Dominoes are a fun way to pass the time or to build some amazing structures. They can be simple straight lines, curved lines that form shapes, grids that create pictures when they fall, or 3D towers and pyramids. The possibilities are limitless! If you want to learn how to play domino, here are some basics:
The game is played by laying a domino edge to edge against another domino such that the exposed ends of the two matching pieces match (i.e., one’s touch each other, or 2’s touch 1’s). If the dots on both sides of the first domino total a multiple of five the player is awarded that number of points. A player may continue to add dominoes to the line, each time scoring a point by playing a domino with exposed ends that equal a multiple of five. The game can be continued until either one player reaches a total of points or no one has any more dominoes to play.
The earliest dominoes were made from clay, but they are now typically molded from plastic, bone or wood. They are often painted and have a surface that is either blank or patterned with an arrangement of dots, called pips, similar to the numbers on a die. In some sets, the pips are uniformly molded and colored, while in others they are inlaid or carved. In addition to their use in gaming, dominoes are also used to teach children about patterns, counting and probability.
When Hevesh creates her mind-blowing domino setups, she follows a version of the engineering-design process. She starts with considering the theme or purpose of an installation, and then brainstorms images or words that might be related to the theme. She then considers how the dominoes will be arranged, and finally she tests out different configurations to see what works best.
Like a domino, a story has many parts and plot beats that can be combined in different ways to create a unique narrative. Some of these plot beats are high action, while others are more mellow moments of reflection and character development. When the ratio of high-action scenes to mellow scenes is off, the narrative can lose momentum.
Dominoes can be an excellent metaphor for a novel’s structure and pacing. High-action scenes should be followed by softer scenes that allow readers to understand the logic behind a character’s choices. For example, if a protagonist is doing something immoral but the next scene doesn’t provide a reason for why that action is logical, readers will likely lose interest in the story.
