Skilled writers understand that rhythm in their work is important. But how do you know how much or how many sentences or paragraphs is more effective?
Writing Tip for Today: Let’s review the Rule of Three and how you can use it to improve your prose.
Why Three?
As I practiced my craft, I began to notice how some writers use or fail to use a good rhythm in their prose. I also knew that we humans like to talk about things in terms of threes. Although they say three’s a crowd, in writing, using a series of three creates a comfortable rhythm.
Like a three-legged stool, using series of three balances out other elements of the work. One, two and three of anything creates a familiar structure that readers appreciate. You don’t need to be repetitious or sing-song, but using a series of three here and there makes for an easy flow of words or phrases.
I started calling it the Rule of Three to encourage my writing students—but it’s not meant to be an unbreakable rule. More like a guideline. Find a good piece of writing by an author you admire and see if you can spot the Rule of Three anywhere.
Dialogue Threes
One of the best places to use the Rule of Three is in dialogue. New writers often struggle to craft conversations that aren’t one-sided or that get too long. Arguments are especially difficult to write in a lifelike way.
When one character says three lines of dialogue, break up the text by switching to the other speaker, a thought or feeling or some description of the setting. Readers can quickly forget who else is in the scene or even the setting itself. By alternating your dialogue in threes, you’ll create a balance so that readers can experience your entire scene as well as its purpose.
Monologues are tricky but if your character is alone and speaking or thinking, use the Rule of Three to shift attention to the setting or an emotion. Remember, you want readers to keep the whole scene in their imaginations. By switching in threes you won’t go on too long with any one element.
Remember, you want readers to keep the whole scene in their imaginations.
Paragraphs Too
The Rule of Three can also be useful for delineating by paragraphs. If you’ve written three paragraphs of description, narration or dialogue, you may want to change to a different mode.
Dialogue tends to read quickest, followed by action, narration, description and slowest, exposition. By not going past three paragraphs of any of these—except for high action scenes—you can avoid readers becoming bored with too much of any scenic technique.
The Rule of Three is only a guideline. Whether you’re describing a series of things, creating a balanced conversation or structuring a scene by paragraphs, this tip can help you judge how much weight any form should inhabit in your work.
