Domino is a game of playing with blocks that can be stacked on end to form long lines. Then, when you tip one domino ever so slightly it causes the next to tilt and so on, creating a chain reaction that can lead to some amazing constructions. This principle is often referred to as the “domino effect,” and it’s what gives rise to the popular idea that one action can have much greater consequences than we might expect. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, the process of creating a story involves considering how your actions will affect those around you. Using this concept as a guide, we’re going to look at a few ways to use the domino effect to help your story reach its full potential.
Hevesh is a master at setting up mind-blowing domino setups before live audiences. When she begins to create one of these intricate designs, she considers the theme or purpose of her design before a single piece goes down. Then, she follows a version of the engineering-design process. She starts by considering the overall structure of the domino set and then brainstorms images or words that might relate to those themes. If she’s particularly inspired, she may even sketch out an outline of the entire domino setup before she begins to place each individual domino.
After that, it’s just a matter of careful placement and a little luck, as Hevesh sets each domino in just the right spot to cause it to fall in exactly the way she wants. When you watch a domino show, it’s like watching a series of physics experiments unfold before your eyes. It’s no wonder that Hevesh is able to set up and watch these incredible creations come to life before the crowds.
When it comes to writing, you can think of the process of plotting a novel in similar terms as Hevesh sets up her dominoes. Whether you’re a pantster who doesn’t make detailed plans before starting to write or an outliner who works out a detailed plot before putting pen to paper, your final product will be the same: a set of scenes that work together to tell a story.
Domino was the result of a top-secret government breeding program intended to develop the perfect weapon. Her mutant ability to get lucky is unconsciously controlled, but it’s a powerful force that has made her a dangerous and effective mercenary. She teamed up with Cable on several occasions to fight for the good of humanity. She once assassinated Flagsmasher in Rumekistan to clear the way for Cable’s takeover of the Six Pack, though she later left the group because it did not share her views on what kind of future they should strive for.
Most recently, Domino was hired to guard Milo Thurman, whose analytical ability had made him a valuable asset for the NSA. However, her relationship with Thurman brought her into conflict with Donald Pierce and Lady Deathstrike, who wanted to download his mind into a computer. Dom managed to defeat them, but that success cost her Thurman’s life. Afterward, she rejoined X-Force.