When we think of domino, it usually means a game played with small, rectangular blocks that have numbers on them, known as dominoes. These can be made of different materials, such as wood or polymer (a type of plastic). When referring to a sequence of events, domino refers to a cascade, where one event triggers the next, much like the way a single drop of water creates waves in a glass. The word has also come to describe actions that affect many people, such as a speech given by Admiral William H. McRaven to University of Texas graduates in 2014. The phrase “domino effect” refers to the notion that a small action can have ripple effects.
Dominoes are a great example of the domino effect, because even if just one piece is knocked over, all the others will follow. Lily Hevesh, a professional domino artist who has built mind-blowing creations including a rainbow spiral and a 15-color maze, uses a version of the engineering-design process when planning her sets. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of the installation. Then she brainstorms images or words that might be associated with it. Finally, she draws a plan, which includes arrows to show the way she wants the dominoes to fall.
Hevesh also knows that the key to a successful domino construction is timing. The first domino needs to be placed exactly where it will be most effective: just right to push the next domino into motion, yet not so far over that it will cause the dominoes behind it to teeter. Similarly, stories need scenes that are neither too long (heavy on details or minutiae) nor too short (which can make the hero seem shallow at moments of great discovery or plot points).
When we write our own fiction, thinking about the domino effect can help us ensure our manuscripts flow well. If we’re pantsers, that is, if we don’t outline our novels before writing them, we may end up with scenes that don’t logically connect to the scene that comes after them. For instance, if your heroine uncovers a clue and then spends the next few scenes acting in ways that don’t further her quest for answers, something is probably amiss.