Best Tim Grahl Podcasts (2025)

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#199. Struggling With Flat Characters? These 5 Books Will Transform Your Writing 15:56

3d ago15:56

15:56

Master character development with these five must-read books that transform static characters from boring to brilliant. You've created characters with compelling backstories, but somehow, they still feel... flat. They move through your plot but don't feel like real people. Here's the thing: character development is what makes readers fall in love w…

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#198. Book Reviews: Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Reader Feedback (With Emily Golden & Rachel May) 49:15

10d ago49:15

49:15

Learn how to handle book reviews without letting them crush your confidence or derail your writing dreams. Receiving your first book review can be both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Whether it's a glowing five-star love letter or a brutal one-star takedown, reader reviews can send even the most confident authors into an emotional tails…

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#197. How to Write a Novel That Hooks Readers Through Curiosity (Not Confusion) 16:04

17d ago16:04

16:04

Master the art of creating irresistible, page-turning curiosity without confusing or frustrating your readers. Have you ever written what you thought was a brilliantly mysterious scene, only to have readers say they were completely lost? Or maybe you've struggled with knowing how much information to reveal and when? Here's what most writers don't r…

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#196. The Pros and Cons of Writing A Novel With Multiple Points of View 19:56

24d ago19:56

19:56

Discover the pros and cons of writing a novel from multiple POVs—including how to avoid the #1 mistake that kills multi-POV novels. Are multiple point-of-view characters right for your story? Will they create the kind of depth that keeps readers hooked, or will they just leave you with a tangled mess of voices that never quite click together? Writi…

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#195. How Deliberate Practice Can Improve Your Fiction Writing (With Tim Grahl) 37:04

1M ago37:04

37:04

Master the fundamental building block of fiction writing with this one exercise that's helped writers break through years of stalled progress in just weeks. Ever wonder why some writers seem to improve rapidly while others stay stuck for years, despite writing every single day? 🤔 The difference isn't talent or luck—it's deliberate practice. Most as…

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#194. Self-Publishing Your Novel: A 10 Step Guide for First-Time Authors 36:02

1M ago36:02

36:02

Congratulations! You've finished writing your novel, and you've set your sights on self-publishing. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "Where do I start?" If you're feeling overwhelmed by the self-publishing process, you're not alone. Most first-time authors don't realize just how many decisions the self-publishing process involv…

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#193. How Dictation Can Help You Write Faster With Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer 38:34

2M ago38:34

38:34

Learn how dictation is your secret weapon for capturing story ideas, supporting overall health, and writing up to 3,000 words per hour. Are you curious about how dictation can improve your health and mobility, enhance your natural storytelling flow, and revolutionize your time management—even if you've tried and failed at it before? Well, then, you…

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#192. 5 Big-Picture First Draft Mistakes (& How To Fix Them) 21:56

2M ago21:56

21:56

Discover the five most common big-picture mistakes writers make in their first drafts—and learn exactly what you can do to fix them. Congratulations, you finished your first draft! …But now what? If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed as you dive into editing your messy first draft, you're so not alone. As a developmental editor, I've reviewed hund…

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#191. Fiction Genres Made Easy: Understanding the 5 Dimensions of Genre 27:22

2M ago27:22

27:22

Discover the five ways to talk about your story’s genre so you can write, edit, and publish your novel with clarity and confidence. Ever found yourself staring at a blinking cursor, excited about your story idea but utterly confused about how to describe its genre? 😩 This kind of uncertainty isn't just frustrating. It can have serious consequences …

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#190. Novel Editing: 10 Steps to Editing Your First Draft 29:11

2M ago29:11

29:11

Congratulations! You've finished writing your first draft—an achievement that puts you ahead of countless aspiring writers who never make it past the dreaming stage. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "What next?" Maybe you've tried jumping straight into revisions only to find yourself overwhelmed, confused, or just plain stuck. …

