Domino is a game where players build structures by placing dominoes on the edge of a table, with each domino adjacent to its neighbors. The first player to finish a structure wins the game. The games can be as simple or complex as the player chooses. Each domino has a specific value, determined by the number of dots or spots on the face. This number, or pip count, may be anywhere from zero to six. Depending on the type of domino, its face may be blank or marked with numbers or letters. Generally, the values of dominoes are represented by the dots in a circle, although other markings are also used.
A single domino can be a powerful tool, whether it is to create a dramatic effect or to illustrate an important concept. For example, a physicist at the University of Toronto points out that when you set up a domino, it stores energy in its upright position. As soon as you knock it over, much of the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, the energy of motion, and this in turn causes more dominoes to fall.
This domino model is useful for demonstrating how certain events are not only possible but inevitable. It also helps us understand how certain events affect other events. This is particularly important in the case of global politics and international affairs, where a domino effect is often seen as a result of one event prompting another.
When it comes to writing, the domino principle can be very effective in organizing a manuscript. By determining what the most important tasks are, and ranking them in order of impact, it is easier to focus on completing them and seeing the results of those actions. In fact, one of my favorite quotes by business leader Lee Schwab is that every major goal can be broken down into several good dominoes, which are tasks that contribute to a larger task and will have a positive ripple effect in the future.
Using the domino principle in this way allows writers to make the most of their time and efforts. By planning out a sequence of dominoes that will ultimately lead to the completed manuscript, it is possible to reduce the risk of missing an important plot beat and keep the story moving forward at a steady pace.
Hevesh has worked on team projects involving 300,000 dominoes, and she helped to set a Guinness World Record for the largest domino installation in a circular arrangement. Her largest arrangements take several nail-biting minutes to complete, and she carefully tests each section of the design before adding it to the whole. She even films the tests to see if she needs to make any adjustments in speed or direction. This level of care and attention to detail is critical to ensuring the success of a project as large as this.