no, good writing is what does that. The reader soon adjusts to present tense, losing any advantage that it has just by being present tense.

If you depart from the conventions for whatever sort of story you're telling, the writing has to be that much better than average for the reader to get over the feeling of strangeness. Unless you can think of a good reason not to use the conventions, stick to them.

I know I'm just re-capping on what everyone else said, but it really depends on the story. Personally, I think that present-tense is more suited towards horror and paranormal stories. Present-tense, if done correctly, can build a lot of suspense.

However, as of late I prefer past-tense. Because a lot of times present-tense writing can seem very childish. Past-tense is easier to read sometimes. As a writer, my editorial skills die down a bit when I'm reading past-tense.

Although it's entirely up to the author's writing skills and how they're going to portray the story, past-tense just really works for some reason. I prefer it anyway.

So, in final response, it all depends on the genre and writer.

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I prefer past tense. It just feels right. I mean, a story is supposed to be a retelling in my opinion, not a it's-happening-now telling, you know? The only book I've ever read in present tense (That I remember) is The Hunger Games. I think present tense only works well in a book like that because since it's action-y you feel as if everything is at stake right now and is immediate and important.

I definitely prefer past tense. Present can work, but it's a little harder to stick to the writing style the whole book.

For you sake, it's a lot easier to write in past tense then in present tense

and I find I can follow a plot better if it is in past tense :)

As a child, I was rather irritated by the present-tense narration of the Our Little Friends in [this country or that] series. Later I came to appreciate that technique, especially when it was used in stream-of-consciousness narration, such as Faulkner sometimes used. However, I had to laugh when a character in one of Sharyn McCrumb's novels described a colleague's book as something like "artistic writing" or "cutting-edge writing" and then adds, "You know--in the present tense."

(Now change "wrote" to "written.")

There are almost no books written in the present tense.

It really depend on the authors writing style,I personally prefer past tense because I just think it sound a lot better.

I've always liked present tense, first person point of view best. There's something unique about having the main character tell you their story in "real-time." But that seems to be pretty contrary to everyone else..:)

it depends on you since you are the author of the story.

But try to consider these things first .

1. KNOW YOUR READER- traditionally, we are writing a book because we have some personal ideas in mind and want to share it with others. We want to share our own ideas, experiences to everybody without thinking if is it what our readers wants, if that is what they need? we focus n ourselves and forgetting the purpose why we are writing and it is for our readers.

2. CREATE A STRUCTURE-make an outline for your book so it would be so easy for you to edit or add any changes.

3. FILL IN THE BLANKS- " the road to someday will leads to a town of nowhere". We always say that I want to write a book someday, if I am ready enough to do it, etc and this will leads us to nowhere. if you want to write a book then start it NOW. this fill in the blanks is somewhat try to imagine yourself as the readers, ask yourself a questions what you want to know, what are your expectations from a book, questions that you think will probably the one that your readers are asking, etc and when you can answer it, you are now aware what are the needs of your readers.

And if you were able to follow this simple steps, then you are in the right track.