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#189. Student Spotlight: From First Draft to Published Novel at 72 With Cheryl Arko 51:58

2M ago51:58

51:58

Discover how a 72-year-old data scientist overcame perfectionism to publish her debut science fiction novel after decades of dreaming about it. Are you stuck with half-finished manuscripts or endlessly revising the same chapters? Does your story refuse to translate from your imagination to the page the way you envision it? You're not alone. The ver…

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#188. 5 Mindset Hacks to Help You Finish Your First Draft 36:56

3M ago36:56

36:56

Five book coaches reveal their most powerful mindset hacks to help you crush self-doubt, overcome perfectionism, and finally finish your first draft—even if you've been stuck for months. Picture this: You sit down with a fresh cup of coffee, open your laptop to write your novel, and then that voice of doubt creeps in: "This is terrible. You don't k…

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#187. How To Write An Unforgettable Plot Twist In Your Novel With Samantha Skal 47:26

3M ago47:26

47:26

Master the art of the jaw-dropping plot twist and transform your readers from passive page-turners into gasping, can't-put-it-down fans. Ever gasped out loud while reading a thriller? That moment when everything flips upside down and you think, "I should have seen it coming!" 😱 That's the power of a well-crafted plot twist. Creating these goosebump…

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#186. First Draft Roadmap: 10 Steps to Writing A Novel For Beginners 36:18

3M ago36:18

36:18

Writing your first novel is a journey unlike any other—equal parts exhilarating, frustrating, magical, and challenging. But here's what you need to know right now: it's completely doable with the right approach. Something I've discovered after working with hundreds of writers is that finishing a novel requires more than just talent or a great idea.…

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#185. Student Spotlight: How Angela Haas Published TWO Books In 6 Months 38:18

3M ago38:18

38:18

Curious about writing books in more than one genre? Angela Haas shares a behind-the-scenes look at writing science fiction and romantic comedy! In today’s episode, we’re going behind the scenes of Angela Haas’s journey to hear how she self-published not one but two books in the last six months—one’s that’s a really fun space opera and the other tha…

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#184. 3 Must-Know Tips For Writing A Novel With Dual Timelines 31:13

4M ago31:13

31:13

“I want to write a dual timeline novel, but I’m struggling to weave the storylines together. Help!” 👈 This is something I hear from writers all the time. And while it’s true that writing a story with dual timelines presents its own set of challenges, the possibilities are often worth the effort. Tune in to this episode to learn the essential elemen…

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#183. From Screenwriter to Award-Winning Memoirist: Michael Jamin's Indie Publishing Journey 33:06

4M ago33:06

33:06

Curious about what it’s like to make the switch from writing for TV to writing books? Or maybe you want to learn writing tips from a screenwriter with decades of experience? Either way, you’re going to love this episode with Michael Jamin. Michael is a TV writer turned author who just published his collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra, …

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#182. Writing Romantasy: How to Balance Fantasy Elements and Romance in Your Novel 30:32

4M ago30:32

30:32

Calling all Romantasy (and Fantasy) authors! Tune in to learn how to write a Romantasy novel that perfectly blends fantasy elements with romance. Whether you're drafting your first Romantasy novel or refining your approach to an existing manuscript, this episode will help you deliver exactly what readers are looking for in this booming genre. Tune …

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#181. First Chapter Analysis: House Of Earth And Blood by Sarah J. Maas 54:21

4M ago54:21

54:21

Romantasy and Fantasy authors! Tune in to learn how the opening pages of House of Earth and Blood hooks readers and pulls them into the rest of the story. Join me and Abigail K. Perry for a deep dive into the opening chapter of the first Crescent City book, House of Earth and Blood, to find out how and why it works. We analyze this first chapter fr…

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#180. Student Spotlight: How Her Debut Novel Became An Amazon Bestseller With Margaret Mantor 43:32

