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Check Out Our Fiction Writing Courses!
Writing Spontaneously: How to Let Your Stories Surprise You
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;-(*.+$*'+N($/*+#;&E$[;("#&6$;$'#&*#'$.@$#'-;/;(*+,$;+A$A#O#'-;/;(*+,$-.+X*-('$'/.)/9$?C'"#'$("#$'(.&9 (.);&A'$*('$-/*2;FE
0@$9.CND#$#D#&$&#;A$.+#$.@$J,;(";$>"&*'(*#N'$2C&A#&$29'(#&*#'6$("#+$9.CN&#$;/&#;A9$@;2*/*;&$)*("$("#
T*-"(#;+$>C&D#E$0+$SC&A#&$.+$("#$h&*#+($RF?&#''6$@.&$#F;2?/#6$_#&-C/#$P.*&.($-.+(*+C#'$(.$'(.K#$("#
X;2#'$.@$("#$'(.&9N'$2;+9$'C'?#-('Q$"#$C+-.D#&'$#D#&9$?;''#+,#&N'$X;)'6$*+'#-C&*(*#'6$;+A$'#-&#('6
#;-"$(*2#$,#+#&;(*+,$;$/*((/#$2.&#$-.+X*-(6$;+A$#;-"$(*2#$+;&&.)*+,$A.)+$("#$2C&A#&#&$C+(*/$("#
'(.&9N'$#F?/.'*D#$-/*2;FE
Common Plot Devices
!"#$?/.($.@$;$'(.&9$*'$*+XC#+-#A$39$2;+9$@;-(.&'E$W"*/#$?/.($'(&C-(C&#'$,*D#$("#$@&;2#).&K$@.&$("#
'(.&9$*('#/@6$("#$;C(".&$2C'($#2?/.9$?/.($A#D*-#'$(.$K##?$("#$'(.&9$2.D*+,6$.("#&)*'#$("#$&*'*+,
;-(*.+$)*//$+#D#&$3#-.2#$;$-/*2;FE
!"#'#$?/.($A#D*-#'$#+'C&#$(";($9.C&$&#;A#&$)*//$K##?$&#;A*+,6$;+A$(";($9.C&$'(.&9$)*//$A##?#+$;+A -.2?/*-;(#$("#$("#2#'$*($'##K'$(.$#+,;,#E
Aristotle’s Plot Devices
0+$P.#(*-'6$J&*'(.(/#$A#'-&*3#'$("&##$?/.($A#D*-#'$)"*-"$;&#$#''#+(*;/$(.$2.'($'(.&*#'E$!"#'#$;&#Q
1. Anagnorisis (Recognition)
MCK#6$0$;2$9.C&$@;("#&m$J+;,+.&*'*'$*'$("#$2.2#+($*+$)"*-"$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($,.#'$@&.2$*,+.&;+-#$(.
K+.)/#A,#E$h@(#+$?&#-#A*+,$("#$'(.&9N'$-/*2;F6$;+;,+.&*'*'$*'$("#$K#9$?*#-#$.@$*+@.&2;(*.+$(";(
?&.?#/'$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($*+(.$&#'./D*+,$("#$'(.&9N'$-.+X*-(E
2. Pathos (Suffering)
J&*'(.(/#$A#%+#'$?;(".'$;'$U;$A#'(&C-(*D#$.&$?;*+@C/$;-(*.+EV$!"*'$-;+$3#$?"9'*-;/$?;*+6$'C-"$;'$A#;("
