What is ink death?

Ink death is a literary term that refers to the death of an author before finishing their work, resulting in the incompleteness of their manuscript, book, or writing. It is believed that the writer's death brought an abrupt end to their creative process, leaving the story unresolved. The term was coined by German literary critic Walter Jens, who used it to describe the untimely death of his friend, the German author Siegfried Lenz. Some notable examples of ink death include Franz Kafka's "The Trial," Charles Dickens' "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," and Stieg Larsson's "The Girl Who Played with Fire." In some cases, surviving family members or literary executors may attempt to finish the work based on the author's notes or outline, but there is often debate surrounding the authenticity and quality of the completed project.