5M ago43:32

43:32

Discover how a debut author turned her first novel into an Amazon #1 bestseller using strategic marketing tactics instead of relying on social media. Meet Margaret Mantor, a science-fantasy romance author from Denver whose novel Air And Ashes hit Amazon's bestseller list one month after launch. Tune in to hear us talk about why giving away books fo…

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#179. Writing When You Have A Chronic Illness With Sandra Postma 43:32

5M ago43:32

43:32

Chronic illness teaches you about pain, loss, and resilience. Find out why this can make you a better storyteller. Writing a novel can feel impossible when managing a chronic illness. Symptoms, brain fog, and advice that doesn't fit your life can make you wonder if you'll ever finish your story. But your experience with chronic illness also gives y…

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#178. First Chapter Analysis: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 1:01:04

5M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

Romance, historical fiction & fantasy writers—tune in to learn how the opening pages of Outlander hook readers into the story. In this listener-voted episode, I team up with developmental editor and book coach Abigail K. Perry to analyze the opening chapter of Diana Gabaldon's genre-defying masterpiece, Outlander, on a macro and micro level. And tr…

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#177. 3 Things You Need To Write Your Novel In 2025 20:49

5M ago20:49

20:49

Got writer's block and convinced it's because you lack talent? Think again! And I have the solution that'll change the way you approach your writing… If you're struggling to finish your novel, I want you to know that your lack of progress has nothing to do with your capabilities or the quality of your ideas. In fact, it boils down to an imbalance o…

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# 176. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 5) 33:34

5M ago33:34

33:34

See how Notes to Novel™ helped these five writers go from a blank page to a story that works (without the overwhelm). With Notes to Novel™ (season 6) right around the corner, I'm bringing you something incredibly special today. I'm chatting with five amazing writers from season 5 about their experience inside the course. And let me tell you, they'r…

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#175. 5 Easy Time Management Strategies To Write Your Novel Faster 32:01

6M ago32:01

32:01

Feel stuck writing your novel? These 5 time management strategies will squash all productivity blocks to get your story finished—finally (and fast). Why does finding the time to write feel so hard sometimes? We often blame our busy schedules (and yes, that's definitely part of it). But there's something else lurking around that stops your writing p…

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#174. Counting Down The Best Writing Tips From FWME In 2024 32:18

6M ago32:18

32:18

The best writing advice sticks with us because it changes our thinking about our craft. In this special year-end episode, I'm counting down the top 10 most powerful tips from Fiction Writing Made Easy in 2024—from crafting sizzling character chemistry and developing compelling antagonists to building immersive story worlds and mastering your charac…

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#173. 5 Mindset Tips For Revising Your First Draft 26:35

6M ago26:35

26:35

Is the thought of revising your first draft making you nauseous? I got you. These mindset tips will ease revision anxiety for good. It's one thing to pour your heart into writing a first draft. However, facing revisions and sharing your story with others can feel raw, uncomfortable, and downright scary. Not to worry. Every writer struggles with thi…

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#172. A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (December 2024) 36:00

6M ago36:00

36:00

Want a sneak peek into my life as a developmental editor and book coach? Listen in and find out what I do in my work week to help authors transform their story ideas into fully realized novels. I'll walk you through what I'm learning, how I support fiction writers in finishing their novels, and my exciting plans for 2025. Plus, I'll share all the b…

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#171. How To Utilize Tone & Mood In Your Writing With Isobelle Lans 24:01

7M ago24:01

24:01

Need help with tone and mood in your novel writing? Maybe your scenes aren't hitting the right emotional notes, or your story atmosphere feels off. Today, we're breaking down four practical ways to master these tricky writing elements to keep your readers hooked. In this episode, I'm chatting with Isobelle Lans, a UK-based author, editor, and writi…

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#170. How To Pick Your Publishing Path With Nicole Meier 41:07

7M ago41:07

41:07

Whether you want complete creative freedom, better royalties, or a faster speed to market—get the clarity you need to choose the right publishing path for your novel. Your novel is (or nearly) complete; now it's time to choose your publishing path. Whether you're drawn to big traditional publishing with major bookstore distribution, love the creati…