.&$'#D#&#$).C+A'6$3C($*($-;+$;/'.$3#$;+$#2.(*.+;/$.&$#F*'(#+(*;/$?;*+E$[#,;&A/#''6$J&*'(.(/#$-.+(#+A' (";($;//$'(.&*#'$-.+@&.+($#F(#$?;*+6$;+A$(";($("*'$?;*+$*'$#''#+(*;/$@.&$("#$?&.?C/'*.+$.@$("#$?/.(E
3. Peripeteia (Reversal)
J$?#&*?#(#*;$*'$;$2.2#+($*+$)"*-"$3;A$@.&(C+#'$-";+,#$(.$,..A6$.&$,..A$@.&(C+#'$-";+,#$(.$3;AE$0+
.("#&$).&A'6$("*'$*'$;$&#D#&';/$.@$("#$'*(C;(*.+E$h@(#+$;--.2?;+*#A$39$;+;,+.&*'*'6$?#&*?#(#*;$*'$.@(#+
("#$.C(-.2#$.@$("#$'(.&9N'$-/*2;F6$'*+-#$("#$-/*2;F$A#-*A#'$)"#("#&$("#$?&.(;,.+*'(N'$'(.&9$#+A'$*+
-.2#A9$.&$(&;,#A9E
Plot Devices for Story Structure
!"#$?/.($.@$;$'(.&9$)*//$,;*+$'(&C-(C&#$@&.2$("#$C'#$.@$("#'#$A#D*-#'E
Backstory
L;-K'(.&9$&#@#&'$(.$*2?.&(;+($2.2#+('$(";($";D#$.--C&&#A$?&*.&$(.$("#$2;*+$'(.&9E$!"#9$";??#+
3#@.&#$("#$'(.&9N'$#F?.'*(*.+6$;+A$)"*/#$("#9$'.2#(*2#'$-";+,#$("#$A*&#-(*.+$.@$("#$'(.&96$("#9$2.&#
.@(#+$?&.D*A#$"*'(.&*-;/$?;&;//#/'$;+A$K#9$3*('$.@$-";&;-(#&*Y;(*.+E$:.2#(*2#'6$;$'(.&9$)*//$&#@#&$(.$*(' .)+$3;-K'(.&9$D*;$X;'"3;-KE
Deus Ex Machina
J$A#C'$#F$2;-"*+;$.--C&'$)"#+$("#$?&.(;,.+*'(N'$@;(#$*'$-";+,#A$AC#$(.$-*&-C2'(;+-#'$.C('*A#$.@
("#*&$-.+(&./E$!"#$<.A'$2;9$*+(#&D#+#6$("#$;+(;,.+*'($2;9$'CAA#+/9$?#&*'"6$.&$("#$'(.&9N'$-.+X*-(
&#'./D#'$*('#/@E$<#+#&;//96$A#C'$#F$2;-"*+;$*'$D*#)#A$;'$;$U-.?$.C(V$(";($?&#D#+('$("#$?&.(;,.+*'(
@&.2$#F?#&*#+-*+,$("#$@C//$,&.)("$+#-#'';&9$(.$-.2?/#(#$("#*&$d.C&+#9E$_.)#D#&6$("*'$&*'K9$A#D*-#
2;9$?;9$.H6$#'?#-*;//9$*+$).&K'$.@$-.2#A9$.&$;3'C&A*'2E
In Media Res
T&.2$("#$M;(*+$U*+$("#$2*AA/#$.@$("*+,'6V$;$'(.&9$*'$U*+$2#A*;$&#'V$)"#+$*($'(;&('$*+$("#$2*AA/#E$h+
P;,#$46$).&A$46$("#$'(.&9$'(;&('$'.2#)"#&#$*+$("#$2*AA/#$.@$("#$&*'*+,$;-(*.+6$"..K*+,$("#$&#;A#&$*+
A#'?*(#$("#$/;-K$.@$-.+(#F(E$RD#+(C;//96$("#$'(.&9$)*//$?&.?#&/9$*+(&.AC-#$("#$-";&;-(#&'$;+A$(;K#$C'$(.
