Domino is a game played with small oblong tiles that look somewhat like playing cards. A domino set usually consists of 28 tiles, seven doubles (same number on both ends from a double blank to a double six), and 21 singles (different numbers on each end or a number and a blank). Each domino has a line running across the center that divides it visually into two square halves. Each half is marked with an arrangement of spots or “pips” that resemble those on a die, with the exception that some squares are blank or unused. The value of a domino, or its rank, is determined by the number and arrangement of pips on both its halves.
The term domino may also refer to a series of events or effects in which one event sets off a chain reaction. This concept is often used metaphorically and can be applied to a wide range of subjects, from political events to economic systems. A domino effect can be positive or negative, depending on how the sequence of events unfolds.
Many people have enjoyed building long lines of dominoes and then knocking them over. This game has been a source of fascination and entertainment for generations. However, what many people do not realize is that there are some important lessons to be learned from this game.
One such lesson is that a domino has inertia and will not move unless there is some sort of force pushing or pulling on it. A tiny nudge is all it takes to set the first domino rolling and then the rest will follow. The same is true of a story. Once you have set the scene for a particular character or even a whole scene, it is important that you let the events of the story progress in a natural way. This will help to ensure that the scenes flow logically and that your characters’ emotional states shift as they should.
Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, your scenes are the dominoes that will determine what happens next in your story. If you are not careful, the entire sequence of your novel might fall over, leaving you with a mess that is difficult to clean up. By considering the domino effect in your work, you can avoid this potential problem.
The word domino means “flip over,” but in modern usage it is most commonly used to describe a game in which players lay down tiles to form a line of value. It can be played alone or in teams, and the winner is determined by the total count of all the open ends in the opponents’ hands (or, if playing with more than two players, the total number of points scored). The word has a much earlier sense, denoting a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask at a carnival masquerade. In this sense, it was a variant of the French term dominus, which also meant a cape worn over a priest’s surplice.