Domino is a popular game of sliding, pushing, stacking and falling blocks that can create intricate structures. The blocks are arranged in careful sequence, then the first one gets the momentum to push the others over and set off a chain reaction. The term also refers to the process of building a story in which a single event can affect the future course of an entire narrative. In writing, domino is a useful tool to understand how characters and events connect in a compelling way.
Whether you compose your novel off the cuff or take the time to create a carefully planned outline, a domino effect can help you craft a better plot. In fiction, plot is all about what happens next, and the best way to ensure that your readers will want to keep turning the pages is to present logical, consistent reasoning for each step of a character’s action.
A domino is a rectangular tile with a value printed on each face, or end. The value is usually a number of spots, or “pips,” but some sets use blanks or symbols. Each domino is typically twice as long as it is wide, making them easier to fit together and allowing for greater stability.
The domino system can be used to build a variety of structures. Some of the most elaborate creations are built for domino shows, where competitors compete to set up mind-blowing displays before an audience. Hevesh’s designs, which she calls “art installations,” are often composed of hundreds or thousands of dominoes set up in carefully crafted succession to create an intricate and visually appealing effect.
Hevesh’s design process begins with considering the theme or purpose of the installation. Then she brainstorms images or words that might help her achieve the desired effect. She then draws an initial sketch, which she refines as she works out the details. She tests each section of a display individually to ensure that it works well before adding the larger 3-D sections.
For example, if her character is going to shoot someone in the street, Hevesh may test this scene with a doll made out of clay or cardboard. This helps her figure out how to make the doll react realistically to the shot and to provide the right level of drama and suspense.
In the case of Domino’s, Hevesh’s strategy paid off. Under new CEO Don Meij, the company is focused on innovation, and has invested in a new technology center called the Domino’s Innovation Garage to foster collaboration between cross-functional teams and explore ideas that could help drive sales and profits.
Another important aspect of the domino principle is ensuring that your characters follow logical consequences when they act outside of societal norms. This is the reason that you must have motivation and reasoning for why your heroes are doing what they are doing. If you don’t, the domino effect will fail and your readers won’t be able to buy into the logic that drives your plot.