Fiction of the outside world. “My uncle Jake, reclusive billionaire owner of the third-largest chain of parking structures in North America … Uncle Jake had given people a place to park a car. CNBC solved this lack-of-drama problem by bringing on a reporter from Parking Magazine, the trade rag of the National Parking Association—and yes, both of those things are real.” Tor/Forge Blog: Excerpt Reveal: Starter Villain by John Scalzi, 2023.
~~~
In which I once again learn from failure. [When Fact Is More Interesting Than Fiction]
The plan was to do a Faces in the Crowd exercise in a parking lot. [Faces In The Crowd]
What I learned is that parking lots are narratively barren places.
Parking lots are transitory, at least for people. Cars hang out for hours on end. People come and go as fast as feasible. Drive in. Get out. Leave parking lot. Reverse process to leave.
About the only recurring action that I could envision was loading groceries. Unloading takes place back home. Otherwise, not much happens.
Sure, you could place an action in a parking lot, a joyful reunion, a shady deal, an alien landing. I have a memory of hanging around a parking garage as a kid while a friend was involved with – in hindsight – possibly a felony, but certainly a misdemeanor. I, of course, was clueless. But I digress. A parking lot is big open space that could be repurposed as a stage. But the normal usage is not to have people in it. The one I was in was not gated therefore no guards.
Parking lots are ubiquitous IRL and as a social metaphor. [Put Up A Parking Lot]
Because of their prevalence, I had not stopped to consider in detail how they are used. I had not realized that parking lots are inert spaces.
🚗🚗🚗
If cars talked to each other.
1st car. I think I’m due for oil change. My light hasn’t come on but I feel sluggish in my lines.
2md car. Speaking of feel. Have you noticed that gas feel different in different states?
3rd car. Gas? Gas?! Don’t talk to me about gas. I can’t get used to how much the road surface changes at the state line. You’re zooming along, then suddenly, whoosh it’s a whole different road. Like we’re not supposed to notice?
🚗🚗🚗
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
More talking cars! I love your fiction!
Jane
You don’t need to cross a state line to find variations in road surfaces. Sometimes, just crossing the street where state maintenance ends and local maintenance begins will let you know.