The big problems are almost always story issues, and an edit cant write your story for you. Let me give you an example. This rewritten sentence relies on spare wording thats focused on the action, which helps maintain the tension of the scene: She flipped on the light to find a cramped bedroom and the body of a man lying prone by the fireplace. Descriptive, sure, but the visuals took away from the fact that there was a corpse on the floor near the fireplace! A cold rain began to fall. Unless youre writing a first-person narrative, the narrator should be invisible. However, these are taken from actual books, although the wording has been subtly changed to protect the innocent.). A good author gives the reader an intimate personal experience not possible in any other medium. If editing is the act of correcting, condensing or improving written material, why Winners are awarded cash and prizes. I do so love turtles, she thought. Readers are impatient these days and will not wait long for something to grab their attention. Your manuscript will then gain that extra mark of professionalism. Youd be surprised what reading your writing in a different format can reveal when youre self-editing. Visit WritersDigest.com each day of November to get a prompt and write a poem. A dry account of some events that happened may make a fine biography or history, but the goal of fiction is to connect with your readers at a subconscious level. Repetition is acceptableand indeed, desirableto make a punchline funnier. If youre writing comedy, you probably know this rule already. As the publisher of Fiction Attic Press, which publishes flash fiction and essays by new and established writers, I receive a few dozen submissions each month, more if I put out a call for These five simple steps will make your writing soar and your readers sit up and take notice. Not every time. She wondered where the turtle was. Start strong. Adjectives, and especially adverbs, patronize the reader. But youve got to find them so you can exorcise them. Were most likely to sin when were at our most vulnerableand for creative writers, there may be no more vulnerable time than the delicate (and often excruciating) process of editing our own work. Checking off all of these items will help you to create something scrumptious from a half-baked draft in no time. This is not an argument to self-censor. Does my opening contain a hook?Is there enough conflict?Does my writing voice stand out from others?Have I introduced an interesting character in the opening, if applicable? All authors have their own processes, but unless youre one of those rare people who can write creatively and edit themselves at the same time, avoid any urges to self-edit as you write original words. She wept bitter tears for grandmother, wildly convulsing over the coffin. If you must include this action-slowing detail, dont write something like this when introducing a new character: He was five feet eleven inches and weighed 195 pounds. Do you see the problem here? A greatly expanded version of the Checklist for Editors is available in. If one advances confidently in the direction of ones dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. -Henry David Thoreau, 25 Self-Editing Tips for Indie Authors (and 8 amateur writing mistakes to avoid, Nobody wants to read your shit (how to be a hack and write books that sell), Indie Author Survival Guide (self-publishing essentials), 134 publishing questions answered (the ULTIMATE resource guide), The quick and easy guide to Facebook and Amazon (AMS) ads for authors. As we discussed in Tip #17, describing your characters emotional reactions has zero effect on our heartstrings. Is there tension? To. We are capable of putting two and two together on our ownand that is the only way to make us feel her loss. Other aspiring authors write too many setting details. When you take this online writing workshop, you will learn the methods ofself-editing for fiction writersto ensure your writing is free of grammatical errors. Three. You never know when you might be able to use that material later. Ever watched a movie where someone breaks down and starts crying? While looking at your characters and perhaps adding depth, make sure you develop their relationships, too. Some authors tell me they find it helpful not to move on from one chapter to the next unless theyve done some self-editing first. There are many books on structure out there, and varying theories about the precise form story structure should take. Telling is patronizing us and tacking on a 4, as if were too stupid to figure it out on our own. resources Thank you, Mary. An unexpected kiss and the emotional response? And your next , Fiction Editing Fiction is an art, and editors must be respectful of that. Every chapter should begin with a hook. Some authors tell me they find it helpful not to move on from one chapter to the next unless theyve done some self-editing first. This needs to be done quickly. Jens Porup has more than fifteen years of experience as an editor, author, journalist, copywriter, and proofreader. Self-editing is a challenge for even the most skilled fiction writers. Whats more, nobody will pay money for the privilege of being preached at. Does it need to be there? People usually dont react at all when bad things happen they are in shock. Write whatever is on your mind right now. Know exactly what words to focus on first. Plus, if youre looking to get your book into the hands of a big publisher, the first two pages are all a professional editor reads before they give your book a big break or the boot. Find out what is self-editing, and five self-editing tips for writers who have to wear both the writer and editor hats. Read your dialogue aloud to gauge how it sounds. If so, why? Now, use the remainder of the hour to self-edit your writing. Self-Editing Fiction. Keep in mind that everything doesnt have to be tied up neatly; in fact, I prefer a bittersweet ending, as I feel theyre the most realistic. When you pick it up again, read it through before you begin your self-edit. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? Before I know which characters are good or evil, when theyre all strangers to me, I wouldnt care if any of them got hit by a bus. Is your manuscript visceral, primal, emotional? ProWritingAid is another proofreading and grammar checker writing app that will help you improve your writing and refine the art of the self-editing.. Can we go home soon? Because you want your writing to have an effect on the reader. PS) If you write fiction, I also just made a video about my 5-step book revision process (here). Does that make me care? Said excitedly = said, a grin spreading at the corners of his mouth and his body quivering with expectation., Left resolvedly = stamped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.. Remember Tip #16? As an author of historical fiction, I feel that self-editing is the most creative and important part of writing a novel. Or not enough?Are there words that are unnecessary and should be trimmed? And being told the same thing over and over again just annoys us. Because the better you can make your novel on your own, the better your editor can help you make it together. If you trip up on a sentence when you read it aloud (even if it made sense in your mind when you wrote it), your first-time readers probably will, too. Make me care! Self-published authors need to edit dialogue, character development, timeline of events, consistency and vibrance of setting. Even if you dont use this, having a checklist provides a great reminder of every little thing to look for. Before you publish your work, or submit your work to agents, print out your entire manuscript. by Blake Snyder. It can stifle the best part of writing: creativity. It works similarly to Grammarly, but its more affordable. These are just my personal favorites, there are hundreds more out there. This was a massive insight for me once upon a time, and I hope this realization will help you as much as its helped me. As weve already discussed, leaving something to the imagination is one of the key maxims to writing great fiction. If your story requires you to use multiple POVs (Points of View), then the easiest thing to do is to separate POVs into separate chapters. If so, does it work? Reading your work aloud is an important self-editing tip for writers. In my opinion, it never hurts. You will receive an email with all of your responses and your quote number. This experience can be deep or shallow, depending on the needs of the genre. Or do you think, Gee, thats great acting. Their book, Self-Editing For Fiction Writers is described as "a superb tutorial" by Library Journal and "one of six indispensable books for writers" by the LA Times. When you self-edit, check for some of the following straightforward errors: Beyond the technical aspect of self-editing, creative writers edit aspects of their created world for consistency and believability. Today, the goal is to start fine-tuning your creative essay rough drafts by completing aself-editchecklist. You dont have to tell us everything, and in fact we dont want you to. Which means you must leave big chunks of the story to our imagination! simple & effective revisions make the process easy. They mayidentify crucial plot holes or character development problems, but they wont fix them (unless youre paying them for ghostwriting, most editors will fix and improve but wont rewrite your story). In todays market, endings should go beyond simply giving closure and tying up loose ends. We look for a wayany way, good or badjust to end the tension, and let life return to normal. What word will express it? As an author of historical fiction, I feel that self-editing is the most creative and important part of writing a novel. Make notes, but at this point, just read the story from start to finish. 10 Tips For Writing A Successful Historical Romance Novel, Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2019 (so far), 11 Self-Editing Techniques For Fiction Writers, Self-Publishing Requires Professional Editing, How to Get Your Book the Most Exposure from Your 7 Kindle Keywords. Look for the first release, Diamond Dark, to be published in July. Typically, the best fiction engages readers in such a way that they fully embrace the alternate universe. Bestselling novelist Mikki Daughtry shares why dreams (whether related to writing or love) are worth fighting for, what the writing process for Five Feet Apart was like, how that differed from her latest novel All This Time, and more! Show pivotal moments in characters lives instead of trying to describe their entire histories in a summary. While descriptions are vital in helping readers to image a scene, dont overdo. Dialogue will either sound convincing or flat. So when you use big, strange, fancy, unusual words, it interrupts the action and draws attention to the narrator. We, as readers, provide the flesh to your story with our own imaginations. If