Domino is a game played by two or more players on a tabletop. Each domino is a rectangular tile marked on one side with an arrangement of spots (or “pips”) similar to those on a die, and blank or identically patterned on the other. The purpose of the game is to build a chain or tiling of dominoes that ends in one end showing a number. When this happens the player wins by being able to play another domino that has the same number at the end of its exposed line of dominoes.
When a domino falls, it converts much of its potential energy into kinetic energy – the energy that moves things. Some of this energy is transferred to the next domino in the line, allowing it to push the next and so on until all the dominoes in the chain have been knocked over.
As each new domino is pushed onto its tipping point, it adds to the momentum that’s already been built up and increases the probability of the rest of the dominoes falling over as well. This is why Hevesh always carefully tests each of the larger sections of her mind-blowing setups before putting them together. Each section requires a different set-up of dominoes to work properly, and Hevesh tries many variations before she settles on the ones that will allow her to accomplish the final domino effect.
If Hevesh’s tests go wrong, she can still create a mind-blowing domino installation by starting with smaller 3-D sections and then arranging the flat arrangements that connect them. She works slowly and deliberately, making test versions of each section before putting it up, and she films the process to ensure everything goes exactly as planned.
Hevesh’s creations aren’t just a demonstration of the laws of physics – they’re also a tribute to the ability of humans to use small, simple steps to achieve amazing results. This is a key part of what makes domino so fascinating.
When you think about it, all novels are a series of domino effects. Whether the author writes a manuscript off the cuff or takes the time to craft an outline, every scene in a story has its own domino effect. The first domino is the scene in which something happens, and all the subsequent scenes are the reactions to that event. If those scenes aren’t connected in a smooth and coherent way, the whole story may fall apart. The best writers know that it’s important to consider each scene domino as it’s being crafted, so they can ensure the whole story will fit together properly at the end. The more thought is put into each scene, the more the pieces will fit together in a way that’s compelling and meaningful to readers.