The Crossed-Out Notebook: A Novel

This is a novel about words, specifically picking the right words to fit a particular purpose or project. Nicolás Giacobone writes a story of a writer trapped by a rich movie producer. The main characters of Santiago and Pablo are somewhat like a “team,” but with one key difference: Pablo is the one doing all the writing work as prescribed by Santiago, who is the “boss” making all the final decisions. Pablo uses a computer application to keep his own private journal of what is occurring in his writing career. Giacobone’s story is written from the perspective of a writer through this journal and includes notes from the projects that Pablo is undertaking while trapped and the rules and guidelines that he has established for his writing process. Pablo states many rules about being a good writer throughout. Giacobone uses imagery well, with Pablo effectively describing his living situation and how everything is setup while he is forced by Santiago to complete the next project. Outside of the narrative, Giacobone completes his own writing project perfectly.