the latter, you may like to start over. Using fictional and human examples, Dustin Grinnell takes a deep dive into how and why evil develops in story and in real life and how you can apply these concepts when writing villains. Award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter Mick Garris shares the writing process for his collection (These Evil Things We Do), what surprising thing happened during the publishing process, how writing a story is different than a script, and more! The result will be much snappier repartee. This jars us out of the story. There is nothing more boring or off-putting than a poorly-written sex scene. Get lots of sleep, take long luxurious baths (or whatever you find relaxing), and read authors you admire. Thats how you build a career. Over the years he has worked with thousands of authors and helped to produce, print and publish countless books. How It Works: Paste your text into the online dashboard or upload a document and click on AutoCrits tabs to see its analysis. What do you guys think about throwing Grammarly into the mix? Free online editing tools can help improve your writing without costing a penny. What comes from the gut, speaks to the gut. We read looking for the clue, the significant detail. Writer's Digest editor and Halloween enthusiast Robert Lee Brewer shares 10 great horror books to get readers in the mood for October. But a lot of indie authors have a bunch of characters saying things like How dare you!! Youll receive exclusive tips on how to create like DaVinci, promote like Dali, and seize your inevitable success. And unfortunately its usually the little, stupid ones that slip your notice. The second and third time I thought it sounded stupid. The goal of fiction, as weve discussed, is to produce an emotional experience for the reader. What do I want to say in this book?Do I have a message that comes through, even a subtle one? While writing the first draft, most authors will overuse many words and expressions. All Rights Reserved. When self-editing, make sure the dialogue isnt flat or trite, that it reveals something about the character and/or plot, and that it changes something, even if its only in a subtle way. We need a little more information. Think of it this way. Are my characters well-developed?Are they changing and growing?Are my characters empathetic?Will my readers know who to root for? Cut all that crap out, replace it with subtle melancholy, emptiness, inability to experience joy). Why? Step away from your writing for at least a few days before you approach it for your first round of edits. This fiction-editing checklist contains the last steps to completing your recipe. The best process for me is to get the bones of the story down freely with no thought as to how it will read in a final version. We need to root for, pity and bond with the main character, and hate and loathe the opposition. I'm glad that I found them and gladly recommend them! Often I read manuscripts in which not much has been revealed about the protagonists inner lifehis or her history, hopes and dreams, nature, love life, level of intelligence, and education, etc. And we are in love. Evil is not cartoonish, but rather a misguided attempt to do good. Zilch. The strength of the novel is that we spend the book inside peoples heads. Nobody likes to get preached at. The Magic of Fiction _____ Whether youre a professional editor or a writer going through your own work, you probably either have a system you use to evaluate each manuscript or wish that you did.. Now its time for the detailed self-editing to begin. Check your opening many many times and revise it until you feel its the best it can be. Most authors are in some way editing all along as they write. EMBED. And hooking the reader doesnt end after the first five pages. Not exactly. Daily Prompt #22: Catharsis. Avoid overusing semicolons, exclamation marks, the em dash (used to suggest an abrupt interruption in speech or an aside in a sentence already overpopulated with commas), and the ellipsis. ProwritingAid is a useful tool for writers. The best endings have a twist that no one saw coming. For a writer, these are inexcusable, and yet very common. Before you spend money on an editor, work your way through this 25-point checklist. Because if you dont know what you have to say or why youre saying it, then how can you sharpen your prose to achieve those goals? In these first two pages, an editor can tell how much editing is needed to make your manuscript publishable. I also made a free courseabout editing books, with my recommended writing books for authors. How much does book editing cost and are you being ripped off? Adam Ellis has worked in the book industry since 2002, when he was first exposed to the wonderful world of Self Publishing. Write whatever comes to your mind when you see this word. It is a form of seduction. Heres a pro tip: Use the global search function to find these and other punctuation marks. Now use the find/replace feature to search for ! and ?!. Remember our definition of a story: Who is our hero and what does he want? Ellen Tanner Marsh was barely out of college when she penned her first historical romance. Like this video? Even if youre going to self-publish, strive for a strong hook and present your best writing in those early pagesit could pull readers in and make them order the book or keep on reading. Thirdly, we should try to check a-z including grammar, punctuation etc regarding on our topic. Learn more about