("#$3#,*++*+,$.@$("#$-.+X*-(6$3C($U*+$2#A*;$&#'V$*'$.+#$);9$(.$,#+#&;(#$*22#A*;(#$*+(#&#'($*+$("#
'(.&9E
Plot Voucher
J$?/.($D.C-"#&$*'$'.2#("*+,$(";($*'$,*D#+$(.$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($@.&$/;(#&$C'#6$#F-#?($("#$?&.(;,.+*'(
A.#'+N($K+.)$9#($(";($("#9$)*//$C'#$*(E$!";($U'.2#("*+,V$2*,"($3#$;+$*(#26$;$?*#-#$.@$*+@.&2;(*.+6$.&
#D#+$;$@C(C&#$;//#,*;+-#$)*("$;+.("#&$?#&'.+E$S;+9$(*2#'6$;$?/.($D.C-"#&$*'$3#BC#;("#A$3#@.&#$("#
'(.&9N'$-.+X*-($?&.?#&/9$(;K#'$'";?#E$T.&$#F;2?/#6$*+$("#$_;&&9$P.((#&$'#&*#'6$("#$[#'C&&#-(*.+$:(.+#
*'$"*AA#+$*+$_;&&9N'$%&'($,./A#+$'+*(-"6$2;K*+,$("#$'+*(-"$;$?/.($D.C-"#&E
Plot Devices for Complicating the Story
W";($*'$("#$?/.($.@$;$'(.&96$*@$+.($-.2?/*-;(#AI$!"#'#$?/.($A#D*-#'$3&*+,$9.C&$&#;A#&'$*+$@.&$;$)*/A
&*A#E
Cliffhanger
J$-/*H";+,#&$.--C&'$)"#+$("#$'(.&9$#+A'$3#@.&#$("#$-/*2;F$*'$&#'./D#AE$:?#-*%-;//96$("#$'(.&9$#+A' 2*AO-/*2;F$'.$(";($("#$&#;A#&$#F?#&*#+-#'$("#$"#*,"($.@$("#$'(.&9N'$(#+'*.+6$3C($A.#'+N($'##$("#
.C(-.2#$.@$("#$-/*2;F$;+A$("#$@;(#$.@$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($.&$-.+X*-(E$>/*H";+,#&'$)*//$,#+#&;//9$.--C&
)"#+$("#$'(.&9$*'$?;&($.@$;$'#&*#'6$(".C,"$*($-;+$;/'.$";D#$/*(#&;&9$2#&*(E$0+$h+#$!".C';+A$;+A$h+#
G*,"('6$:-"#"#&;Y;A#$#+A'$"#&$'(.&*#'$.+$-/*H";+,#&'$'.$(";($("#$K*+,$K##?'$?.'(?.+*+,$"#&
#F#-C(*.+E
MacGuffin
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).&A'6$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($A#'*&#'$("#$S;-<Cn+6$)"*-"$-;C'#'$("#$'(.&9N'$-.+X*-(6$3C($("#$S;-<Cn+
*('#/@$*'$;-(C;//9$D;/C#/#''E$S;+9$(*2#'6$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($A.#'+N($#D#+$.3(;*+$("#$S;-<Cn+6$3#-;C'#
("#9$";D#$/#;&+#A$)";($/#''.+'$("#9$)#&#$'C??.'#A$(.$/#;&+$@&.2$("#$-";'#E$J+$#F;2?/#$*'$("#
@;/-.+$'(;(C#((#$*+$!"#$S;/(#'#$T;/-.+E$!"*'$'(;(C#((#$*'$+#D#&$.3(;*+#A6$3C($*($A&*D#'$("#$+.D#/N' 2;+9$2C&A#&'$;+A$A.C3/#$-&.''*+,'
Red Herring
