The Domino Effect in Fiction Writing

Domino is a popular game with the basic premise that players place domino pieces edge to edge against each other so the numbers (or blanks) on adjacent dominoes match each other. Then, when one domino is tipped over, it causes the others to fall in a line. This simple activity has led to a wide variety of games and has given rise to the phrase, “domino effect,” which describes a series of small events that build up to a larger result. In fiction writing, this domino image can be used as a metaphor for the way scenes in a story naturally impact each other and lead to the outcome of the story.

The history of the game and the word is not as well documented as the history of pizza. The earliest mention of domino is from around 1750 and appears in both English and French. The word originally denoted a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask at carnival or masquerade. The ebony domino pieces resemble this garment and are thought to have inspired the name of the game.

A standard domino set contains 28 tiles with a total of six types of pips on each end. This is the type of set used in most positional games. Dominos with identically patterned or blank faces are called doubles. Doubles are sometimes referred to as combination dominoes, and those with different numbers of pips on each face are singles. The smallest domino set is called a double-six set, and a typical game involves two players.

Depending on the game, dominoes may be arranged in lines or in other configurations. Normally, each domino must be played before the next. If a domino is not played in a turn, another player can make a play on the first player’s dominoes by placing it off-center so that the ends of the dominoes are touching.

Dominos are also played with a deck of cards. This variant is called a domino card game and has some similarities to poker. In this variation, players draw dominoes from the deck to complete a winning hand.

In nonfiction writing, a domino can be a scene or an idea that logically connects to the previous scenes in a story. This is particularly important if you’re a pantser, or write scenes in order as they occur. If a scene does not logically connect to the scenes before and after it, it can have a weak or even negative impact on the overall narrative.

For example, in a mystery novel, if the heroine finds a clue to solve the case but then in the next scene the opposition does nothing to raise the tension, something is wrong. Similarly, in a political thriller, if the hero finds out a secret but then the next scene does not further the plot, the whole narrative can get bogged down and lose momentum. Like dominoes that are positioned incorrectly, scenes that don’t fit into your story can become unruly and cause the reader to lose interest.