Whether you write your manuscript off the cuff or plan it out carefully with an outline, plotting your story ultimately comes down to one simple question: What happens next? Using the domino effect will help you answer this question in a compelling way that keeps your readers engaged.

You may have seen those satisfying videos of a long chain of dominoes toppling away until the last domino falls. It’s like a magic trick, and the reason it works is energy—specifically, potential energy converted to kinetic energy. This energy travels from one domino to the next, providing the push needed to knock it over. This process continues until the last domino falls, resulting in the domino effect.

Domino is a tile game of chance and skill that can be played by two or more players. The pieces are rectangular and thumb-sized, with a blank or identically patterned face on one side and an arrangement of dots or pips (inlaid or painted) on the other. A domino set consists of 28 such tiles, although many sets contain more. The word domino is also used to describe a variety of games played with these tiles, including positional games in which the ends of adjacent dominoes show numbers that add up to some total.

When you play a domino game, each player takes turns placing dominoes on the table. They try to play a domino that will result in the end of the chain showing the desired number or a pattern, such as a line or an angular pattern. Then they add more dominoes to that end of the chain. If they cannot find a domino to play, they pass turn to the next player.

Aside from the games, dominoes can be used to make art. They can be arranged to form straight lines or curved lines, grids that create pictures when they fall, or even 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. When making domino art, be sure to plan out your design carefully so that you don’t run into any problems when it is time to build.

There are various types of domino sets, with some being made from more unusual materials. Traditional European-style dominoes are often made from bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or a dark hardwood such as ebony with black or white pips inlaid or painted. A more novel look can be achieved with sets made from stone (e.g., marble or soapstone); metals; ceramic clay; or frosted glass.

The Domino Effect is a powerful tool that can be used to achieve almost any goal. Whether it’s losing weight, saving money, or getting more done at work, the domino effect can help you reach your goals. By focusing on the steps that lead to your goal, you can develop habits that will help you get there.

Creating a domino effect in your own life is easy, and the rewards can be great. Just remember to start small and be patient. Once you’ve developed these habits, you can gradually increase the size of your goals and see the results.