Domino is a system of building a chain of tiles by placing them edge to edge against each other. It is a form of table game, but it can also be used for other activities such as counting. Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide and feature a line or ridge down the center to divide them visually into two squares, each of which is marked with an arrangement of dots or blanks (also known as pips) like those on a die. The number of pips on each half of the domino’s face is its value, and the total is called the rank or weight of that domino.
Dominos are generally numbered in Arabic numerals, although some are labeled with letters (typically Latin letters) or even English words instead of pips. Each tile has a different combination of pips on each side, and some have more than one rank (or set) of pips. This allows the number of pips to be easily distinguished, particularly when several sets are mixed together. The pips are normally white, but some are colored to mark rank, such as red for “six,” or to identify a set.
The term “domino” derives from the Latin word domina, meaning lead or tripped. It has been suggested that the name reflects this initial sense of the word as well as the fact that domino pieces are sometimes referred to as “dominions” because they resemble long hooded cloaks worn in carnival season or at a masquerade.
A domino effect refers to the way that one event can trigger other events, creating a cascade of consequences. It is a metaphor for the way that one small event, such as an accident or a setback can have a significant impact on an entire life.
When writing fiction, the concept of the domino effect can help a writer build a story by considering each scene as a piece of the larger whole. This is especially helpful for authors who write using a more casual method of plotting, such as pantsing, and not making an outlines ahead of time. In this case, the domino image can be useful for weeding out scenes that do not advance the plot or don’t have enough logical impact on the scene ahead of them.
For instance, if a character takes an action that runs counter to societal norms, it is important for the author to provide enough logic or motivation for readers to either give the immoral behavior a pass or at least keep liking the protagonist as a hero. This requires that each scene of the story have a positive domino effect on the character’s actions and the plot overall. Without this, the domino effect can fail, resulting in an unrealistic or confusing story. These types of issues can be fixed with some careful editing and attention to detail in the plot.
