'This article performs the creative act of giving form to writing—whether that of an academic paper, poem or artwork. It is a demonstration of the ‘turn of the line’, watching itself turning from post-structuralist foundation through photographic essay to poetic performance. The ‘paper’ (existing only electronically) aims to capture the strange gathering of matter that constitutes the giving of form. By employing a philosophico-poetic approach, and drawing on ideas taken from philosophy, the history of art, and poetry (such as negative space, materiality, and material poetics), this article aims to capture creativity in the act.' (Publication abstract)