Dominoes and Writing a Novel

Domino is a game of matching one domino to another based on the total number of pips on their open ends. In the most basic form, each player draws seven tiles from a double-six set and plays them until they can no longer do so. Players then score points whenever the resulting total on the exposed ends is exactly divisible by either 5 or 3. The first player to reach that value wins the game.

Dominoes have a long history of use, especially in Europe. The earliest written reference to them is the Xuan He Pai Pu, an ancient manual of Chinese domino play from around 1341. The Xuan He was followed in the early 18th century by a French manual that used a similar system to score dominoes.

The modern game of domino has many different variations and rules. The most popular is probably the block game for two players. This game requires a standard double-six set of dominoes, which is shuffled and forms the stock or boneyard from which each player draws their seven tiles. The players then alternately extend the line of play by playing one tile from their hand on top of another that matches at one or both ends. A player scores when the exposed pips are evenly divisible by 5, or by 3 (as doubles count twice).

When you think of it, this game has a lot in common with writing a novel. Just as a single domino can tip over thousands of other dominoes, an effective story is a series of smooth actions that build toward the climax.

For example, if a character is introduced by saying “domino,” the reader expects to see that character be the trigger for a chain reaction of events that leads to the big dramatic scene. For this reason, it’s important to write a strong hook that clearly defines your protagonist’s problem and provides a clear path toward its resolution.

As the leader of Domino’s, Dave Brandon took his company in a new direction by emphasizing the importance of employee engagement and listening to customer feedback. When he turned over the reins to John Doyle, he continued this policy and even went as far as to create an employee survey to measure employee satisfaction.

Domino’s success is largely due to its dedication to technology. Half of its workers are involved in software analytics, which has allowed the company to develop new ways for customers to order pizzas. In addition, they are constantly testing and implementing new technologies that will allow them to deliver food faster and more efficiently. One of their key strategies has been to hire more people in positions that require leadership skills rather than management skills, which tend to be more bureaucratic. This helps ensure that they can respond to customer feedback quickly and take action accordingly. This approach also emphasizes that leadership is about taking risks, not just following the crowd. It’s a style of management that has helped make Domino’s the leading fast-food franchise it is today.