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#169. 5 Tips To Help Neurodivergent Writers Finish Their Books 33:16

7M ago33:16

33:16

Finally, finish your book with effective writing strategies designed to work in harmony with your neurodivergent mind. Does sitting down to write your book feel impossible on some days, while on other days, you can write for hours on end? Maybe you feel guilty whenever someone says, "Real writers write every day" or "Just stick to a routine,"—but h…

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#168. Women's Fiction vs. Romance: What's The Difference? 25:12

7M ago25:12

25:12

If you’re serious about becoming a published author, determining your novel’s genre is one of the most important things you’ll have to do. But sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially if your book toes the line between Women’s Fiction and Romance. In this episode, I’m going to walk you through the difference between Women’s Fiction and Ro…

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#167. Why Marketing Matters From Day One With Lacy Lieffers 43:12

8M ago43:12

43:12

“When should I start marketing my book?” This is a question I get asked all the time! Along with other similar questions like, “Do I need to build an email list?” And “What are some effective ways to market my book?” My guest, Lacy Lieffers of Black Fox Marketing, is here to answer all of these questions (and more) in this podcast episode! Tune int…

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#166. Student Spotlight: How Jennifer Sold 5,000+ Copies of Her Debut Novel in 18 Months (Without a Big Social Media Following) 46:20

8M ago46:20

46:20

Selling 5,000+ copies of a debut novel in 18 months (without a massive social media following) might seem out of reach to most aspiring authors. But, in fact, it’s not. And our incredible podcast guest, Jennifer Lauer, is here to show you how it's done. When we last spoke, Jennifer was on the brink of launching her debut sci-fi novel, The Girl in t…

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#165. How To Interpret Agent Rejections (& What To Do Next) 18:40

8M ago18:40

18:40

It’s no secret that one of the biggest roadblocks to getting traditionally published is the dreaded literary agent rejection. But to find the right literary agent for you and your story, you have to go through the process of querying a handful of agents—which means you should expect to get a handful of rejections before finding your perfect match. …

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#164. Student Spotlight: Why She Ditched Her Agent And Self-Published Her Debut Novel With Stefanie Medrek 44:10

8M ago44:10

44:10

Ever wonder what happens when you ditch your agent and decide to self-publish instead? This episode is a must-listen if you're curious about the ins and outs of self-publishing and how it can possibly safeguard your creative control. In this episode, Stefanie Medrek is back on the podcast—and boy, has her story changed! The last time we chatted, sh…

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#163. How To Find & Work With A Book Cover Designer With Zoe Norvell 46:46

9M ago46:46

46:46

You finished your book and now you’re looking for a cover designer, but where do you start? Where can you find a good book cover designer? And how much should you expect to pay them for a quality book cover? These are all questions my guest, Zoe Norvell, will answer in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Zoe is the mastermind behind INeedABookCo…

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#162. Book Recs: 5 Books Every Aspiring Writer Needs To Read 23:28

9M ago23:28

23:28

One of the questions I get asked by a lot of aspiring authors is, “What books should I read to learn how to start writing a novel?” I get asked this question so often that I decided to turn my answer into a podcast episode! Tune in to this episode to hear my take on the 5 best writing books that have had the biggest impact on me and the authors I w…

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#161. Scene Beats: What They Are & Why They Matter 20:18

9M ago20:18

20:18

Have you ever Googled things like “how many words should be in a novel?” Or “how many scenes should a novel have?” If so, you’ve probably gotten answers like “80,000 words.” Or “somewherre between 40 and 60 scenes.” Easy enough, in theory…But if you’re like most of the writers I’ve worked with, you’ve probably also had trouble sticking to these gui…

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#160. How Tim Grahl Wrote His Best Book Yet In 6 Months 45:06

