Writing a Novel – Dominoes Aren’t Just For Kids
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Dominoes have long been a favorite children’s game, but they also have many uses for adults. People use them to build curved lines and grids that form pictures, stack them to make walls, and even topple 3D structures such as pyramids. Many people also enjoy lining up dominoes in long rows and then knocking them over! Today’s Wonder of the Day is inspired by Juan, who asks, “What is the domino effect?”
A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block with one side bearing a pattern of spots or dots, similar to those on a die or playing card. The other side of each domino is blank or identically patterned. A typical set contains 28 dominoes, and the number of dots on each domino can vary. There are also variations on the game of dominoes, some using more than 28 dominoes.
Whether you write off the cuff or take your time with a detailed outline, plotting a novel ultimately comes down to answering one simple question: What happens next? If your characters don’t react to the events in the scene you just wrote, or if they don’t progress through an emotional shift as the previous scenes and your plot structure indicate they should, something is wrong. To avoid this, consider treating your scenes like dominoes — each scene must logically impact the scene after it.
When you consider the way a single domino can create waves by just hitting the water, it makes sense that this same principle would apply to our everyday lives. There are a lot of things we can do that create positive chain reactions in our lives, from making your bed every morning to volunteering at an animal shelter. The trick is to recognize the little actions that can have big impacts and then take action!
A few years ago, when COVID-19 caused restaurants to stop offering takeout and delivery services, Domino’s saw an opportunity. They refocused on their core values, which included being open and honest with employees and customers. This helped them make quick changes that helped customers and the company survive a difficult situation.
Domino’s isn’t the only business that has benefited from this type of leadership. The online retail store Amazon has a reputation for providing good customer service and listening to its workers, and this has led to it becoming one of the top places to work in America.
Hevesh started collecting dominoes when she was a child, and by the time she was 10, she had made a YouTube channel where she posted videos of her impressive domino art creations. Her work has been featured on television shows, and she’s also worked on projects for celebrities and musicians. In fact, her YouTube channel has more than 2 million subscribers!