Domino’s Pizza

A domino is a small rectangular block used as a gaming object. It bears an arrangement of spots, called pips, on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. Like playing cards, dominoes have a standard size and shape. They are often made of wood, bone or plastic but can also be made of stone, marble, soapstone and clay. Most domino games involve a player scoring points by emptying his or her hand, but blocking games are also common, as are drawing and counting games. The first player to score a certain number of points wins the game.

Dominoes are popular with children and adults of all ages. They are available in many different styles, from simple, straight lines of blocks to intricate curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, stacked walls and 3D structures. Some are designed to be a challenge to build and others are played competitively.

In addition to their popularity as toys and recreational items, dominoes are a tool for learning. They help develop spatial skills, motor coordination and logic. They are also useful for teaching math and counting. They can be used in conjunction with other learning materials, such as dice and cards, to make more complicated games.

As early as the 18th century, dominoes were manufactured in Europe and Asia. They have been made of several different types of rigid material, including bone and ivory; silver lip oyster shell (mother-of-pearl or MOP); ebony; other dark hardwoods; and polymer. MOP, ivory and ebony sets have a more luxurious appearance and feel heavier than polymer sets.

The domino theory suggests that one event can trigger a chain reaction, or domino effect, where subsequent events lead to other outcomes, similar to the way in which a drop of water creates waves in a glass. It is an idea that has been applied to a variety of situations, including international relations. For example, the United States’ “domino strategy” involved forging tight bilateral alliances with Asian countries to control their ability to use force and to foster material and political dependency on the US.

Domino’s Pizza grew from a single store in the Ypsilanti, Michigan, area to over 200 locations worldwide by 1978. The company’s success was due in large part to its location strategy, which focused on opening pizzerias near college campuses. The strategy fueled growth and allowed Domino’s to develop its brand identity as the place to go for fast pizza.

In the same way, writers can use the domino effect to guide their novel plotting. Think of each scene in your story as a domino. Each scene domino is inactive on its own, but when you place it in the right spot, it can have a powerful impact on the scenes ahead of it. Whether you are a pantser who writes without an outline or a plotter who uses a program such as Scrivener, considering the domino effect can help you plan your novel.