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William H. Coles - Bio

Story in Literary Fiction

  • Essays
    • Story: what to do
      • Literary Fictional Story
      • Character in Literary Fictional Story
      • Narration of Literary Stories
      • Drama
      • Desire and Motivation
      • Credibility
      • Dialogue
      • Improving Dialogue
      • Characterization Improves Dialogue, Motivates Plot, and Enhances Theme
      • Techniques for Excellence in Creating Character in Literary Fiction
      • How to Change Fiction Writing Style
    • Philosophy: write for the right reasons
      • Author’s Attitudes
      • How Literary Stories Go Wrong
      • Preparing to Write the Great Literary Story
      • The Anatomy of a Wannabe Literary Fiction Writer
      • Victims as Characters in Literary Fiction
    • Craft: do it well
      • Momentum
      • Information and Literary Story Structure
      • 1st person POV in Literary Story
      • Top Story/Bottom Story
      • Strong Voice and Attention to Time
      • Humor and Fiction
      • Emotional Complexity in Literary Fiction
      • Conflict in Literary Fiction
      • What Exactly Is a Character-Based Plot?
      • Writing in Scene: A Staple for Reader Engagement in Fiction
      • Creating Story World (setting) in Literary Fiction
      • Perception in Literary Fiction: A Challenge for Better Narration
      • Creating Quality Characters in Literary Fiction
      • Mastering the Power of a Literary Fictional Story
      • Understanding Empathy
      • Q & A On Learning to Think About Narration in Literary Fiction To Write Better Stories
      • Incorporating Rhythm in Prose Style
    • Study Guide for this Site
      • Goals
      • Guide
    • Fiction Writer’s Manual
  • Stories & Novels
    • Read Online
      • A Simple Life
      • Nemesis
      • Gatemouth Willie Brown on Guitar
      • The Wreck of the Amtrak’s Silver Service
      • The Indelible Myth
      • Inside the Matryoshka
      • Speaking of the Dead
      • The Necklace
      • The Golden Flute
      • The Amish Girl
      • Dr. Greiner’s Day in Court
      • The Cart Boy
      • Big Gene
      • Grief
      • The War of the Flies
      • Father Ryan
      • The Gift
      • Suchin’s Escape
      • The Stonecutter
      • Facing Grace with Gloria
      • Homunculus
      • The Perennial Student
      • The Activist
      • Curse of a Lonely Heart
      • The Miracle of Madame Villard
      • On the Road to Yazoo City
      • Captain Withers’s Wife
      • The Thirteen Nudes of Ernest Goings
      • Reddog
      • Clouds
      • Dilemma
      • Crossing Over
      • The Bear
      • Lost Papers
      • Sister Carrie
    • Graphic story: Homunculus
    • Graphic Story: Reddog
    • Listen
      • mp3 Short Stories
      • Audio Books
        • McDowell
        • The Surgeon’s Wife
        • The Spirit of Want
        • Guardian of Deceit
        • Sister Carrie
    • Illustrations
      • Art Gallery
      • Online Store
    • Novels & Novella
      • McDowell
      • The Surgeon’s Wife
      • The Spirit of Want
      • Guardian of Deceit
      • Sister Carrie
    • Story Collections
      • Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016
      • The Art of Creating Story
      • Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016
      • Facing Grace with Gloria and other Stories
      • The Necklace and Other Stories
      • The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2001-2011
      • The Illustrated Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2012
  • Interviews
    • Lee K. Abbott
    • Steve Almond
    • John Biguenet
    • Robert Olen Butler
    • Ron Carlson
    • Lan Samantha Chang
    • D’Ambrosio
    • Peter Ho Davies
    • Jonathan Dee
    • Tom Jenks
    • Fred Leebron
    • David Lynn
    • Michael Malone
    • Lee Martin
    • Rebecca McClanahan
    • Josh Neufeld / Sari Wilson
    • Richard North Patterson
    • Michael Ray
    • Jim Shepard
    • Rob Spillman
    • Kirby Wilkins
    • Josh Neufeld / Sari Wilson
    • Susan Yeagley / Kevin Nealon
    • What’s New in Literary Fiction
      • Geoffrey Becker
      • Julia Glass
      • Lori Ostlund
      • Lydia Peelle
      • Andrew Porter
      • Sylvia D. Torti
  • Workshop & Tutorial
  • Opinion Blog
    • Story in Fiction Today
  • Quizzes
    • About Things Literary
    • Opening Lines
    • Women Authors
    • About Style and the Classics
  • Features
    • The Fiction Well
    • SILF Gallery
    • What’s New in Literary Fiction
      • Geoffrey Becker
      • Julia Glass
      • Lori Ostlund
      • Lydia Peelle
      • Andrew Porter
      • Sylvia D. Torti
    • Book Reviews
    • Kenyon Lectures
      • Narration in Literary Fiction: Making the Right Choices, by William H. Coles
      • How Humor Works in Fiction, by William H. Coles
    • Great stories/Books on writing
      • Books on Writing
      • Stories for Study
    • SILF – Audio mp3 Download
    • Books about Writing
    • Book Candy TV
    • Workshop Advice
      • Workshops – I. Choosing a workshop
      • Workshops – II. Making the Experience Valuable
      • Workshops – III. How to Critique a Manuscript
      • Workshops – IV. Workshops and Literary Agents
      • Workshops: V. Top-Ten Rules for Fiction Workshops
  • Podcast
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Creating LITERARY STORIES:
A Fiction Writer's Guide

