Do you write a suicide note in past or present tense?

[bojackgoes]

For example "you were my best friend" vs "you are my best friend"

 

[skybox]

...Don't think it matters, but I would do present tense because it sounds less disconnected

 

[INTJme]

Don't think people reading your suicide note would criticise you for the incorrect use of tenses. Or maybe they will.... As a former copy-editor, I definitely would've but you're lucky I'm not your best friend. Here's hoping your actual best friend isn't like me.

 

[Aprilfarewell4]

Everything I wrote is past tense.

 

[sserafim]

I'm not planning to write a note, but I guess past tense? It makes sense to write it that way

 

[4everDone]

Like wtf is this question lol
Just write whatever fits the topic of the paragraph. This ain't no grammar lesson

 

[Ksmиda]

I feel like writing it in the past tense emphasises that you're gone, which can be both good or bad, depending on the message and the person reading it.

 

[limeoctave]

Like wtf is this question lol
Just write whatever fits the topic of the paragraph. This ain't no grammar lesson

this is absolutely normal question

i think i'm going to write this in the present tense, since i'll still be alive when i write it

 

[willitpass]

Honestly every note I've ever written the tense changes frequently. I write them with enough emotion that whatever I feel is what gets written, meaning the tense is incredibly inconsistent. I've never been the grammar police on my own suicide note so if it's incorrect I could not care less.

 

[justcallmeJ]

I just reread my notes and i just kept mixing between present and past tense, I never been great at writing xD
I dont think it matters really, i think both are correct in thier way, just let your feelings write the note <3

 

[vitalism]

Like wtf is this question lol
Just write whatever fits the topic of the paragraph. This ain't no grammar lesson

I think it's a fair question. But I agree that it shouldn't be about correct grammar -- it should be about what feels best. Even if that means flipping back and forth between both tenses

 

[elderDrifter]

I think using the past tense is most natural most of the time, but in my note I used the present tense when it made sense, like when describing my present experiences that are still driving me to wanna CTB.

 

[cheese.out]

I just reread my notes and i just kept mixing between present and past tense, I never been great at writing xD
I dont think it matters really, i think both are correct in thier way, just let your feelings write the note <3

Same here - grammatically its probably a mess :D

 

[Blurry_Buildings]

I don't think it matters. If your intended recipient(s) are religious past tense might be more depressing, since they might subconciously interpret it more as you being gone forever. If your recipient(s) dwell on things present tense might lack closure.

You can use different tenses and be grammatically correct as long as you use them in seperate sentences. I think people generally like it when you keep paragraphs seperated by tense but iirc its not a rule, especially for a shorter amount of writing.

I don't think its a good idea to worry about it though. You should write what you want to write.