3 Things You Need to Know About the Domino Effect in Fiction
Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or take your time with a careful outline, the process of plotting a novel ultimately comes down to one simple question, repeated again and again: What happens next? Considering how to use the domino effect in fiction will help you answer that question in a compelling way.
But what specifically is it that makes the next plot beat work? How do a series of moments combine to create effective action in a story? As a professional book editor, it’s my role to analyze the stories with which I work and determine exactly why this plot beat or that action sequence is unconvincing. In this first installment of a four-part blog series on cause and effect, we’ll explore how many of our struggles with plot come down to one basic misunderstanding: Plot isn’t about action. It’s about reaction.