The Domino Effect in Writing
Domino is a word that comes to mind when thinking about the ripple effect—the way a single action can have such a significant impact. In stories, domino actions are the scenes that advance a story’s main character either farther away from or closer to their goal. The key to these scenes is that they must be logically connected and spaced just right to create the desired effect.
This is why the domino theory of plotting is so useful: The key to a good plot isn’t in what happens, but in how everything leads up to it. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or use a careful outline, every scene in your story should lead directly to what happens next. This can be a difficult concept to grasp, especially for new writers. Fortunately, there are many tips and techniques available to help you develop your plot in a way that creates the domino effect.
A domino is a flat thumbsized, rectangular block, the face of which is divided into two parts: one blank and the other bearing from one to six pips or dots. A complete set of dominoes consists of 28 such pieces. Dominoes are used in a variety of games, most involving blocking or scoring. They may be laid down in lines or angular patterns, with the winner being the first to play all of their tiles. Dominoes can also be combined with other objects (such as dice) to form complex games.
The word domino is derived from the Latin dominium, meaning “favour, gift,” and may be related to the Italian domicilio (“deposit”). The early ancestor of the domino was the so-called “pip board.” It was a small rectangular piece made from ivory or bone, with black or white pips inlaid or painted on it. This type of domino became very popular in the Middle Ages, although it was not until the 17th century that its name was changed to the more familiar domino.
In modern times, dominoes are commonly made of phenolic or polymer plastics, though sets have also been made from other natural materials such as silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl), bone, a dark hardwood such as ebony, and even ceramic clay. In addition to the standard numbered suits, other suits are sometimes included in a set, such as the suit of sixes and the empty or 0 suit. Some players prefer the more traditional look and feel of a set made from a natural material, and this has given rise to domino sets in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some sets are quite large, and can be used in games requiring several players or for long domino patterns. Some sets are even designed to look like miniature buildings or other structures, such as castles and churches. In addition to the blocking and scoring games, dominoes can be used in a number of other types of games, including solitaire and trick-taking games.