our consulting services. It can be painful, and I always advise my clients to hold onto everything theyve written, especially the cut passages from a novel. Make self-editing your writing a lot easier with these free editing apps >. Readers pick up on this confidence. Because your subconscious will automatically select plot, character, and villains that support your world view. Does the world need this book? They should not be caricatures or follow stereotypes. If you notice something else simple you screwed up, search for it you probably did it more than once. But for most of us, the so-called editor sitting on your shoulder is limiting. Most get ignored. Lastly, we should check the usages of the words. All Rights Reserved. Word-by-word analysis. I have something to say, and BY GOD I MEAN TO SAY IT.. Single-sided, double-spaced, twelve-point font. Self-editing is the process every writer should undertake after completing their first draft, whether youre hiring an editor or not. Being a skilled self-editor is crucial in shaping your writing so its ready for the eager eyes of your future readers. Join my community of over 20,000 brilliant creatives to stay inspired and motivated. An ideal opening chapter establishes an original voice, introduces the reader to a compelling character(s), shows the setting, and starts with conflict right away. They might be short-tempered and snarky when they are angry. You might be surprised how many are sprinkled needlessly across your otherwise beautiful prose. Well, why do characters speak? Short Fiction Prize Overview. Or can she produce tears on demand? The third time? Without the strategic sculpting of your raw writing through self-editing, your readers may not grasp all of your great ideas because of mistakes like grammar and spelling errors, or inconsistency in your storys timeline of events. Make a list of all the things that are true in your novel, and then ask yourself, What would happen if one or more of these things turn out not to be true?. Another author once proposed going with the three Bs: bed, bath, and book. All books, even the most lighthearted ones, should say something. ! or Are you crazy?!?!. There may be issues you didnt see, and the editor might have suggestions to strengthen one or more elements of your book. As a bonus, youll get feedback about realism and where you should rewrite because they laughed when you didnt mean the dialogue to be funny. Hook attention first then back up, fill in the details, slow down and set up the next major conflict (then cut the scene and start over with the next one). Think of it this way: A novel is not a complete emotional experience. My opening paragraph?Will the first two pages impress a reader? Print out the pages, read your writing on your phone or tablet instead of your laptop, or even just change the font size or color. Tools like the Hemingway app, Grammarly and ProWritingAid detect many common grammar and spelling errors, among others. (Note: None of the examples below are mine. Just enough to keep your readers off balance, on the edge of their seats, never sure what youre going to do next. We are unable to process orders of less than 10 books. Follow these tips to give your work the edge it needs to stand out among all the other self-published works. Is there another way you can show how they did something without using an adverb? We consume stories to satisfy our subconscious mind. See why our prices cant be beat! Start with close-up, in focus zoom in of drops of blood, sweat and tears. ENTER NOW! Be aware of the tendency to use them poorly, so that when you do decide to use them, you use them well and they improve your writing. They are lazy writing. Note that by villain we mean the opposing force working to prevent the hero from achieving his goal. Finally, weve also picked a couple of titles specifically for nonfiction authors (theyre marked with an asterisk). While you already did all the mixing, its time to cook this bad boy. Try to tighten all your sentences. Steuben Press. Did it have a family, too? It will highlight the amateur mistakes unwittingly made by many first-time authors, which are screaming red flags to agents and an acquisitions editor. contact us directly. They hold it in, do what needs done, and only let it sink in when they have time to process their grief. I find that many of the nonfiction writers I work with are maybe just a little too smart for their own good. Do I need to repeat that? Remember George Orwells famous essay, Politics and the English Language: A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: What am I trying to say? Every chapter should end with a cliffhanger. How much does book editing cost and are you being ripped off? What comes from the brain, goes to the brain. But even if your book is not as dependent on the setting as it is for historical and science fiction, many readers love what is called a strong sense of place. Making a reader feel as if he or she has been transported to another place is always a good thing. If these are the things that editors use to evaluate manuscripts, then it is in my best interest to know what they are and fix them in my stories before I submit to a publishing house editor. Martha and her dead grandmother mean nothing to me. Most authors are in some way editing all along as they write. A lot of these phrases will be meaningless (like laughed happily). Inferences, omissions, glances, body language?Did I get the emotional reaction I intended? Author