When it comes to domino, I think a lot about how a single small trigger can set off a larger chain reaction. It’s why I find it so fascinating to watch a builder at a domino show. A lineup of hundreds or thousands of dominoes, carefully set up in careful sequence and then all toppled with the nudge of only one, is almost like magic.
When you think about it, plotting a novel is kind of like creating a domino rally. Every plot beat, every event, is like a domino that you set in motion. If you fail to properly anticipate a potential impact, the entire story could fall apart. But if you anticipate the impact, it’s possible to create a narrative that is both compelling and unpredictable.
To play domino, players begin with a double-six set of 28 oblong tiles that are marked with a total of 0-6 spots or “pips” on each side. A domino is identified by the number of pips on one face; a blank or identically patterned face is on the other. The pips are usually placed in groups of three or four, with a single domino having two sets of values.
A domino is a generic gaming device that can be used for a number of different games, including poker and dice. The word originates from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord” or “master.” Dominoes are often grouped into sets that feature a variety of different games, such as chess and backgammon.
In addition to playing domino, the pieces can be used to make patterns and designs or for artistic decoration. One of the most famous examples of this occurred in the city of Naples, Italy, in 1902. There, a man named Giuseppe Asciutto laid down a row of dominoes, each bearing a message to celebrate the end of World War I. The message was intended to be a peace sign, but many people misinterpreted it as an insult and responded with violence, triggering an even worse situation that resulted in a domino effect.
The idiom domino effect is also commonly used to describe any scenario in which one event can lead to another. For example, if someone stumbles, it can cause other people to trip over them, leading to a large cascade of accidents and injuries. This is similar to the way that a single domino can affect a larger system, such as a city government or financial system.
When I’m working with clients on their novels, I encourage them to consider every plot beat as a domino. If you can look at your manuscript and think about how a domino will tip over, you’ll have a much better understanding of what it takes to craft a successful book. And it’ll help you write a narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what’s going to happen next. That’s the key to a great novel. After all, no one wants to read a story about a domino that never tips over!