tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post1856375695506239324..comments2024-03-28T02:36:36.432-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Rule of Three in WritingJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83296253488005229072013-08-14T15:48:53.835-04:002013-08-14T15:48:53.835-04:00Thank you for your comment and visiting Writers Wh...Thank you for your comment and visiting Writers Who Kill, Sakib!<br /><br />Gloria, I would have loved to have been a student in your class learning about creative writing. Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-32110898255748935762013-08-14T10:58:02.235-04:002013-08-14T10:58:02.235-04:00Kara, I was traveling all day yesterday so I'm...Kara, I was traveling all day yesterday so I'm a little late with this. Like Sarah, when I taught a unit on folk or fairy tales I showed how often the number three was important. I also taught them all stories needed a beginning, a middle and an end. However, in my own writing, I don't follow the rule rigidly. I don't kill anyone in the first three chapters, I always have more than three suspects, and as for clues? I've never counted them to see how many there are because I sprinkle red herrings throughout, too. As for the number 333, my address for many years was 333 Raymond Street. Did it bring me luck? No more than at any other place I've lived. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-43156771379650267332013-08-13T22:12:14.409-04:002013-08-13T22:12:14.409-04:00Ah!..So it is all about 3..well written and hooked...Ah!..So it is all about 3..well written and hooked me up for reading!...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17417873504647273039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-9317198936977619722013-08-13T20:37:33.517-04:002013-08-13T20:37:33.517-04:00I didn’t know about using the rule of three to tea...I didn’t know about using the rule of three to teach a principle, Paula. I imagine it would also work to repeat something three times in order to help remember it. Thank you for the good example of its use in answering questions on the bar exam.<br /><br />Jacqueline, I didn’t realize that this rule was used in so many different areas. After I wrote this blog I found out that my husband uses the rule of three when giving speeches. He focuses the presentation on only three main takeaway points so, hopefully, the audience will remember.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-4712286299104352972013-08-13T17:13:01.860-04:002013-08-13T17:13:01.860-04:00I haven't heard this before, but it certainly ...I haven't heard this before, but it certainly seems like good advice.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-75720229901266129702013-08-13T16:23:58.933-04:002013-08-13T16:23:58.933-04:00Kara, great post!
I've always heard that to te...Kara, great post!<br />I've always heard that to teach a principle, the instructor should repeat it three times. I had a professor who would stop and repeat a concept three times in a row if he wanted the class to remember it.<br />Also, I remember a modified rule of three for answering the essay questions on the bar exam: (1) say who you represent (plaintiff, defendant, judge); (2) say how the problem would be resolved briefly; (2a) [at this point you describe at length the reasons for the resolution and if in writing the description you decide you were wrong, you go back and scratch it out and write the correct resolution]; and (3) conclude by saying, "as w representing x the answer is y because of z."<br />I think my lucky number is 4.Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-37773200376466777422013-08-13T14:18:08.221-04:002013-08-13T14:18:08.221-04:00Sarah, I suppose for plotting and suspects etc. th...Sarah, I suppose for plotting and suspects etc. the number used depends on what the story requires. I'm curious if an odd number of suspects (or anything) is more interesting to a reader than an even number. Or, maybe all that matters is a good story.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-49981222090952056662013-08-13T11:54:05.563-04:002013-08-13T11:54:05.563-04:00Good point about the rhythm of three events or cha...Good point about the rhythm of three events or characters, Shari. I hadn’t thought of it in terms of a cadence. <br />I hope you win big whatever numbers you play. <br />Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-7526647684538925182013-08-13T09:00:01.720-04:002013-08-13T09:00:01.720-04:00I tend to use the rule of three in description, I ...I tend to use the rule of three in description, I suppose. The old "tall, dark and handsome" but not that generic. As Shari said, it's the perfect rhythm. But, as for plotting, suspects, etc? Nope.Sarah Henninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06822639126179367121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-42166868167129769592013-08-13T08:36:48.739-04:002013-08-13T08:36:48.739-04:00Jim, I thought you might be a person who enjoys co...Jim, I thought you might be a person who enjoys coloring outside the lines on occasion. I like your idea of setting up a pattern then changing it to startle the reader. I think it's good to understand the rules in order to figure out the most effective way to break them.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12747149335718421862013-08-13T08:30:44.429-04:002013-08-13T08:30:44.429-04:00EB, I think you should buy a lottery ticket - 333!...EB, I think you should buy a lottery ticket - 333!<br />We do have that special "rhythm" of three events or characters ingrained in our children's literature - the three pigs, the three billy goats gruff (can you tell I am a children's librarian). That's why it is fun to break the rule and go off script with our stories!<br />Maybe I'll go buy a 333 lottery ticket....though my lucky number is 22.<br />Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-27323186768955740492013-08-13T08:26:07.852-04:002013-08-13T08:26:07.852-04:00I agree with Jim that the rule of three is ingrain...I agree with Jim that the rule of three is ingrained in us from reading other writers. It’s a surprise when we realize we’ve been unconsciously using them all along. I discovered that I use it too.<br /><br />E.B., your story sounds intriguing. I look forward to reading it.<br />Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-49614991311094375962013-08-13T07:50:20.243-04:002013-08-13T07:50:20.243-04:00Because writers before us have used the rule of th...Because writers before us have used the rule of three, readers are familiar with the pattern. Therefore, if I want to make the reader comfortable, I use the form A, B, and then C. However, when I want to startle the reader or provide a different emphasis, I can add a fourth or fifth element to mix things up.<br /><br />I don’t buy rules such as introduce a crime in the first three chapters to hook the reader. The inciting incident in the first scene should do the hooking sufficiently well so the crime can wait. And things like planting exactly three clues and mentioning each exactly three times drive a pantser like me crazy. The more the merrier, I say. Or in a pure suspense, one approach may be sufficient as the open question is whether and how the hero will avoid the nastiness set out for him.<br /><br />But I wasn’t ever very interested in strictly following rules.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-59748074307439849212013-08-13T07:32:40.562-04:002013-08-13T07:32:40.562-04:00I wasn't aware that I used the rule of three, ...I wasn't aware that I used the rule of three, but now that you brought it to our attention, I've found that I did. My protagonist undergoes three major events with the supernatural, she conducts three interviews during her investigation, and there are three suspects that she tries to investigate--and she has two friends making them a threesome. Guess I've used the rule whether I knew it or not. Maybe I'm more of a pantser than I realized. Thanks, Kara!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.com