Creating Literary Stories

Recent Reviews

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 The Amish Girl Short Story from the book: The Amish Girl is a sweet but sad story of love loss and yearning. The author left a hint of reconnection by mentioning Belize a country in central America that she may have been forced to go to where there are a number of Amish folk. While […]

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marshall dell
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Every short story I read was simply relatable, which was my number one monumental positive aspect about the book. The author seems to possess a skill to assessing the status-core of today’s norm and depict it in stories. Once again, recalling from the story of the gift, Catherine’s parent seems to fail […]

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The_bookwarrior
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org He is arguably known as the father of modern short stories and one of its most prolific writers. He is none other than the great poet, Edgar Allan Poe, who once said: ‘A short story must have a single mood, and every sentence must build towards it.’ In Illustrated Short Fiction of […]

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Fola_M
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I did enjoy reading this book. As an avid reader and huge fan of short stories, this has to be among the best pieces I have read so far. The plots are written in beautiful and artistic ways that help readers form imagery as they read. All the themes discussed are very […]

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nerdychikka

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I appreciate the dark-adapted characters I have met in these stories. Characters that may easily be perceived as pure evil and malevolent until you get to know them more and realize how capable of goodness even these people can be. One example I can think of is Harry. The nature of his […]

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Adrienne Abad-Alipe
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Most of the stories in this book are exceptionally beautiful, unique, and come from different topics. Reading this book was a very interesting and exciting experience. Each ending is satisfying, even though most of them are sad and mysterious. At the end of my reading, I wondered which chapter was my favorite, […]

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Viva Marina

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I liked how his stories didn’t always have a “happy ending” but an ending that I had least expected. Although they hit us hard, they portrayed the reality of life. The stories are navigated based on human emotions and not based on anything that justifies which is right or wrong. The readers […]

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MS Lefty
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Another aspect that I like about this book is the uniqueness found in some of its short stories. Consider The Activist, for instance. The story doesn’t read like those I have read before. Told from the perspective of a young girl, this story has newness to it because it approaches activism from […]

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kennedyodindo
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I liked this book especially because of the uniqueness of each of the stories. I found each story different and interesting, and was amazed at how all those ideas could come from one person. I also liked the illustrations for each of the stories because they satisfied my imagination. They were all […]

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Stella Bereebera
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org He introduces the book with an important definition of the term “Literary Fiction”, he clarifies that it is distinct from general fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, auto biography and non-fiction. Further definitions and explanations give the readers insight into what authors do, and why they would prefer a certain literary work more than […]

