Domino is a small rectangular block, either wood or plastic, that is marked with dots resembling those on dice. A set of dominoes can be used to play games such as blocks, or they can be arranged edge-to-edge to form shapes such as flowers or hearts. They are also used as a decorative item. The term “domino” also refers to a chain reaction, as when one thing knocks over another, with each new event impacting the one that comes before it. This is often seen in movies, where a large group of dominoes are arranged to form a shape and then tipped over.
Hevesh, a 20-year-old professional domino artist who has more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, builds spectacular setups using thousands of dominoes. Her creations can take several nail-biting minutes to fall, but once the first domino is pushed past its tipping point by a tiny nudge, it’s free to tumble according to the laws of physics.
A similar principle applies to plotting a story. A good writer knows how to put the right scenes in the right order so that they naturally build upon each other and lead to a big climax. If the scenes don’t fit together seamlessly, the story will feel choppy and disjointed. This is why many writers follow a strict outline when writing their novels. But even if you’re a pantser (someone who writes their manuscript off the cuff rather than following an outline), you can use the domino metaphor to weed out scenes that don’t have enough logical impact on the scene ahead of them.
Similarly, you need to make sure that your high-action scenes are followed by softer moments of reflection and internal processing. Too much navel-gazing and your story will drag, while too little and readers might get bored. Whether you’re a pantser or a plotter, putting the scene dominoes in the right place will help your story move smoothly from beginning to end.
For example, Domino’s recently opened more stores in urban areas, a strategy it calls “fortressing.” The company believes that being closer to customers will improve service, increase carryout and delivery sales, defend against third-party food delivery services, and keep competitors out. While there may be some truth to this, it seems clear that this is also a strategy designed to modernize the company’s image and attract more younger people. In any case, it certainly hasn’t hurt their pizza sales so far! In fact, the company reported record fourth-quarter earnings in early February. This is good news for anyone who loves pizza, but especially for the employees of Domino’s! It might not have a fancy name like Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks, but Domino’s is still a leader in the fast-food industry. And if they can continue this trend, it’s safe to say that Domino’s is here to stay!