Avocado vs. Guacamole

I love guacamole. It is a delicious concoction with a zesty tang that makes a great dip on its own, an d can be added to other foods to make them even better. Avocado, on the other hand, is flavorless slime that manages to decrease the enjoyment of eating any food it's put on.

I still remember the confusion and upset I felt when I had plain avocado. It's like, growing up, I basically thought that avocado and guacamole were the same thing. So how come guacamole has always been amazing, but avocado is lousy?

Well, it turns out that guacamole is more than just avocado. It's spices and juices and maybe some other veggies all blended up. Although avocado is the main ingredient (it can't be guacamole without it), it's nothing without everything else to go with it.

Whatever it is that drives your writing, whatever gives your stories substance, it is not enough on its own. No matter how good your dialogue is, you need action and setting. No matter how evocative your relationships and plot twists are, nobody will care if you can't set up these characters are as people.

The best writing is like guacamole. Avocado may get you through the day, and some people will swear by it, but I don't believe it will ever be as good as having all the other parts mixed in.