Dominoes, cousins of playing cards, can be used in an array of games. Some involve blocking or scoring; others test patience and skill. A domino is a rectangular block usually twice the width and twice as long. Each side is marked with numbers known as “pips,” typically in a uniform pattern on all four sides; most domino sets contain an identifying line running along each half to divide them into two squares; this number represents either six, none (zero) or none value pieces on either half respectively.
Dominoes first came into being in China during the 1300s, where they were first recorded for use as toys and for educational purposes. Today they can be found all across the world as toys and educational aids; children especially enjoy setting up domino lines that can become elaborate. When one domino in a row is tipped over, it often sets off a chain reaction of dominoes falling, creating an impressive and thrilling spectacle to witness!
Hevesh, an award-winning domino artist, must consider both the overall effect and theme of her designs before brainstorming images and words that convey her intended message and purpose. Once her design is in place, the next step is creating a track for dominoes by following an engineering-design approach which involves drawing blueprints with arrows showing which way the dominoes should fall.
Hevesh’s meticulously crafted installations are not only beautiful, but highly functional as well. As soon as she tips one domino, its potential energy converts to kinetic energy that travels down its chain until all sequences have been completed.
As a writer, it may help to visualize your story as a series of dominoes – each scene may seem insignificant on its own but can have an enormous effect that leads to dramatic climax or resolution.
By using this technique, it helps create a timeline for your plot in advance and can assist in eliminating scenes that do not contribute to its overall arc as well as any parts that require additional work or are repetitive and boring.
As a “pantser”, who does not create detailed plot outlines ahead of time, you may end up writing scenes without enough logical connection to what comes before them. For instance, if your heroine uncovers an important clue but the opposition fails to create tension after that scene has ended, there could be issues in your plot that need rewriting in order for each domino effect scene to have the desired impact on subsequent scenes. Think of each domino like it has an equal influence.