Are your struggling to connect with your clients and dream clients with your blog? I may have some help for you today.

If you are a regular reader, you know I have been working on a novel since January 2014. I’ve taken courses at Collin County Community College. I’ve taken on-line courses offered  by University of North Texas. I’ve attended a DFW Writers Conference and I’ve read many books on writing.

Just for an update, I want you to know that I’ve actually completed one version of my novel and thought it could be much better. I’m working on versions 7 and 8 now.

Gina has gone from being Italian (last name Caruso, granddaughter of a mobster from Galveston) to being Hispanic (last name Sanchez, daughter of the lawyer who represents crooked politicians from the Rio Grande Valley). I made that change to be able to highlight how few partners in major US law firms in the US are Hispanic women.

Gina Caruso is married to Tony. Gina Sanchez is single. Gina Caruso was the female version of some powerful man you have read about (think a President, a golfer, a general). I read many articles. One was titled:  Powerful people are the most likely to have an affair… be they men OR women. The point in the article was:

But scientists now believe that it is a person’s power, rather than gender, that plays the greatest role in infidelity.

I wanted to convey in my novel that if that is true, powerful women are judged and treated differently. But, one of my favorite women readers read my draft and told me she hated Gina for being married and cheating on Tony.

Since women make up the majority of readers, at least for my current version, Gina is single.

So, what is the power of 3 in writing and why should you consider it while blogging?

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Novels, plays, movies tell a story in three acts. That’s the universal structure. Maybe a blog should have three parts.

Recently I read a blog post Trinities by Shawn Coyne,  a writing guru. In it he describes advising a friend who had sent him a problematic manuscript. Shawn’s advice:

Break your thing into THREE PARTS…a Beginning that introduces the dilemma that your reader is facing…a Middle that explains to them how he can combat and defeat the problem practically…and an Ending that shows him how the practical tasks are repeatable and reliable, capable of being integrated into his daily life.

Read that quote again and think about your potential client reader and a blog you are writing. I will say it for you.

Break your blog into THREE PARTS…a Beginning that introduces the potential problem, opportunity or change your client or potential client reader is facing…a Middle that explains to them how they can deal with the problem or change or take advantage of the opportunity…and an Ending that shows the client or potential client that your solution will work for them.

There’s more to this Blogging in THREE PARTS. Check out: How to Use the ‘Rule of Three’ to Create Engaging Content. Brian Clark suggests:

It all comes down to the way we humans process information. We have become proficient at pattern recognition by necessity, and three is the smallest number of elements required to create a pattern.

This combination of pattern and brevity results in memorable content, and that’s why the Rule of Three will make you a more engaging writer.

Back to my writing, I would like to hear from you. If you have a moment share with me:

  • Your favorite novel written in the last five years. Make this the book you could not put down even when you wanted to go to sleep
  • Your favorite legal novel. What captured your attention?
  • Your most memorable character
  • Your most memorable female character
  • The ending to a novel that most surprised you.