A domino is a small, thumb-sized rectangular block of wood, tile, or other material, usually marked on one face with a pattern of spots, or “pips,” or blank. It is used to play games in which the end of each piece bears a number showing on one side, or forms some other number total with adjacent ends, and is placed so that it touches both other dominoes in a line, forming a domino chain.
Dominos are most commonly used for positional games in which each player, in turn, places a domino on the table positioning it so that its own adjacent faces match (either identical or a certain total) with those of another domino. A domino can also be played with both its adjacent faces touching another, which is known as a double.
In addition to simple blocking and scoring games, the domino has been adapted for use in a wide variety of other types of games such as solitaire and trick-taking. These are often adaptations of card games. Most domino games are played by a group of people sitting around a table, with each player taking turns placing a domino on the table and making sure that it is positioned so that it touches one or more ends of the existing domino chains in a neat row.
The beauty of a well-made domino is that it can be constructed with simple materials and tools, yet is impressive in its simplicity and detail. Nick was able to construct the domino with the help of a small set of tools that he kept in his grandmother’s garage, including a drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw, and belt sander. He was not a professional carpenter or woodworker, but an amateur craftsman with an eye for detail and a desire to express himself creatively through his craft.
A great story has many parts, but it is the chain reaction that happens when one domino is tipped over that makes it compelling. Just like a domino rally, or a nuclear chain reaction, or even a nerve impulse traveling down your axon, a good story has a sequence of scenes that move the hero closer to or farther from their goal. It is important to carefully pace each scene so that the plot moves forward without feeling too slow, or too fast. A story that feels too slow can bore the reader, while one that moves too quickly may seem to lack depth. This is the challenge of writing a well-paced novel. The art of the Domino Effect is how to strike the perfect balance between these two extremes.