J$&#A$"#&&*+,$*'$;$A*'(&;-(*.+$A#D*-#$*+$)"*-"$("#$;C(".&$2*'/#;A'$("#$&#;A#&$e.&$.("#&$-";&;-(#&'g )*("$'##2*+,/9O&#/#D;+($A#(;*/'E$e!"#$S;-<Cn+$*'$;$@.&2$.@$&#A$"#&&*+,Eg$[#A$"#&&*+,'$;&#$?&*2;&*/9
@.C+A$*+$29'(#&9$;+A$'C'?#+'#$'(.&*#'6$;'$("#9$'(&*+,$("#$&#;A#&$A.)+$A*H#&#+($?.''*3*/*(*#'$)"*/#
A*'(&;-(*+,$@&.2$("#$(&C("E$J/(".C,"$("*'$?/.($A#D*-#$-;+$-.2?/*-;(#$("#$'(.&9$;+A$#D#+$3C*/A
'923./*'26$*($-;+$;/'.$@&;-(C&#$("#$&#;A#&N'$(&C'($*+$("#$;C(".&6$'.$)&*(#&'$'".C/A$C'#$*($'?;&*+,/9$;+A )*'#/9E
T.&$2.&#$?/.($A#D*-#'$;+A$'(.&9(#//*+,$(#-"+*BC#'6$(;K#$;$/..K$;($.C&$;&(*-/#$!"#$J&($.@$:(.&9(#//*+,E
"((?'Qii)&*(#&'E-.2i("#O;&(O.@O'(.&9(#//*+,
8 Types of Plot
>#&(;*+$(9?#'$.@$?/.($&#-C&$("&.C,".C($/*(#&;(C$#'?#-*;//9$*+$,#+&#$%-(*.+E$!"#'#$'(.&*#'$3C*/A$C?.+
("#$?&#D*.C'/9$2#+(*.+#A$?/.($A#D*-#'6$;+A$("#9$";D#$("#*&$.)+$(&.?#'$;+A$;&-"#(9?#'$)"*-"$("#
;C(".&$2C'($%//$(.$(#//$;$-.2?/#(#$'(.&9E
:.2#6$3C($+.($;//6$.@$("#$@.//.)*+,$?/.('$)#&#$.&*,*+;//9$A#%+#A$39$>"&*'(.?"#&$L..K#&$*+$"*'$).&K
!"#$:#D#+$L;'*-$P/.('E$eW#ND#$.2*((#A$'.2#$.@$("#$?/.('$"#$2#+(*.+'$*@$("#9$;&#$&;&#/9$'##+$*+
-.+(#2?.&;&9$/*(#&;(C&#Eg
!"#$?/.($.@$;$'(.&9$2*,"($(;K#$("#$@.//.)*+,$'";?#'Q
1. Plot of a Story: Quest
h@(#+$&#'#23/*+,$("#$_#&.N'$Z.C&+#96$;$BC#'($*'$;$'(.&9$*+$)"*-"$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($'#('$.C($@&.2$("#*&
".2#/;+A$*+$'#;&-"$.@$'.2#("*+,E$!"#9$2*,"($3#$'#;&-"*+,$@.&$(&#;'C$@.&$/.D#6$@.&$("#$(&C("6$@.&$;
+#)$".2#6$.&$@.&$("#$'./C(*.+$(.$;$?&.3/#2E$h@(#+$;--.2?;+*#A$39$.("#&$;//*#'6$;+A$.@(#+
#23;&K*+,$.+$("*'$d.C&+#9$)*("$"#'*(;(*.+6$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($-.2#'$3;-K$@&.2$("#*&$BC#'($'(&.+,#&6 '2;&(#&6$;+A$*&&#D#&'*3/9$-";+,#A=*@$("#9$2;K#$*($3;-K$;/*D#E
RF;2?/#'$.@$("#$BC#'($*+-/CA#Q$!"#$M.&A$.@$("#$[*+,'$39$ZE$[E$[E$!./K*#+6$:*&$<;);*+$;+A$("#$<&##+
o+*,"(6$;+A$!"#$_;&&9$P.((#&$:#&*#'E
2. Plot of a Story: Tragedy
J$(&;,#A9$*'$;$'(.&9$.@$;$)#//O2#;+*+,$?&.(;,.+*'($)".6$AC#$(.$("#*&$X;)'$.&$'".&(-.2*+,'6$@;*/'$(.
