Writing Like Dominoes

Domino is a tile-based game played by two players. It can be played in many variations, but all games have the same rules and use the same tiles. It is popular among children because it is easy to learn and play, and it is a great way to bond with your family or friends.

A domino is a small rectangular block with white dots on it. The dots are arranged in lines that are symmetrical and spaced evenly across the top, sides, and bottom of the domino. The number of dots on each domino varies from 0 to 6.

If you have ever seen someone knocking down a domino tower, you probably noticed that it looks really cool when the dominoes fall one after another, in a cascade. This inspired the term “domino effect,” which means that when something happens, it will inevitably cause something else to happen.

This is especially true for stories. Just as one domino can cause a chain reaction, the right amount of action in a story will inevitably lead to a logical climax. But when the action is too short or the climax is too long, the story will feel slow and boring to readers.

The domino is also an excellent metaphor for writing. If you write a story that is full of fast-paced scenes, you need to balance them with a few slower moments of reflection.

When you plot out your story, you need to have a clear idea of where each scene is going and how it will impact the next. If you don’t have a plan, you may end up with lots of scenes that aren’t connected at all.

You should write a short description of each of the main actions in each of your scenes, then lay them all out on the page and step back to see how they work together. Then you can begin to notice the rhythm and flow of how the various parts of your story work together like a domino.

For example, if you’re working on a mystery novel, one of the most important things you need to do is to write a good opening scene that shows readers what the hero has to do and why. This will help to set the stage for the rest of the book and make your readers want to read on.

Likewise, you need to give your character plenty of believable motivation. This can be as simple as a strong moral code or a shady past that is only uncovered in the course of the story.

Your hero has to be a person that readers want to root for, even if they don’t agree with him or her. If the hero is a shady criminal or a person who hasn’t been able to overcome a serious obstacle, you’ll need a lot of depth to make the reader care about him or her.

You can also look for examples of characters that have a strong moral code and are willing to live up to it, such as Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry in the old movies. These heroes can’t break the rules too often or they will lose credibility with readers.