Dominoes are a classic game. They have been around for decades, and they are still popular with children. The reason why is because they are fun and easy to play. They can be arranged in all sorts of configurations, and they can make some pretty cool shapes. The best part of the game is when you tip over one domino, and it causes all of the other dominoes to fall in a beautiful cascade of rhythmic motion. Similarly, writing a novel can be thought of as the process of creating a domino effect. The goal is to build scenes that are logical and that will naturally influence the next scene in the story.
The basic concept of most domino games is to lay down a single domino on top of another so that the numbers (or blanks) match up and form a line of play. Each player then takes turns placing a domino in the line of play and making a move. The first player to place a domino in the line wins that round.
Many different types of domino games exist, and each has its own rules for how to score and win. For example, in the simplest game, each player draws a single domino from the boneyard and places it on the table, ensuring that it can be played before any other player puts down a domino with matching values. The players then continue playing their dominoes in the same way, and the winning player scores based on the number of dots left in the opponent’s hand.
A specialized form of domino is called a double-six set, which has a total of twelve pips on two of its four faces. Larger sets are possible, but they require more than a typical family of four people to play with comfortably. Some extended sets have a maximum of 18 or even 23 pips on an end, but these are seldom used in games for more than four players.
Dominoes are also often used to create artistic displays. They can be laid out in straight lines or curved lines, or they can be stacked to form 3D structures like towers and pyramids. They can also be drawn on paper to create a domino art layout. The most common method of displaying this artwork is to use a domino map, which is an outline of how the dominoes should be placed on the display.
Whether you’re writing off the cuff or with a careful outline, plotting your novel comes down to one question: what happens next? The idea of the domino effect can help you answer that question in a way that makes your novel a joy to read. So when you’re working on your next draft, think of the domino effect as a way to construct scenes that will lead your readers into an immersive and exciting world.