11.12.08

Not to mention third time’s a charm

Posted in writing craft at 8:05 am by Bill Brohaugh

When I speak to writers’ groups about Write Tight, I usually talk about the power of three in writing. Three examples to make a point; three items in a row to establish a rhythm; the beginning-middle-end core of storytelling. To emphasize the first of those, yes, three ways to apply three to writing, I note that when providing examples, one is a fluke; two, a coincidence; three, a pattern; four, a bore.

For an excellent analysis of a modernday example of the power of three in communication, I give you three links related to Barack Obama’s election night speech:

• David Crystal’s Blog
• An article titled “On Obama’s victory style”
• And given things Washingtonian, the unsurprisingly named DC Blog

Please note that the three links go to the same place. The “DC” in DC Blog is David Crystal and his blog entry is titled “On Obama’s victory style.” But what better way to get you to go there than to invoke the power of three?

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