@Wojowu Solutions to $x^n = 1$.

Another closely related question: mathoverflow.net/q/390174/2051

@Ian Agol It was 10 years ago and I don't remember what I meant. 2021 Daniel wishes 2011 Daniel had made good on his word and updated the answer!

I think this is a great question- I've certainly thought about such things, and I think knot theory (or virtual tangle theory) might in fact be just the right language in which one might want to describe creative writing/composition- at least, it very much appeals to me as a language to describe such things.