Domino is a game of sliding rectangular blocks on their edges to form lines. Each end is either blank or has a number of spots, called pips. Unlike dice or playing cards, dominoes have multiple uses and can be used in many different games. The most basic game requires a double-six set; 28 tiles are shuffled face down to form the stock, and each player draws seven tiles. The players then place their tiles side-by-side, touching each one’s exposed ends. When the number of exposed pips on two adjacent dominoes is equal, the player scores. Most domino games are adaptations of card-based games that were popular in certain regions to circumvent religious prohibitions against using cards.
Dominoes are often stacked on their sides in long lines and used to create art. They can be arranged into straight or curved lines, a grid that forms pictures when they fall, or a 3-D structure like a tower. Dominoes can also be arranged to create a pattern on a piece of paper or on the floor. Creating these arrangements is often done in conjunction with music and can be an entertaining way to spend time with friends.
One of the most common uses of domino is to demonstrate the “domino effect.” This term refers to a situation where a single action results in a series of events with larger and more significant consequences than would have been the case had that initial action not occurred. The example of a falling domino is a familiar one, but a less well-known example of the effect can be found in everyday life.
When writing a novel, a writer must carefully consider the potential domino effects of each scene. For example, a scene may seem minor at first, but what happens after that scene can have a significant impact on the story. Whether the story is about a child who loses a prize or about a company that gets sued by an angry customer, writers need to know how each scene relates to the next and to what will happen when they finally knock over the last domino.
The word domino comes from the Latin dominium, meaning ‘flip or top.’ Early English usage reflected this, with the word domino sometimes denoting a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. It was also a French word for the cape worn by a priest over his surplice.
While it’s true that every domino effect has its own unique characteristics, a few key principles are applicable to most. The most important is that it’s not predictable. If you know exactly how a domino will fall, it wouldn’t be much fun to watch. Likewise, a novel that follows the same formulaic sequence from start to finish will likely bore readers. For this reason, writers need to pay close attention to the details of each scene and make sure that they logically lead into the one after it.