Domino, cousin to playing cards and dice, is an ancient tool for constructing intricate patterns of cascading events. A domino is a rectangular tile, normally twice as long as it is wide, with one side bearing an arrangement of spots, or pips, similar to those on a die. The other side is either blank or identically patterned. The number of pips on each side determines the value of a domino, which can range from six to none or blank. A domino is also distinguished by a line or ridge in the middle, which divides it visually into two squares.
In the X-Men comics, Domino is an operative of the Six Pack, a team led by Cable. Her “luck” power is an unconsciously controlled ability that emanates from her body at all times. It is triggered by a stressful situation such as a battle or an escape attempt. She has shown some control over the ability, however, when she assassinated Flagsmasher in Rumekistan and subsequently led the Six Pack to form a new task force with Silver Sable and Lady Deathstrike.
While Domino’s skill as a domino artist is mesmerizing, she’s quick to point out that the hardest part of her work is setting up the pieces for the sequence to happen. After that, the domino effect takes over: a small movement from one domino can trigger a long chain reaction.
It’s this impact of one thing triggering the next that Domino wants to evoke with her writing. If a story has too many scenes that stall the momentum or don’t logically follow each other, the reader may lose interest. A good story has enough scenes to advance the hero and keep readers guessing but not so many that it becomes overwhelming.
Like a domino setup, a great novel has a clear rhythm to its flow and pace. It’s essential for a scene to feel right, whether it’s the moment of discovery or an emotional shift. Likewise, the scenes must be carefully spaced so they fall in just the right order to create that impact.
As with dominoes, the best way to improve your writing is by practicing it. Read through your drafts and see if all the scenes logically connect, and if they do, make sure the last few aren’t flat or uneven. And, if they don’t, try moving the scenes around to rework the flow. If you’re a pantser, or don’t plot your story ahead of time with a program such as Scrivener, then consider analyzing the last few scenes to be certain they rise in tension and have an effect on the scene that follows them. Just as the domino effect can make a huge difference, so can the process of revising and editing.