The Power of Three
Writing with the concept of threes
My favorite high school English teacher, Mr. G, was the one who introduced me to the lovely rhythmic nature of threes. This number is significant across many cultures and religions, representing everything from the Christian Holy Trinity to the three steps to salvation in Hinduism. Repeating a line, motif, theme, or concept three times in one’s writing is akin to casting a spell. Perhaps that’s why “Schoolhouse Rock” created the song “Three is a Magic Number.”
This week, I invite you to incorporate this concept of threes into a story, poem, or essay. You can write from your perspective or that of a fictional character—or maybe an animal, inanimate object, or famous figure in history. Threes can show up in a variety of ways, so have fun with the concept!
Some ideas to get you started:
Three times you fell in—or out—of love with a person, place, or thing
Three lessons learned at a specific age, e.g. 10, 18, 25, 40
Three different characters use the same phrase
Three historical events that will resonate in your memory
Three personal events that changed your life
Three times you had to do something you didn’t want to do: apologize, lie, cheat, steal, be cruel, be honest
Three most beloved items you cannot live without, and why
Three least favorite tasks
Three course meals you love to eat or cook
Red die with three white dots on top. Photo by Mike Szczepanski on Unsplash
Recommendation: set a timer for 25 minutes and see what comes up. You can write by hand or type it out—whatever writing method works for you.
Have fun writing!