&#'./D#$("#$'(.&9N'$-.+X*-(E$e!"#$"#&.N'$(&;,*-$X;)$*'$K+.)+$;'$";2;&(*;Eg$!&;,#A*#'$.@(#+$"*,"/*,"(
("#$(#&&*3/#$-*&-C2'(;+-#'$(";($("#$?&.(;,.+*'($%+A'$("#2'#/D#'$*+6$.&$("#$*2?.''*3/#$2.&;/
BC;+A;&*#'$(";($("#9$2C'($&#'./D#$e3C($A.+N(gE$[#;A#&'$-.2#$(.$/.D#$("#$(&;,*-$"#&.$3.("$A#'?*(#$;+A 3#-;C'#$.@$("#*&$X;)'6$;+A$("#*&$*+;3*/*(9$(.$&#'./D#$("#$-.+X*-($.@(#+$-.2#'$;'$;$,&#;($2.&;/$.&
?#&'.+;/$/.''6$#D#+$&#'C/(*+,$*+$("#$?&.(;,.+*'(N'$A#;("E
RF;2?/#'$.@$("#$(&;,#A9$*+-/CA#Q$[.2#.$c$ZC/*#($39$:";K#'?#;$!"#$<&#;($<;('39$39$TE$:-.((
T*(Y,#&;/A6$h#A*?C'$[#F$39$:.?".-/#'6$T&;+K#+'(#*+$39$S;&9$:"#//#96$h@$S*-#$;+A$S#+$39$Z."+
:(#*+3#-K6$;+A$WC("#&*+,$_#*,"('$39$R2*/9$L&.+(pE
3. Plot of a Story: Rags to Riches
J$&;,'$(.$&*-"#'$'(.&9$*+D./D#'$;$?&.(;,.+*'($)".$,.#'$@&.2$A*&#$?.D#&(9$(.$#F-#''*D#$)#;/("E$0+
;AA*(*.+$(.$+;D*,;(*+,$*''C#'$.@$-/;''$;+A$*A#+(*(96$("#'#$'(.&*#'$.@(#+$'".)-;'#$("#$?&.(;,.+*'(N'
*++#&$).&/A$;'$("#9$;AdC'($(.$A&;'(*-;//9$+#)$/*@#$-*&-C2'(;+-#'E$!"#$?/.($.@$;$&;,'$(.$&*-"#'$'(.&9$)*//
@.//.)$("#$?&.(;,.+*'(N'$&#/;(*.+'"*?$(.$)#;/("6$;+A$("#$("*+,'$(";($?&.(;,.+*'($-";'#'$?&#-*'#/9 3#-;C'#$.@$(";($)#;/("E
RF;2?/#'$.@$("#$&;,'$(.$&*-"#'$*+-/CA#Q$<&#;($RF?#-(;(*.+'$39$>";&/#'$1*-K#+'6$!"#$>.C+($.@$S.+(#
>&*'(.$J/#F;+A&#$1C2;'6$;+A$q$c$J$39$l*K;'$:);&C?E
4. Plot of a Story: Story Within a Story
!"#$'(.&9$)*("*+$;$'(.&96$;/'.$K+.)+$;'$;+$#23#AA#A$+;&&;(*D#6$.+#$.@$("#$/#''O'(&C-(C&#A$(9?#'$.@
?/.(E$R''#+(*;//96$("#$;C(".&$#23#A'$;$'#-.+A$'(.&96$-.2?/#(#$)*("$*('$.)+$+;&&;(*D#$;+A$-.+X*-(6$(.
3./'(#&$("#$?&.,&#''*.+$.@$("#$2;*+$'(.&9E$R23#AA#A$+;&&;(*D#'$.@(#+$&#X#-($("#$("#2#'$.@$("#$2;*+
+;&&;(*D#'6$3C($("#9$-;+$;/'.$-.2?/*-;(#$;+A$-";//#+,#$(".'#$("#2#'6$?&.D*A*+,$;AA*(*.+;/$/;9#&'$.@
2#;+*+,$(.$("#$'(.&9E$!"*'$*'$+.($(.$3#$-.+@C'#A$)*("$?;&;//#/$?/.(6$3#-;C'#$("#$'(.&9$)*("*+$;$'(.&9$*'
;+$*+D#+(*.+$'./#/9$@.&$("#$';K#$.@$;AD;+-*+,$("#$2;*+$+;&&;(*D#6$)"#&#;'$;$?;&;//#/$?/.($";'$2C/(*?/#6
#BC;//9$*2?.&(;+($+;&&;(*D#'E
RF;2?/#'$.@$("#$'(.&9$)*("*+$;$'(.&9$*+-/CA#Q$!"#$L&.("#&'$o;&;2;Y.D$39$T9.A.&$1.'(.#D'K96$_;2/#(
39$:";K#'?#;$S.39O1*-K$39$_#&2;+$S#/D*//#6$J@(#&).&/A'$39$:-.(($W#'(#&@#/A6$;+A$1.+$qC*F.(#
39$S*,C#/$A#$>#&D;+(#'E