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FABIAN_BATS
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved and enjoyed various things in the book. I liked how the author incorporated examples from famous literary works, such as Little Red Riding Hood and works of William Shakespeare like the famous play Hamlet, to illustrate themes in a way that is easy to grasp. I also loved how the […]

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Manas Ranjan Mishra
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I’m excited to have read this book. I’m keen to find out more about his other works. He anticipates that a novel should be well written without being compromised to the nature of the writer’s belief and environment. Inspiring writers would definitely find this book helpful. Coles gives sound counsel to the […]

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apadanag
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles has put together an astonishing collection of thirty-three short stories, including breathtaking stories like; The gift, The Wreak of the Amtrak’s Silver Service and Nemesis. In his book, Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000- 2016, each character is caught in a specific situation- desperate to get out. […]

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Angelique O 4
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org It was my first time reading the works of Mr. Coles. I didn’t know what to expect but I got the most unexpected tales. Some complex emotional traits, such as betrayal, despair and anguish, are touched upon. I was totally hooked to the pages. The narrations will leave you thinking to fill […]

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Shubham Shah

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I love how William H. Coles brought the characters to life in all the stories. Readers can feel the presence of the characters in the book and the different roles they played in each piece. There is nothing that I disliked about the book. The stories I found to be wholesome, and […]

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Eva Nyaburi
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I liked the book. The book grabbed me from the beginning till the end. There are no unnecessary events and situations which can distract the reader from reading this book. Many stories were opened, others ended in suspense while others were explained vividly. This book promotes moral values to young people in […]

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Moseh2021
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org These stories were well-written and easy to read. The stories are about human nature filled with love, hope, hate, and lust. But also with love lost, lost chances, hardships, sickness and so much more. I think what struck me most about these stories was love. We, humans, crave to be loved. To […]

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Adelle v
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles has addressed the major common issues of every society, ensuring that no particular race is being scolded, as the plots are set in different regions and cities of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The characters are real descriptions of the author’s ability to develop unique characters with uncanny endings. His style in […]

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The Reviewer63
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Do you love reading short stories? Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles will be your go-to book, containing life lessons. The writer did a great job in this book; it consisted of short stories with topics that teach valuable lessons and make it enjoyable. Also, as […]

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Mvjdarling
4/4

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org The Spirit of Want by Williams H. Coles is the story of a woman who never knew how to love because she never allowed herself to feel loved by her foster family. This was the foundation of a series of unfortunate events for her aided by the decisions she made. Fortunately, Luke […]

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cutecandy90
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles provides such a crazy yet believable story. Hiram McDowell is such a complex character who we love to hate, especially at the start of his story. Many events that happen are so surprising yet fit right into Hiram McDowell’s life. We are able to see things that are a […]

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dpadgett1

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really enjoyed almost every aspect of the book. As an aspiring author, I really benefited a lot from the many teachings that were there. I learnt how to begin and end a fictional story in a captivating way, how to use humor and suspense in the story, and also how to […]

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Caleb 044
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I give Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The ability to convey the whole spectrum of emotions associated with a character in short stories displays the author’s skill. Characters created by the author are so realistic as to allow readers to connect […]

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TriptiK
4/4

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book grabbed me from the beginning. In fact, this is exactly what happens in many of the stories – the story of the main action begins from the first sentence, without wasting time. There are not many unnecessary descriptions and events that can distract the reader from the mainline of action. […]

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Maria Dimitrova
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book is well-formatted and arranged. It is exceptionally edited because I found no errors in the book. The author delivered the book in simple and plain English that a pure beginner can easily understand the concepts explained. Perhaps, because it is the content I have been looking for, I was never […]

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lumenchristi
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Many people enjoy reading literary stories because they get to experience various adventures through the characters in the book. A great story takes the readers to a different world where they are entertained and they become one with the characters in the book. An author must therefore be able to write a […]

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Eva Nyaburi
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I picked this book since I had an interest in writing, and it did not disappoint. The book was enlightening and opened my eyes to how to write catchy literary stories. I also found it educative as well as entertaining. There was nothing to dislike in this book. As a lover of […]

