If the character with a problem, the protagonist, solves the problem after one attempt, the story would be rather boring, wouldn't it? Readers want to see conflict, struggle! Whenever there is a general rule, someone will deviate from it. Why the Rule of Three Helps Create an Engaging Storyīefore you say, “Hey, Hodges, I read a children's book once, and they tried four times, or five times, to solve a problem.” I know, I know. On the fourth attempt Frank will finally solve his cookie dilemma. In classic children's book format, he will try three times to solve his problem. In our story about Frank and his cookie, Frank has a problem.

The rule of three… suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. Here's what Wikipedia says about the rule of three: As a storytelling device, you find it most often in fairy tales, myths, and fables, but it's common in all forms of literature, poetry, and songwriting. The rule of three is a common storytelling device and rhetorical technique. His mother said, “Frank, you cannot have a cookie before lunch.”įor today's practice, let's help Frank get his cookie using the rule of three. Once upon a time there was a little boy, Frank, who wanted to eat a cookie. If you're a writer, especially a children's book author, you should be using the rule of three in your writing. Three kittens lost their mittens, Goldilocks and the three bears, three musketeers. You might even say “ three is a magic number.”

A mother for choco by keiko kasza