A domino is a small rectangular block that has either blank or patterned sides, and it has a number of spots on its ends, like those on a die. Dominoes are used in many games to score points or form specific totals, as well as for artistic purposes, where they can be arranged into curved lines, grids that form pictures, and even 3D structures such as towers and pyramids.
In the past, when people referred to the idea of domino effect, they were referring to an event that was said to cause other events in a predictable way. For example, an earthquake could be seen as a domino effect because it was predicted that subsequent earthquakes would follow in a predictable pattern. The word domino has also been used to describe a chain reaction or cascade of effects, whether they are physical or psychological.
One of the best examples of a domino effect is in the way that certain types of infections spread in hospitals. These are called nosocomial infections and they often occur when medical professionals fail to properly care for patients. This leads to the patient picking up an infection that they then pass on to other patients. Eventually, the entire hospital becomes infected. A similar type of domino effect is what happens when a child plays with the toy that was left on the floor by their sibling. This toy may cause an injury to the child that leads to a trip to the emergency room and subsequent treatment.
The domino effect is also the name of a game in which players try to build up a line or sequence of dominoes so that they fall over or cover an area. The player who is able to do so wins the game.
There are many different rules and variations of the game. For example, some players only play on-edge dominoes (those that are positioned edge to edge) and others allow additional tiles to be placed onto the long side of a double. Other rules require that a player must “chip out” (play their last domino) before another player can place a new tile.
A similar principle applies to story writing, where each scene can be seen as a domino that triggers the next scene in a predictable way. Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, this idea can help you develop your plot. Whether your scenes are dominoes that move the action forward or scene dominoes that help to illuminate a topic, understanding the idea of the domino effect can help you write more effectively and create an intriguing story.