On a long drive to West Virginia

If you wrote a novel about a long drive to West Virginia, you'd want to have one character explain some of the history of West Virginia, so the readers will know the novel is not about them going to “western Virginia.”

You’d have to describe the sun and the sky. Roadkill and living truck drivers.

It would be a good idea to mention trees. Also gas stations where there's no way anyone who's been inside has ever worn a mask. And sure enough.

Maybe include a subplot where everyone plays the alphabet game, and draw out of it a commentary on the arbitrariness of language and of meaning altogether.

I don't recommend writing a novel about taking a trip to West Virginia.