Domino is a generic gaming device similar to playing cards or dice that can be used for many different types of games. A domino set consists of small rectangular pieces called tiles, each with two matching ends. Each tile has either a white, black or red circle that represents a number between one and twelve. When a domino is played, it touches the end of another tile and begins a chain reaction. The chain can be shaped in various ways, depending on the rules of the game.
The way that the dominoes are positioned on the table also provides part of the fun. Each piece must be placed so that the two matching sides are adjacent, except for a double, which must be played perpendicular to the other dominoes in the line of play. As the domino chain develops, a pattern forms, which is often referred to as the layout, string or line of play.
While domino is often a game played between several players, it can also be a solo activity. A single person may use a domino set to create a puzzle, or it can be used as a form of relaxation. In fact, it is believed that domino was originally developed as a way to relieve anxiety and depression.
When a person starts a chain reaction with a single domino, the effect can be dramatic and unpredictable. This is what makes domino so fascinating and appealing. When you think of it in terms of writing, the idea of a domino effect can help you plot a story that is compelling and exciting to read.
A good starting point is to examine the way that your scenes connect logically with each other. For example, does the last scene of a chapter lead into the beginning of the next? This is important because, in a novel, each scene is like a domino that falls when the one before it is tripped. If you are careful, your plot can build momentum and keep the reader turning the pages.
Whether you plot your book out by hand or use a computer program, the process of creating a story ultimately comes down to answering one simple question: What happens next? Using the concept of the domino effect can help you answer this question in a way that is both believable and interesting.
In a demonstration for a science video, University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead set up 13 dominoes, each a millimeter tall and only 1 millimeter thick. He then started the chain by kicking the first one. The result was a display that was more than three feet tall and weighed 100 pounds.
Dominoes are not always tripped in this way, but the principle still applies. A domino is a high leverage action that has a large impact. A single domino can cause other actions to follow, just as a single act can have a dramatic effect on our lives. These domino actions are sometimes called domino effects because they have such a powerful impact. They can also be described as scripts, as in coding, where one action triggers a series of actions that unfold according to their own rules.