Dominos are flat oblong pieces of ivory, bone or wood. They are usually black on one side, the back, and white on the other, the face. The faces of each domino are divided by a line into squares, with some of the squares blank and others arranged in an array like those on dice. This configuration is what gives domino its name, although it is also used for other games with a similar principle of simple action causing complex cascades of consequences.
In writing, we often talk about the “domino effect.” A domino can be any scene in a novel that has little or no impact on its own, but when placed in the right place, it has an outsized influence on what comes next. This is because the impact of each domino depends on how it fits with the other scenes around it.
If you have ever watched someone create a beautiful domino construction, you may have noticed that the first piece seems to resist falling over until it is just so. This resistance is the result of the inertia of that domino and the fact that there is not enough energy to overcome it without more force being added. The minute the first domino is tipped just so, however, the entire structure begins to fall in a cascade of rhythmic movement.
The domino effect is a powerful tool for the writer to use. A well-placed scene domino can make all the difference in how your reader understands a point you are trying to make or how they connect with characters in your story. In fiction, scene dominos could be a setting, an action, or a character—anything that can influence what comes next and make the whole piece more effective.
When talking about personal growth, the concept of the domino effect is frequently employed to illustrate how small, incremental changes can culminate in transformative outcomes. The example commonly cited is the resolution to begin exercising for just a few minutes each day, which can lead to better overall health and even instigate further positive changes in an individual’s lifestyle and habits.
The word “domino” may come from the ecclesiastical garment worn by a priest over his surplice, in which the black domino contrasted with the white of the cloth. In English, however, the word originally denoted a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. The connection to the playing piece is clear, since domino pieces are sometimes made with ebony blacks and ivory faces. An earlier sense of the word referred to a cape, probably of silk, worn over a gown, and a similar meaning existed in French. In addition, the word once meant a half-mask used by ladies when traveling or at masquerades. A similar garment was the veil, which is still worn by some religious women in mourning.