A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, with one side bearing a number of dots, like those on dice, and the other blank or marked with an arrangement of dots that differs from the first. A set of dominoes, or a deck, is used for playing games involving blocking and scoring.

Dominoes are commonly used as building blocks for Rube Goldberg machines. They are also a popular toy for children and a favorite game for adults. They have even been toppled in a number of spectacular displays at public events and by television specials.

Although many of the games played with dominoes are variants of familiar card and board games, the domino itself is often considered an independent art form. Artists have designed numerous sets of dominoes, each with a theme or statement reflected in its design. For example, an artist might create a set of dominoes that illustrate the different stages of love or that show the progression of human evolution.

A skillful player of dominoes can build an amazing chain reaction. Several thousand dominoes, or pieces, are set up in careful sequence, each influencing the next, until they all fall with the slightest nudge. These elaborate arrangements, called domino rallies or shows, are performed before large audiences by skilled builders who compete in constructing the most spectacular reactions.

The term domino effect may refer either to a sequence of actual collisions between events or to a metaphorical description of causal linkages within systems such as global finance or politics. The latter type of domino effect is sometimes referred to as a Domino Theory.

In fiction, each scene in a novel is a domino that helps to advance the story and move the action forward. It is important for authors to understand how to use dominoes in their work to create an effective plot and compelling narrative.

The key is to think of each scene as a separate domino that must be placed at the right place and time in the sequence to influence what comes after it. If a writer is not careful, she might end up with a series of scenes that don’t connect well to the others or that lack the necessary tension to raise the reader’s interest.

The best way to see how this works is to try it out for yourself. Lay out a row of dominoes on a flat surface, such as a table. Barely touch the first domino with your finger and notice what happens. Then move on to the next one. Repeat the process, gradually increasing the amount of pressure you apply. Eventually you will find that the dominoes all fall in roughly the same speed and direction. That is the domino effect. It is a fascinating phenomenon that can help you to plot your novels better and make them more compelling.