M HKA Ensembles

Book, 19.8 x 12.8 cm, 248 p, language: English, publisher: Murray & Sorrell FUEL, London, ISBN : 9780956356208.

Collection: Collection M HKA, Antwerp (Inv. no. B 2026/273).

Literary synopsis

In Memoirs of My Writer's Block, Jake Chapman haunts the shady world of the professional ghostwriter, posing as fragile amateur scribbler Christabel Ludd, whose broken attempts at completing her novel are frustrated by an unshakeable writer's block. In desperation she commissions a ragged collection of self-proclaimed professionals to transform the rudimentary tale into a compelling page-turner – with breathtaking results. The story itself is that of Bao Xishun (once the world's tallest man), who uses his extremely long arms to fish pieces of plastic flotsam from the stomachs of some unfortunate dolphins, saving them from certain death. The bizarre narrative is made more so with each rewrite, from an 'ugly duckling' rendition through to a 'horror' version.
The book follows the crushing process of having to get your novel written by someone else. The author, wracked with creative energy, resorts to poetry in a desperate attempt to relieve the tension built up over months of waiting for other – apparently more accomplished – writers to finish her story.

Relation of the novel to the artist’s practice

A signed and numbered hand coloured etching was printed in an edition of 100 and sold with a signed copy of the book in a navy clothbound Solander box with gold foil blocking.

Novel's website