Domino is a set of 28 small, oblong pieces that are marked with a pattern of spots on both sides and can be used to play a variety of games. Sometimes called bones, cards, men, pieces or tiles, they are normally twice as long as they are wide and feature a line to divide them visually into two squares, with each side displaying either an arrangement of dots or blanks (see image below). Some sets use different colored pips to distinguish one type from another; others have a single color for both ends. Some larger dominoes have a ridge down the middle to make them easier to re-stack after use.
Each end of a domino has a unique marking that indicates the number of spots it contains, which is called its value. This value may be used in scoring games to determine the winner. In general, each domino has a different value on either end than the adjacent piece, though some exceptions exist. For example, a double-six is more valuable than a double-zero. Most modern dominoes are made from polymer plastic such as melamine, but some are made from natural materials including bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl or MOP), ivory, and ebony, with a contrasting color for the pips.
Most people are familiar with the traditional domino game, in which players place a piece on the edge of a stack of pieces and then try to knock them down by placing more pieces over them. In addition, many people are familiar with a variety of other domino games and constructions, such as straight lines of tiles or curved lines that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids.
You’ve probably also seen the physics of the domino effect, where something as tiny as tipping a single domino ever-so-slightly can trigger a chain reaction that cascades down the whole structure. This is because the center of gravity for each domino is lower than that of the next, and the weight of each domino pushes it forward until it hits its own center of gravity and falls over.
This same idea can be applied to writing, especially in the process of creating a novel. The scene dominoes that you place in your story can help to advance the plot and propel your reader through your narrative. Whether you write off the cuff or follow a meticulous outline, thinking in terms of scenes can help you create a story that will keep your readers engaged.