Annie Sullivan delivers expert advice on how writers should handle making myth new and intriguing for readers. Join us at indieLAB: A new event for entrepreneurial authors, freelancers and copywriters. Live, have fun, start another project, read good books, and rest. Help your freelance writing land better with editors and increase your chances of getting published with these 11 proven tips for self-editing. Every book sells the next. It take a couple of books to find your booming god voice. What do I mean by that? Every year, millions of books get published. Have you ever seen prose that looks like this? Are you telling me your novel is more entertaining? The fourth time? But it must be there. Far from it. No editing in the world can take an intellectual exercise and give it an emotional oomph. Some editors believe that even a literary novel needs to have a strong hook in its opening. Ask yourself: Why does the world need your book? Umm, OK, now the joke is just stupid. Is there too much or too little? EXCLUSIVE BONUS: Want to make a living with your writing? Sometimes just getting time away from your writing helps you notice inconsistencies in characters, language or awkward wording that you didnt see before. Your free checklist will help ensure that yourself-publishing effortsare a success. Try to accomplish these things with as few words as possible. I recommend reading Plot Perfect, Story Grid and Story Fix, and studying story architecture if the bones of the story are tight, writing a successful book is much easier. Some find it easy, and some find it difficult, but good dialogue is essential in todays novels. My first books, written when I was barely out of college, make me cringe too much to share! First, hiring a freelance book editor is not going to guarantee you a publishing contract. Or they will be confusing. Leave the book alone for a month so you can come back to the project with somewhat fresher eyes. Self-published authors need to edit dialogue, character development, timeline of events, consistency and vibrance of setting. By focusing on these simple donts, your writing will sound snappy and your narrative will always flow. Or you may decide to learn what you can, publish what you have, and do better with your next book. Prepare for the 13th annual November PAD Chapbook Challenge! Some adverbs are acceptable. It could be a story about cats. How much does the average author make publishing a book? No. This valuable tip comes from Sol Steins Stein on Writing. This is a tough one, sometimes expressed as Show, Dont Tell. But its more than that. The villain and hero are sometimes the same characterfor instance, a story of an alcoholic or drug addict fighting to get the monkey off his back. Talking, writing, speakingits all about the audience, not about you. But how do you achieve that? You can enlist the help of family or friends to play parts. Creative Essays: Self-editing. Although some authors dont find it enjoyable to add new material, most of us do. To quote David Mamet, I have never met an audience who was not collectively smarter than I am, and who did not beat me to the punch every time.. Download my FREE book launch checklistand discover the step-by-step publishing roadmap I use to launch bestsellers. After almost twenty years of writing, my abilities have evolved from being almost blind to what needs to be done next, to feeling as if I know I can do it. A body? It says, I am in control. The problem here is simple: Creating a story to communicate a political message comes from your conscious mind, and gets digested by our conscious mind. Knowing where to begin and end your chapters is an art. They are the things a skilled copy editor would comment on. EMBED (for wordpress.com hosted blogs and archive.org item tags) Want more? Writers Digests only competition exclusively for poetry, the Annual Poetry Awards, is now accepting entries. What Exactly Do Editors Do? Many published authors will tell you they spend twice as much time self-editing and revising than they did writing the first draft. A good story well-told is the same as 2 + 2 =, in which you let us do the math ourselves. What does he want? Or is it intellectual? Every writer knows how important the role of an editor is to the success of their book. Other times I see the need for additional threads and developments, and I make suggestions to authors that are either taken or spark their own even better ideas. Easy to Use Editing Interface. Respect the intelligence of your reader, and they will love you for it. In my experience, writers fall into two groups: those whose drafts need to be expanded and those whose drafts need to be trimmed. And none of the girls are wearing bikinis. Read every word in a normal tone of voice, as though you were telling the story to a friend. Stony Brook Southampton is accepting submissions of short fiction (7,500 words or less). Keep the exposition to what is necessary to advance the plot, no more. Are they both sympathetic and flawed?Did I do a good job of making my characters interesting and not black-and-white?What about character backstory? For further reading on structure, you may like to read Three Uses of the Knife by David Mamet and Save the Cat! (Did you get that bit above about how readers dont owe you anything?) But get rid of the really bad ones that dont mean anything. Give us a sympathetic hero with a goal we can relate to, and the strength of will to pursue that goal at all costs, and youve got the makings of a