A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic, usually twice as long as wide. Its top side is blank and its bottom side is divided by a line or ridge into an arrangement of squares bearing from one to six spots or dots, called pips. Each of the four ends of a domino bears a number of pips equal to the value of the end on which it is played. The number of pips on an end determines its rank. A complete set of dominoes has 28 pieces. Dominoes can be used to play a variety of games, both simple and complex. They can be arranged in lines and angular patterns or stacked to form 3-D structures like towers and pyramids.
A dominanto set may be made from various materials, including bone (as in European-style sets), silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell or mother of pearl (MOP); ivory; ebony; and metals, such as brass and pewter. The material that a domino is made from affects its weight and feel. For example, dominoes made of MOP and ivory are heavier than those made of polymer. A domino set that includes a chess board is often more expensive than one with a standard tile grid.
In most domino games, each player is given a certain number of tiles to start. The player who has the highest ranked piece plays first. The players then alternate turns playing a domino until all of their remaining tiles have been laid, or they “knock out” and the game ends. Depending on the rules, a winner may be declared when all of the opposing players have knocked out all of their tiles.
Dominoes are a wonderful tool for learning about the principle of cause and effect. A single domino toppled by a single finger can set off an explosion of other items that will fall because of the law of gravity. The domino effect also helps us understand the speed and direction of nerve impulses in our brains.
When a domino is pushed, it makes a sound similar to the click of a nail. When the first domino is pushed, it starts a chain reaction that continues until all of the dominoes have fallen.
In the same way, a chain reaction can occur in our minds when we are reading a story or watching a movie. If the plot in a novel doesn’t move forward or the tension doesn’t rise, something is wrong. This is why even if you write your novel off the cuff, without using an outline or tools such as Scrivener, it is important to consider how each scene will affect the next. Considering the domino effect will help you write scenes that have more logical impact and ensure that the events of your novel lead your reader to the exciting conclusion.