What is Wā kōrero?
Ko te wā kōrero te wā e whakamahia ana e tētahi pūrākau ki te whakamārama i ngā kaupapa (i te nuinga o te wā, i mua rānei). E whakarārangahia tēnei ki te āhua o te wā ki te pānui, ki te mahara, ki te mārama, ki te wheako o te pānui.
Ko te wā kōrero ka kī ki te pānui āhea ngā kaupapa o tētahi pūrākau e tupu ana i te wā e kōrerohia ana. Ko ngā kōwhiringa matua ko te wā o mua (pēnei i te 'She walked into the room') me te wā o nāianei (pēnei i te 'She walks into the room'). He mea nui te wā o mua ki te whakapā atu ki te mahara, ā, ka waihanga te wā o nāianei i te tūmahara ki te rere o ngā mea, ā, ka kaha ake te noho mātakitaki. Ētahi atu momo—te wā kua oti (She had loved him), te wā kua oti (She has loved him), me ngā wā e haere ana (She was leaving / She is leaving)—e āwhina ana ki te whakarite i ngā mahi ki ētahi atu kaupapa (ngā flashbacks, ngā wā e haere ana, ngā mahi kua oti). I roto i ngā pūrākau aroha āmiki (interactive romance fiction), ka mahi tahi te wā me te tirohanga (tuatahi, tuarua, tuatoru) ki te whakakotahi i te whanaungatanga, te tere, me te tangi o te kare-ā-roto.
Usage example
Tauira wā o mua: I kati ia te tatau ki muri i a rātou, i kata rāua, e mahara ana ki te hātepe i ō rātou rā tuatahi.
Tauira wā o nāianei: Ka kati ia te tatau ki muri i a rātou, e kata ana, e mahara ana ki te mea pōtiki i ō rātou rā tuatahi.
Practical application
Ko te whakamahinga o te wā e tohu ana i te wheako pānui me ngā tikanga o te pūrākau. Mō ngā pūrākau aroha ā-ipurangi pēnei i te Endless Romance:
- Whakaurunga: ka mārama ake te wā o nāianei ki ngā kōwhiringa i te wā tere, ā, ka kaha ake ngā pānga; ka whakanuia te wā o mua ki ngā mahara/whakaaro.
- Reo me te tangata: e tautoko te wā i te reo o te tangata—he wā o mua te nuinga o te aroha, engari mō ngā tangata kaha ki te ngākau i te wā tonu, pai te wā o nāianei.
- Struktur: ka awe te wā ki te whakahaere i ngā flashbacks, ngā wā o te rārangi, me te tere o te whakaatu puta o ngā peka.
- Production: mā te wā mārama ki te whakariterite, te reo ki te reo, me te oro. Mēnā ka hurihia ngā huringa wā ki te wā kua tohua (mārama i te tohu), ka kaha te pānga ki te kare-ā-roto; engari ki te huri hāngai, ka whakāhore i te pānui, nā reira me whakarite te wā i te tīmatanga, ā, whakamahia hei whakapiki i te pānga o te wairua.
FAQ
Can I mix tenses in a romance story?
Yes—mixing tenses is possible but should be intentional. Common uses include present tense for immediate scenes and past tense for framing or reflection. Label transitions (chapter breaks, clear time markers, or a change in POV) to avoid reader confusion.
Is present tense better for interactive, choice-driven stories?
Present tense often heightens immediacy and player agency, making choices feel urgent. However, past tense can work well if your story frames choices as memories or consequences. Choose based on the emotional tone you want.
How do I handle flashbacks and backstory without breaking tense?
Use past perfect (had + past participle) or switch to a clearly signaled past-tense section for flashbacks. Keep the main timeline in one tense and mark the shift with chapter headings, scene breaks, or temporal phrases (e.g., “Two years earlier”).