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Jose Josphat

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Conclusively, this book is a very interesting piece which serves as a comprehensive guide for fiction writers. I hereby recommend this book for fiction and non-fiction writers. I also recommend it for poets, dramatists, and literary critics. While it may look like a piece for literary fiction writers on the surface level, […]

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Ebi Robert

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles explained this writer’s literary fiction guide very well. All ideas are well-informed and are equipped with examples of wrong, right, and good writings. So it enlightens me as a reader because I am not just reading pages of theories about good characterization, dialogue, conflict, and motivation without practicing it. […]

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Norna Haniaden
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I also liked how clear and concise the guide was. Every new topic was initially introduced by the author through either a short description or dictionary definitions. That allowed the reader to learn standardized definitions of certain words and avoid any misunderstandings. After the general introduction, the author provided an in-depth analysis […]

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Maja Anuszewska
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book taught me a lot of things. I learned how valuable and important good characterization is. I also learned that imagination allows for the growth of characterization in a book. I enjoyed the author’s presentation of the guidelines and principles. The author used simple words that helped me flow well with […]

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Luchris_michael
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I enjoyed this book so much that I did not observe any negative aspect in it. The writer gave diligence to details while writing this informative and educative piece. Obviously, this is coming from an authority in this noble field. This book covers every aspect of storytelling that will make a writer […]

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Victor ODEYEMI
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book is very useful for people who are just starting to make fiction stories, because of the basic and principal things in this book. There are no negative aspects to this informative book. Everything is professionally edited. I didn’t find any typos or grammar errors in this book. This book deserves […]

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Azizah Amatu Z
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author did an absolutely exceptional job creating and developing these characters. Their quirks, unique physical features, and personalities made them personable on a whole other level. In the beginning, I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate a character like McDowell as much as I did. As the main […]

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MysticSpade
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org One of the best aspects of this book is that it is simple to read; the author tried to use simple language throughout the book and define every term that you may encounter while reading. As a result, this book is suitable for readers of all backgrounds, whether experienced writers or first-time […]

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Gary Pro
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I liked the division of the book into two parts, and both focus on different components. Furthermore, the best thing is that the author has mentioned relevant content under headings and sub-headings. It will help readers to find the content they are looking for. I liked how the author chose a step-by-step […]

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Amna Khalid
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I liked most about this book is how useful and valuable it is in serving as a guide for writers. Coles draws on an abundance of experience (including his published fiction and non-fiction books) and clearly understands the requirements for exceptional and original literary fiction. His tone is authoritative yet patient, […]

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Johan Erasmus

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The short stories vary in genre and length, the shortest being of one page and the longest being sixteen pages. They all are very interesting, touching subjects such as race, poverty and disability. My favourites were “The Gift”, for Catherine’s point of view of disability; “The Indelible Myth”, because the mix-up of […]

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Mariangela I
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org The first thing I like about the book Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles is, it evokes the writer within a person. Even a person who has not much interest in writing seems to gain interest while reading the book. The book has many examples from short […]

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Divya T
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org While reading the book, I liked and enjoyed very many things. Firstly, I liked the fact that William H. Coles has introduced the book by giving us some of the definitions of the different vocabularies used in fiction writing. Secondly, enjoyed how the author has used several examples from various literary stories […]

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Caleb Fx
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org The chapters flow easily and with ease. Descriptions are clear and in plain language. William H. Coles writes with an ease that is hard to find anything at fault. At no point did a discussion about character, emotions, narrations, or point of view become boring or irrelevant. The writer kept the reader […]

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Hercules van Wyk
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Have you ever thought of how to create literary stories? Is learning how to do it even a thing? Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles is a book, which aims at guiding writers on how to write an effective literary fictional work. It encompasses the key elements […]

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Recee Ann
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide is a gem. A book worth sharing. I found it immensely rich with knowledge and insights. I have always been a fan of storytelling and I had no idea of starting the journey until I read this book. I loved how he used fictional examples […]

