Domino’s is known for its pizza, but it’s also an innovator in food delivery. In fact, the company has been experimenting with everything from drones to purpose-built pizza-delivery vehicles. Its latest effort capitalizes on a trend in connected cars: integrating its ordering app with Apple CarPlay.
A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block with a number of squares or dots on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. The squares are arranged in an array, referred to as “pips,” similar to those on a die, and may be numbered from one to six. A complete set of dominoes consists of 28 such pieces.
Dominoes can be stacked on end in long lines. By simply tipping the first piece ever-so-slightly, a chain of events is created that results in all the other pieces falling in a neat, rhythmic cascade. This is the classic domino effect, and it’s also a great way to demonstrate how something small can lead to bigger and more dramatic consequences.
Many children play with dominoes, stacking them on end and lining them up in rows. They can also be used to play games, such as knocking down a line of dominoes before your opponent. In addition to being a fun activity, playing with dominoes helps develop hand-eye coordination, attention span and motor skills.
Some people even use dominoes as art, building complex shapes and structures with them. There are also professional domino shows where builders construct amazing reactions before a live audience of fans. The goal is to create a domino sequence that’s creative, unique and impressive.
When you’re writing a novel, you can think of the process of plotting your story as a series of dominoes. Whether you plot your manuscript off the cuff or follow a strict outline, the fundamental question you need to answer is what happens next? Plotting your story using the domino effect is an excellent way to ensure that your plot makes sense and that readers will be engaged.
The first domino in your story should be the trigger that initiates a sequence of action and reaction that propels your protagonist forward. Your goal is to create a chain of events that leads your reader to understand why your hero does what she does, or at least why it’s reasonable for them to continue liking her.
This is why it’s important to give your hero a reason to do something that runs counter to societal norms. It’s difficult for readers to accept immoral actions if they don’t see a logical reason for your hero to do them.