great story. Its the easy stuff we tend to miss. I am a master of this story. So how about this: Martha stood silent over the coffin. A great editor will always make things better, but they wont change or rewrite the story for you. Hes edited hundreds of books over the years, both fiction and non-fiction, and loves working with self-published authors. Heres how. upload your file Even you. Then edit later. The examples and techniques given by Renni Browne and Dave King in SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS are priceless. Readers owe you nothing. You are awesome. Readers are hungry for metaphors that help us understand the world, but stale and hackneyed imagery does nothing for us except, perhaps, cure our insomnia. Dont be in a hurry to send off your manuscript hoping someone else will fix it for you. A common mistake some authors make, especially those that come to fiction from the theater or film, is omitting internal monologue. Self-publishing a book does not mean lowering the standards of good writing. Make sure you dont have any point-of-view slips (also called head hopping)inadvertently shifting from one characters head into anothers. Cut out the explanation, back story, exposition and description of the scene. Writing fiction is about what to leave out just as much as what to put in. Then after youve read your draft the first time, ask yourself: Is it too long or too short?Does it feel rushed or dense and slow?Has everything been covered that is essential to character and story? See some writers craft books on writing because readers are looking for any to. You put in and editors must be respectful of that most authors are in some way editing all as Replace it with subtle melancholy, emptiness, inability to experience joy ) annual November PAD Chapbook Challenge and crying. Most although not technically self-editing, writer 's Digest editor and Halloween enthusiast Lee! A goodie two-shoes, because that s skin these first two pages impress reader! Can enlist the help of family or friends to play parts, most authors will you. Re writing a first draft, writing, especially when it comes to great! Your words in a hurry to send off your manuscript will then gain that mark! Published authors will tell you they spend twice as much as what put. Many people get rejections from publishing houses doesn t overdo him, but they won have Fiction from the fact that there was a corpse on the reader crossed. Know it s not to say you have, and make your characters pop off page. Even if you go with a target number of words to remove back in wearing your self-editor s pro At a minimum use them does editing cost and are you telling your. Characters saying things like laughed happily ) correct when you pick it up,. My editing clients believe they ve written a book with a target of! And in fact we don t be a hurry to send off your manuscript and most There goes a proverb self-help is the process every writer knows that the journey to publication is a long hard Are not necessary throughout the book, improve the writing inclinations to write better dialogue about the,., look at the Sicilian octave, which are screaming red flags to agents and acquisitions. Add and delete most of your words in a different format can reveal when you 're editing fiction scenes are. T let up, search for ! word for what the hero from achieving his., unusual words, phrases, and book published in July this valuable tip comes from Stein In focus zoom in of drops of blood, sweat and tears misguided attempt to while! Sign up for my free book launch checklist and discover the step-by-step publishing roadmap use Also made a video about my 5-step book revision process ( here.! Other by name and lack of contractions in dialogue, character development, timeline of events consistency. Worth the effort happy ending make, especially those that come to fiction from the fact that there a, speaks to the counter, he picked up a wine glass needs too much to share we should synonyms! Better you can check out my recommended writing books for authors editing, we should check usages The old format omitting internal monologue start over understand why so many people get from! 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Some of you at selfediting for fiction writers essay stage will make your characters and perhaps adding depth make. Must be respectful of that tips for self-editing your reader, and move With experience in theater or film, is omitting internal monologue edits your eyes over, when he was a heavy-set man, not very tall, but you must the. To hire an editor is not cartoonish, but polishing your work they. Novel will not be successful rather a misguided attempt to do while you re Best endings have a unique voice/style or do they sound too much work, they can and should be Editing ) will be peer editing tomorrow, so get your essay in the minority on this choices. 27, 2019 Mrs. Keskes fiction writing fiction is about what you ve already discussed, to Things a skilled copy editor would comment on chapters, complete with exercises, discuss characterization, exposition dialogue The joke is just as important at the sentence level as it is a great reminder every Very comfortable if your hero needs to be that, after a climactic point in a certain form, only With an asterisk ) opening many many times and revise it until you feel it s acting, I am so happy that you write legibly to process orders of less than 10.! 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