9M ago45:06

45:06

How do you know if you’re actually getting better at writing? In this episode, my guest, Tim Grahl, the CEO of Story Grid and the author of multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction, shares his answer to this question. Tim believes that his new book, The Shithead, is the best book he’s ever written—and I happen to agree with him! So, how did he …

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#159. A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (September 2024) 22:39

9M ago22:39

22:39

Want a peek behind the scenes into my work week? 👀 In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing what I do as a developmental editor and book coach. I’ll talk through the projects I’m working on, what I’m excited (or not excited) about, what’s coming up in the next few weeks, what I learn from the writers I work with, and basically …

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#158. How To Strengthen Your Writing with the Power of Social Media With Lara Ferrari 42:15

10M ago42:15

42:15

Would you believe me if I said social media could make you a better writer? If you’re shaking your head NO, you’ll want to check out this episode. My guest, Lara Ferrari, is an Instagram marketing specialist who has helped hundreds of writers grow engaged communities of readers online (and have FUN while doing it). In this episode, she’s sharing ho…

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#157. 10 Surprising Lessons From My First Book Launch 19:18

10M ago19:18

19:18

Earlier this year, I published my first book, The Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—and I learned soooo much about book marketing. Tune into this episode to hear the ten surprising lessons I learned from my first book launch, including things like: [03:10] What I learned about asking for Amazon reviews—an…

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#156. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 4) 26:31

10M ago26:31

26:31

Do you ever wish you could see a behind-the-scenes look at how other people write? In this episode, you’ll get to hear directly from five of my Notes to Novel students as they share how they brainstormed, outlined, and wrote their books inside the Notes to Novel course. I asked each of them to share the biggest thing that helped them get to “The En…

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#155. 10 Things That Will NOT Make You A Better Writer 33:06

10M ago33:06

33:06

As someone who’s worked with hundreds of authors, I see people making the same mistakes over and over and over again. Mistakes that are easily avoidable once you know they’re mistakes. In this episode, I’m sharing some of these mistakes. Specifically, the 10 things that will NOT make you a better writer—and oh boy is it a juicy episode! In it, you’…

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#154. Coaching Call: Critiquing Jac Sahlin's Query And First Five Pages 1:21:17

11M ago1:21:17

1:21:17

“I think your story has a genre identity crisis. That’s probably why you’re not getting responses from agents.” ← That’s what I told my new friend, Jac Sahlin, about the duology she’s currently querying. Tune into this episode to hear Jac and I talk through her query letter and first five pages—and to hear my thoughts on why she hasn’t received any…

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#153. Scene Analysis: Chapter 5 "Diagon Alley" From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 48:17

11M ago48:17

48:17

“How many scenes are in the Diagon Alley chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?” Believe it or not, this is one of the most frequently asked questions I get from writers when they hear I’ve written a book breaking apart this mega best seller scene by scene. And it’s a valid question! This chapter was the hardest chapter for us to analyze…

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#152. Three Act Structure Breakdown: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 38:44

11M ago38:44

38:44

How did Rowling deliver on the life-and-death stakes an action story requires, but in a way appropriate for middle-grade readers? How did she consistently weave together the external plot and Harry’s character arc in such a way that they’re inseparable? Tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk through the plot structure of Harry P…

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Bonus: The Global Story Structure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 18:30

11M ago18:30

18:30

Rowling is a master at weaving the external plot with Harry’s internal character arc—and using the external plot events to help Harry grow and change. In this episode, you’ll hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk through the big-picture plot structure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone using the Story Grid’s Five Commandments of Storytelling. We’l…

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Bonus: How To Write Scenes Like Rowling (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry) 28:10

11M ago28:10

28:10

J.K. Rowling is the master of layering things within her scenes. She’s also fantastic at raising the stakes from scene to scene, too. But how does she do it Tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk to Tim Grahl (the CEO of Story Grid) about what it was like to study Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—what we learned from J.K. R…

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Tim Grahl Podcasts

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