The following version of this book was used to create the guid: Everett, Percival. Erasure. Graywolf Press, 2001.

Percival Everett's novel Erasure is told from the protagonist Thelonious "Monk" Ellison's first person point of view and toggles between the past and present. Because Monk is a writer, he often toys with narrative convention as he pens his private account. For the sake of clarity, the following guide relies upon the present tense and a linear mode of explanation.

Monk leaves his home in Los Angeles, California to attend a writer's conference in Washington, D.C. While in town, he reunites with his mother and his sister Lisa for the first time in three years. Although Lisa repeatedly tells Monk that Mother's health is failing, Monk does not want to believe it. He ignores Mother's obvious signs of mental decline, and tells Lisa that he cannot financially support her because none of his novels have been that successful.

Monk returns to Los Angeles and completes his semester of teaching. Shortly thereafter, Mother's housekeeper Lorraine calls Monk to say that Lisa was shot and killed at the clinic where she worked. Monk travels home in a state of shock. He cannot make sense of what has happened.

After he and his brother Bill attend Lisa's funeral, Bill returns to his home to deal with his own familial affairs. Therefore, Monk is left to care for Mother alone. Meanwhile, he spends time in his father's old study. One day, he discovers the papers Mother said that Father wanted burned after his death. The letters reveal that Father had an affair and a child with another woman when Monk was young. Monk cannot make sense of this news. He dips into frequent bouts of remembrance, musing on his closeness with Father over the years.

Monk's agent Yul informs him that no one wants to buy his most recent manuscript. Monk has published 16 books, but still feels discouraged. One night, he sits at his father's old desk and pens a novel titled My Pafology under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh. The novel traces the story of a 19-year-old young man named Van Go Jenkins. Go hates his life and everyone in it, but does nothing to change his circumstances. Instead, he resorts to angry outbursts and random acts of violence.

With Monk's urging, Yul submits My Pafology for publication. Random House offers Monk a six-figure book deal overnight. Although Monk meant the book as a parody and does not think the work is serious fiction, he accepts the deal because he needs money to support Mother's care.

Over the course of the following weeks and months, Monk is consumed by guilt and shame. He starts appearing at readings and interviews as Stagg R. Leigh. The more often he pretends to be Stagg, the more angry he feels with himself.

Meanwhile, Monk joins the National Book Association's judging panel. He is shocked when My Pafology is nominated for The Book Award. Despite his efforts to argue against the book's merits, the other judges vote it their winner. On the night of the awards ceremony, Monk finds himself going on stage to claim the award when Stagg's name is announced.