Domino is the name of a game and the word also applies to a system or process that can create dramatic effects. When a domino is pushed, it triggers a chain reaction that continues until the last domino has fallen. In fiction, the chain effect is used to advance the plot and increase suspense. In nonfiction, the chain reaction can be used to make an argument or a case for an issue. In either case, domino can help us understand how to make a story compelling and interesting.
Dominoes are cousins to playing cards and have been around for centuries. They have many uses, from professional domino competition to simple games of chance for children. The markings on the dominoes, called pips, originally represented the results of throwing two six-sided dice. The dominoes we know today were first developed in Europe.
Each domino is twice as long as it is wide and has two matching ends. A domino’s pips may have a number of values, from six to none or blank, that indicate its rank or weight in a game. Heavier dominoes have more pips than lighter ones.
When a player places a domino, it must fit edge to edge against another domino and have matching numbers on adjacent sides, except for doubles, which can be played side-by-side. This ensures that the next domino can fall to initiate a sequence.
The way a domino is placed can make a difference in the game, but not always. Some games are positional, meaning that each player takes turns placing a domino in an established pattern. A player must place a domino edge to edge against another to continue the line of play, unless they pass their turn and allow the opposing players to pick up the sleeping dominoes (known as the boneyard).
If a domino is played to a double, it must be positioned with both matching edges touching fully. This makes it easier for the next domino to be played onto the double.
When Hevesh knocks over one of her mind-blowing domino creations, a small part of the puzzle is revealed: Each unmoving domino has inertia, a tendency to resist motion without an outside force pushing or pulling on it. But a tiny nudge is all it takes to tip the domino over. Once the domino is tipped, its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which pushes on the next domino. This energy continues from domino to domino until the last domino has fallen.
Whether you compose your novel off the cuff or use an outline to guide you, your story’s structure will depend on how well you respond to the question, “What happens next?” Using scene dominoes can help you answer this question in a way that will keep your readers riveted. Each scene domino is a piece of the puzzle, and when arranged properly, they can make your story flow smoothly and compellingly.