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Oye Timothy
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles does a wonderful job of making the lessons clear and easy to grasp. The writing feels very technical and sometimes I got the feeling I was reading a school textbook – grabbing pen and paper is a must -, which in my opinion is an awesome way to provide […]

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Aliel Karen
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org There were so many lessons to derive from this short yet power-packed book. Such lessons include the mastery of plot development and the principles of characterization andhow to write captivating literary fiction and I enjoyed every part of it. In general, the book was really great. It was short, straight to the […]

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okoriebcugo
4/4

Audiobook Review from OnlineBookClub.org I would recommend this book to a wide variety of people. I think high school teachers would be able to dramatically improve their student’s grades if the syllabus included this manual for creative writing. College students studying creative writing would benefit greatly from following this manual as well. New authors could really […]

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Gabriella Smith
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really loved this book Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer`s Guide by William H. Coles very much. I found quite a number of built stories as Coles tries to explain his guide to writers on how good fiction could be given weight. There was nothing I found not to dislike about […]

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Austin Okumu
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org For me, the most exciting factor in Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles is gaining the insight of an award-winning author. William H. Coles’ expertise shows through his informative interpretation of the writing process and concepts. His experience as a writer shines through in this book. The […]

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Elon Gathungu
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I chose this book to review because I write for fun and wanted to see ways I could make myself better. My expectations were met and I was completely satisfied. The book was concise. Straight to the point yet not in the least bit boring and tiresome. Reading this book was enlightening. […]

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Vine001

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I would start by complimenting the author on the amazing skills he showed in this book. Every character was fleshed out so beautifully that you feel every emotion that the character feels at any given point in his or her story. No character felt out of place or two-dimensional, no matter how […]

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Akshada Joshi
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author’s enthusiasm to teach people about how they can be better writers is infectious. He walks us through the theoretic elements of writing and how to put them into practice. He offers guidelines that teach aspiring writers how to give life to characters and arrange scenes in order to build a […]

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david isaji
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I like most about this book is the detailing of every section that he mentioned. It is easy to understand the language that he used. As I want to become a writer, I felt this book provided me with information that is required to start a book. He mentioned both positive […]

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akhil tummala
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book is thought-provoking, capacity building and creativity shaping for writers. William’s way of writing leaves a reader with a greater desire to improve and correct the mistakes in their literary fiction work. He challenges the status quo in style of writing for the fiction story. This opened my eyes to start […]

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Authentic Voice
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org We’ve all been in this situation where we get tired after a few pages of a story and decide to put it down, whereas another story we can’t put down since it’s engaging. But what makes us feel bored or entertained while reading stories, and are there truly ingredients for a story’s […]

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Moon flower
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I liked most about the book was how straight-forward and honest the advice was. The author did not miss a beat to talk about what will be the downfall of a writer. I also liked that he mentioned humour and how it can be tough to please every reader. The appendix […]

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samps1910
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles does a better job of teaching and explaining what goes into a story than any writing class I’ve ever taken. All of his points are concise and well explained. One thing that I particularly liked about this book was how it is laid out and organized. At the beginning of each […]

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wowitsalison
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org As a lover of fictional stories, this book has opened my eyes to things I ought to look out for in any literary fiction. The author highlighted different reasons behind some words used by writers, and how these words are meant to make readers feel, which I thought was amazing. The vocabulary […]

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Mantha1
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I like the organized structure of the book. There are definitions and discussions of terminologies, which have tremendous educational value. I appreciate that the author could explain the most fundamental aspects of storytelling in a short book instead of a long textbook for creative writing. I admire how William H. Coles used […]

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dhn1n18
5/5

The Spirit of Want Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS Spirit Of Want by William H. Coles is contemporary adult fiction. Lucy MacMeil is a bitter woman who feels unwanted by her adoptive family. On the surface, she seems to be a happy, successful lawyer but that could not be further from the truth. A chance encounter and a […]

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Maureen Dangarembizi

The Art of Creating Story Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS The Art of Creating Story by William H. Coles is a writing help masterpiece. The massive work is loaded with priceless nuggets of literary knowledge. Get on your brain’s wetsuit and be ready to plunge into the invaluable treasures offered within. Coles leaves readers wanting for nothing. There are […]

