Write More Powerful Scenes with the Rule of Three

By Heather Sellers

I have found the rule of three to be incredibly helpful when I’m building scenes.

There are just three parts to a powerful scene—the set-up, the climax, and the payoff. Without careful attention to purpose at each turn, scenes can get meandering and flabby.

Set-up: Powerful scenes start with the problem already in motion. Avoid background, “throat-clearing,” and description. Begin with the two main characters already at odds on a clear issue. They each want somethi...