Domino (also known as dominoes, dominos, or a set of domino pieces) is an arcade game that involves a series of blocks, called tiles, that are arranged in a line and then knocked over by one small movement of a larger piece at the end. The resulting chain reaction can be mesmerizing to watch, as each subsequent domino falls on top of the others until the entire row comes to a stop. Domino can also be used as a metaphor for describing the impact of one event on similar or related events, either literally (as with a row of falling dominoes) or figuratively (as in the theory of domino effect).
The word domino is also commonly used to refer to the whole system of interrelated causes and effects, sometimes referred to as domino theory. This is a common metaphor for explaining causal chains in areas such as global finance or politics.
A large, traditional domino set contains 28 unique pieces. Each piece has an alternating set of ends, which have values from zero to six pips. The highest-valued end is marked with six pips, and the lower-valued ends are blank. The number of pips on an end determines its value, and thus the domino’s rank or weight.
While dominos are a great toy for children, they’re also used in a variety of games and architectural structures. People use them to create artistic shapes, make patterns, and build structures that can be walked on or driven over by other dominos. People even compete in domino shows, where players build incredibly complex and imaginative chains of dominoes that come to life before an audience of fans.
When writers construct scenes, they often use the analogy of a domino to illustrate how to structure the action. For example, a writer must carefully consider the positioning of each scene so that when one domino is tipped over, it lands exactly where it needs to land. This ensures that the story flows properly and that readers can follow the action.
In addition to determining the placement of each scene, writers must consider how long each scene should be. This helps to avoid scenes that are too long and that bog down the story with unnecessary detail. At the same time, the length of each scene should be long enough to ensure that readers can see a character progress toward or away from the goal of a particular plot point.
Like a domino, each scene should have a purpose and a reason for being there. It must be exciting or compelling to the reader, and it should have a clear relationship to the overall plot of the novel. For example, a scene that depicts an artist struggling to overcome obstacles in his career is likely to resonate with the reader more than a scene that is simply descriptive of the artist’s daily life. If the author fails to consider how each scene relates to the next, the story may feel disjointed and unfocused.