Writing a Novel? Use Dominos As a Guide

When a domino is tipped ever so slightly, it unleashes a beautiful cascade of rhythmic motion. The same principle holds true for other actions in our lives, like writing a novel. If you’re a “pantser” who doesn’t make detailed outlines of your plot, you might sometimes end up with scenes that don’t work together or don’t add enough tension. To help you avoid these scenes, you can use the domino analogy as a guide.

Dominos are small, flat, rectangular blocks used as gaming objects. They are typically made of wood, though they can also be plastic, bone, or even metal. In addition to playing dominoes, they are used in construction projects and to create art pieces.

The word domino derives from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord.” In its earlier sense, it referred to a loose cloak worn with a mask for Carnival or at a masquerade. The name may be linked to the color scheme of the domino pieces, which traditionally used ebony blacks with ivory faces.

Hevesh began dominoing at age 10, building lines of tiles that spanned several rooms. By age 20, she had developed a YouTube channel where she shared her creations with fans. Now, Hevesh is a professional domino artist who creates mind-blowing setups for movies, TV shows, and events, including a recent album launch by pop star Katy Perry.

Hevesh’s most complex setups involve hundreds of dominoes. Before she sets them in motion, she carefully tests every component of the design. She then films each test in slow motion, making precise corrections as necessary. When she is happy with the results, she begins to put the entire display together. The largest 3-D sections go up first, followed by lines of dominoes connecting them.

Domino’s is a highly successful company that has grown by adapting to changing consumer habits. When COVID-19 caused many consumers to cancel dine-in restaurant visits, Domino’s recognized that they could gain a competitive advantage by focusing on delivery and takeout. They invested in improving their technology and worked with crowd-sourced automotive designers to create the Domino’s DXP, which is described as a “cheese lover’s Batmobile.” As a result, the chain now has the most popular food delivery mobile app in the US, according to a new report. They are also expanding internationally, as evidenced by the opening of their first store in Vietnam this month. This expansion is part of a strategy to double the number of Domino’s locations worldwide by 2025. In addition to focusing on growth, Domino’s is committed to improving its corporate governance and accountability to shareholders. These efforts are paying off, with record profits in the latest quarter. This success is a testament to the Domino Effect.