5. Plot of a Story: Parallel Plot
J$?;&;//#/$?/.($*'$;$'(.&9$*+$)"*-"$().$.&$2.&#$-.+-C&&#+($?/.('$;&#$(./A$'*A#O39O'*A#E$R;-"$?/.(
*+XC#+-#'$("#$-.C&'#$.@$("#$.("#&$?/.(6$#D#+$*@$(".'#$'(.&*#'$";??#+$.+$.??.'*(#$#+A'$.@$("#$).&/AE RD#&9$+;&&;(*D#$(";($.--C&'$*+$;$?;&;//#/$?/.($*'$#BC;//9$D*(;/$(.$("#$'(.&9$;'$;$)"./#E
RF;2?/#'$.@$?;&;//#/$?/.($*+-/CA#Q$o;@K;$.+$("#$:".&#$39$_;&CK*$SC&;K;2*6$J$!;/#$.@$!).$>*(*#'$39
>";&/#'$1*-K#+'6$L&#;K$("#$L.A*#'6$_;C+($("#$L.+#'$39$S*-;"$1#;+$_*-K'6$!"#$!#'(;2#+('$39 S;&,;&#($J()..A6$;+A$0+$("#$!*2#$.@$("#$LC((#&X*#'$39$ZC/*;$J/D;&#YE
6. Plot of a Story: Rebellion Against “The One”
J$'(.&9$.@$#//*.+$@.//.)'$;$"#&.$)".$;-(*D#/9$&#'*'('$("#$.??&#''*D#$@.&-#$.@$;+$.2+*?.(#+(
;+(;,.+*'(E$1#'?*(#$).&K*+,$(*&#/#''/9$(.$A#@#;($(";($;+(;,.+*'(6$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($*'$*//O#BC*??#A$(.$A.
'.$;'$;$'*+,C/;&$;+A$?.)#&/#''$#+(*(9E$:.6$("#$'(.&9$.@(#+$#+A'$)*("$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($'C32*((*+,$(.$("#
;+(;,.+*'(6$.&$#/'#$?#&*'"*+,$;/(.,#("#&E
RF;2?/#'$.@$#//*.+$;,;*+'($U!"#$h+#V$*+-/CA#Q$4rj5$39$<#.&,#$h&)#//6$!"#$_C+,#&$<;2#'$:#&*#' 39$:CY;++#$>.//*+'6$U_;&&*'.+$L#&,#&.+V$39$oC&($l.++#,C(6$;+A$!"#$_;+A2;*AN'$!;/#$39$S;&,;&#(
J()..AE
7. Plot of a Story: Anticlimax
!"#$;+(*-/*2;F$*'$;$'(.&9$(";($A#(;*/'$("#$@;//*+,$;-(*.+$;@(#&$;$-/*2;F$";'$;/&#;A9$.--C&&#AE$0+$.("#&
).&A'6$("#$;+(*-/*2;F$A.#'$+.($";D#$;$-/*2;F$*('#/@Q$("#$-/*2;F$*'$2#&#/9$?&.D*A#A$;'$3;-K'(.&96$;+A ("#$+.D#/$*'$A#A*-;(#A$(.$("#$#D#+('$.@$("#$'(.&9N'$A#+.C#2#+(E$!"*'$+.($(.$3#$-.+@C'#A$)*("$("#$?/.(
A#D*-#$;+(*-/*2;F6$)"*-"$A#'-&*3#'$;$'(.&9N'$&#'./C(*.+$(";($*'$;-(C;//9$*+-&#A*3/9$'*2?/#E
RF;2?/#'$.@$("#$;+(*-/*2;F$*+-/CA#Q$!"#$:.C+A$;+A$("#$TC&9$39$W*//*;2$T;C/K+#&6$R+-*&-/*+,$39$>;&/
T&.A#$!*//#&6$;+A$h&9F$c$>&;K#$39$S;&,;&#($J()..AE
8. Plot of a Story: Voyage and Return
:(.&*#'$.@$D.9;,#$;+A$&#(C&+$*+D./D#$?&.(;,.+*'('$)".$d.C&+#9$*+(.$'(&;+,#$).&/A'E$h@(#+6$;$'(.&9$.@
UqC#'(V$*'$;/'.$;$'(.&9$.@$D.9;,#$;+A$&#(C&+6$3C($+.($;/);9'E$T.&$("#$?&.(;,.+*'($(.$&#(C&+$".2#$@&.2 ("#*&$D.9;,#6$("#9$2C'($;-"*#D#$'.2#$'.&($.@$A;&*+,$;-($(";($&#'./D#'$("#$'(.&9N'$-.+X*-(6$'C-"$;'
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