How the Domino Effect Works in Fiction

You’ve likely seen the impressive lineup of dominoes that, when carefully spaced, can be tipped so that each one falls over and leads to a chain reaction that continues until all the pieces have fallen. These types of domino constructions are often showcased on television shows as builders compete to see who can set up the most elaborate and imaginative sequence of dominoes. But what might seem like just a simple toy is a remarkable metaphor for storytelling. Whether you write your book off the cuff or take time with a thorough outline, plotting your novel comes down to one simple question: What happens next? Thinking of how a domino effect works can help you answer this question in a way that will keep readers engaged.

A domino is a small flat rectangular block, thumb-sized and bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such dominoes make up a complete set of dominoes. The word is also used for any game or other activity that involves laying down these blocks in lines or angular patterns, usually by matching their ends with other pieces. The word also refers to a long, hooded cloak worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade.

Domino has also become the name of a female mutant with superpowers of luck. She was the result of a top-secret government breeding program intended to develop the perfect weapon. But her genetics failed to meet the project’s goals, so her mother broke her out of the program and she escaped to Chicago, where she found work as a mercenary. Later, she joined X-Force and helped defeat the villains Donald Pierce and Lady Deathstrike, who had kidnapped Milo Thurman and tried to upload his mind into a computer.

In the Domino story, Domino is actually named after a street in Chicago where she was born. The character’s powers were derived from her lucky genes, as the name Domino is derived from Beatus, Latin for “lucky.”

A key aspect of the domino effect is timing. Just as the dominoes must be spaced correctly to produce a smooth cascade, stories need scenes that are appropriately paced so that they neither feel overly long (heavy on detail and minutiae) nor too short (making a scene seem shallow at a key moment of discovery or at a plot point).

Hevesh starts by testing each section of her displays. She sets up the largest 3-D sections first, followed by flat arrangements and finally domino lines that connect the larger structures together. She films each test and watches the results to check that they function properly. If a section doesn’t do as expected, she retests it until it does. This process allows her to fine-tune the domino layout and create a stunning display that will capture the attention of her audience.