The word domino means “falling one after another,” and this simple, yet powerful concept can be applied to any story. Whether you write off the cuff or take your time with a careful outline, plotting a novel ultimately comes down to one question: what will happen next? To answer this, writers need to make sure that their scenes build on one another like dominoes. A good way to do this is by taking advantage of the Domino Effect, a principle that capitalizes on one of the fundamental principles of human behavior, as explained in the book Influence by Robert Cialdini. The Domino Effect says that if you get someone to change one behavior, it will trigger a chain reaction that causes them to change other behaviors as well. For example, if you get someone to start making their bed each day, they will probably begin to clean their room as well. This is because if they have made the commitment to keep their bed clean, they will feel it is important to honor that promise.
The most common domino sets feature 28 tiles, with each tile bearing an arrangement of dots, or pips, like those on a die. These pips can be arranged in one of four suits, with the most common suit being double-six. Some sets also include a suit of blanks, or 0 suits. There are also larger sets, which typically increase the maximum number of pips on an end by three; however, they are seldom used for game play, as it is difficult to keep track of all of the possible combinations.
While dominoes are usually made of wood, there have been many other materials used to produce them. Sets have been made of stone (e.g., marble, granite, or soapstone); other types of wood (e.g., ebony); metals; ceramic clay; and even frosted glass. While these types of dominoes are less common than those made of wood, they offer a more unique and striking appearance.
Dominos are most often used for games that involve positioning the tiles edge to edge against one another and then pushing them together in order to form a specified total, or layout. These types of games are most often played by two or more people and can be quite challenging to master.
The term domino is sometimes used as a noun to describe a long hooded robe that is worn with a mask at carnivals and masquerades. It is believed that this usage of the word may have originated in the 12th or 13th century. The word is also used to refer to a particular style of pizza, and the company Dominos has made a name for itself by spreading its brand of Domino’s pizza across the United States. Domino’s is currently the largest pizza chain in the world, with over 22,000 stores worldwide. This expansion has been accomplished through a combination of marketing strategies and by taking advantage of the Domino Effect.