The Domino Effect in Fiction
Domino is a game of laying down a series of flat square or rectangular blocks, each with one to six rounded dots (pips) on both ends. A complete set consists of 28 such dominoes. The game can be played in several different ways, but the basic object is to place all of a player’s tiles end to end, with each domino touching a neighboring tile on at least one side; when this is done, points are awarded as indicated by the total number of exposed dots.
Dominoes are often used for artistic purposes as well, such as when they are lined up to form curved lines or 3D structures like towers or pyramids. Artists also use them to create intricate drawings that can be viewed from all angles.
The game of domino is a great way to teach children about patterns and shapes, while also helping them develop motor skills. It’s important to teach children how to play responsibly, because they can easily hurt themselves or others if they are not careful. This is why it’s important to make sure that all children are supervised while playing this game, especially when using larger pieces such as the large double-six set.
When a domino is knocked over, the energy that was stored in it transfers to the next domino that touches it. This continues as more and more of the dominoes touch each other, adding up to a chain reaction that can lead to dramatic consequences for everyone involved.
The first domino chain reaction was developed by Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, who wanted to improve delivery times by having drivers deliver orders directly to customers’ homes within a 30-minute window. While this was a success for his business, it wasn’t without its drawbacks, such as the resulting traffic congestion and accidents caused by drivers speeding to meet their 30-minute deadlines.
In fiction writing, each scene can be a domino that naturally influences the one after it. This is important to keep in mind, whether you are a plotter who uses outlines or a pantser who writes off the cuff and lets your story take you where it will. If you don’t take time to check that the scenes in your novel logically connect, your readers may lose interest.
If you’re not sure how to use domino in your own storytelling, consider the example of a rhythm-and-blues pianist and singer named Antoine Fats. He often played with a large set of dominoes, and his performances featured a series of domino-like improvisations. If you’re a rhythm-and-blues fan, you might enjoy checking out some of his albums and films on Netflix or Amazon.