When a domino is set up right, a simple tip can lead to an amazing cascade. In domino shows, builders construct complex lines of hundreds or thousands of dominoes all toppling with the nudge of just one. It’s a fascinating demonstration of what’s called “the domino effect,” and it offers writers valuable lessons about storytelling.
A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, typically 28 in number, with an arrangement of dots or spots resembling those on a die on one side and either blank or identically patterned on the other. There are several types of domino sets, from basic double-six to deluxe double-nine.
In a game with more than one player, each person takes a seat at the table, determining which domino to play by drawing a tile from the stock after it is shuffled. The player who draws the dominant domino seats himself to its left, with the other players seating themselves according to the number of pips on the top of their dominoes.
To make the first domino, a player places it edge to edge against another domino with its corresponding number of pips (i.e., a double is played on a double). The openings in which dominoes are placed together are called a line of play and there are basic instructions for establishing the line for most games. The open ends of the dominoes are numbered and the number of pips on each end determines whether the domino is a double or a single. If the domino has an odd number of pips on its open end, it is considered a spinner and may be played only with other doubles or on both sides.
The energy that is stored in a domino as it sits on the table is called potential energy. Once that domino is pushed over, it converts to kinetic energy and some of that kinetic energy is transmitted to the next domino to give it the push needed to fall. Then the energy travels to the next and to the next until all the dominoes are in place.
The process of writing a novel can feel like setting up a series of dominoes. Whether you write your manuscript off the cuff or use an outline, it ultimately comes down to one question: What happens next? Understanding the domino effect can help you answer that question in a way that keeps readers engaged and captivated by your story. Just as a domino cascade can’t start until the first domino is pushed, a novel needs to build momentum with scenes that advance the plot and keep readers engaged. This requires scenes that are neither too long or too short and that do not overwhelm the reader with minutiae or details but that also avoid feeling too shallow at key moments of discovery or plot point.