A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic, typically twice as long as wide. One side of each domino has a pattern of spots or dots resembling those on dice. The other side is blank or has a matching pattern. A set of dominoes, normally 28 in number, is used for various games.
Dominos are used to make art and are also popular toys. In addition to being fun for kids, they teach them about numbers and counting. Dominoes can also be used to solve complex mathematical problems. This is because the digits on each face of the domino can be combined in many ways to create different patterns. For example, the sum of all digits on four adjacent dominoes can be found by adding up the individual digits on each face. The sum can then be divided by the number of digits on each domino.
In the game of domino, players try to place their tiles so that their end matches an existing tile. Each end has a value, usually a number such as five or three. The first player to do so wins the round. This game is often played in British public houses and social clubs.
The term domino is a Latin word meaning “fall or topple.” It has become popular in English, largely because of the way that dominoes are arranged to look like a falling tower. It is also a pun on the domino effect, which describes the way that a small change can have a big impact.
Whether you write off the cuff or use a detailed outline, plotting your novel will ultimately come down to one question: What happens next? The concept of the domino effect will help you answer this question in a compelling manner.
You can think of each scene in your story as a domino, and each scene’s actions should be logically connected to the one before it. If a character’s goal shifts dramatically in one scene, that should be reflected in the scenes following it. This helps readers understand the logic of your story, and it makes for a more compelling narrative.
If you want to write a story with a strong sense of narrative momentum, consider using the domino effect to plan your scenes. If you have a scene in mind that needs to occur before the one after it, then put that scene at the top of your list. This way, the scene will have enough logical impact to fall into place after your main character’s emotional beat. Then you can watch your story build momentum and tension, just as a stack of dominoes would. Eventually, your story will reach the climax, and you’ll be left with a satisfying result.