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Hayley Haun

The Art of Creating Story Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS In The Art of Creating Story by William H. Coles, the author defines the essential components of good fiction and teaches readers how to go about developing these elements. The main points of the book are developed in the first two parts that expose the concept of a story […]

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Grace Masso
5/5

Audiobook Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles is an audiobook that tells the story of a successful female lawyer who falls in love with a TV-evangelist she is representing on a case of child sexual abuse. The evangelist skips the country and Lucy leaves everything — her career, […]

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Grace Masso
5/5

Guardian of Deceit Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS Seventeen-year-old Darwin Hastings is forced to accept a new lifestyle when his dying aunt sends him to New York to stay with a guardian, who is a wealthy and well-known footballer. Darwin seeks a sense of family and belonging, the type he experienced with his parents when they were […]

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Foluso Falaye

The Surgeon's Wife Review from Readers’ Favorite William H. Coles’ The Surgeon’s Wife is a story set in New Orleans about Dr. Mike Boudreaux and his mentor, Dr. Clayton Otherson. The story opens with Mike in surgery and called to assist Otherson because his surgery is going awry. The patient is saved, but Otherson’s mishap opens the door […]

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Rolanda Lyles
5/5

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS The Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 includes thirty-three short stories illustrated by six artists, two graphic novels illustrated by Peter Healy, and a novella. The graphic novels are retellings of two of the short stories in the collection. Having previously read Coles’ excellent presentation on The […]

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Kimberlee J Benart
5/5

The Surgeon's Wife Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS A novel that will surprise you by the way author William H. Coles brings depth to his characters, The Surgeon’s Wife is set in New Orleans and centers on the friendship between two brilliant doctors. Clayton Otherson is Mike Boudreaux’s professor and mentor during training, renowned in the medical […]

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Vincent Dublado

The Surgeon's Wife Review from Readers’ Favorite The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Coles is a literary fiction novel that presents a conflict between two strong characters and medical professionals. Clayton Otherson is a senior influential and respectable surgeon. Or he once was. But he is growing old and this leads to him making mistakes that can have […]

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Grace Masso
5/5

Creating Literary Stories Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS In Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide, author William H. Coles says that a work of literary fiction is a story that “has a character-based, character-driven plot, with carefully developed and sequenced motivations . . . presented through scenes structured with conflict, action, and resolution.” He then elaborates […]

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Patricia Reding

Creating Literary Stories Review from Readers’ Favorite William H Coles is an accomplished author, having written several novels, many short stories, and several instructional texts for writers. He knows what makes for good literary fiction. Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide delivers a wealth of helpful information for the would-be author, and for established authors who wish […]

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Lorraine Cobcroft
5/5

The Art of Creating Story Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS The Art of Creating Story by William H. Coles is the ideal resource for writers to have on their shelves. Coles delivers a breakdown of the literary story by sharing about the craft, advice, and providing useful interviews and examples. Coles delves into the breakdown of the various parts […]

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Liz Konkel
5/5

Creating Literary Stories Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide is a book dedicated to the must do’s and mustn’t do’s when writing fiction. It’s separated into subjects and strategies: characters, narration, points of view, emotions, motivation, dialogue, writing in scene, humor, and more. This is an essential guide for anyone who […]

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Carolina Restrepo

The Art of Creating Story Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS What is involved in writing the best short story? The best work of literary fiction? Is it the narrative? The characterization? How does a writer improve the craft of writing? We, as writers, are always (or, at least we should be) working on honing our writing skills. We need […]

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Emily-Jane Hills Orford
5/5

Creating Literary Stories Review from Readers’ Favorite FIVE STARS Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles is a handy tool for all those writers who want to embark on fiction writing because of the detailed information it gives when it comes to writing fiction. Writers must always have a clear idea of what words […]

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Mamta Madhavan

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from Readers’ Favorite I stood in awe of the amazing writing skills of William H. Coles in Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016. This collection of short stories will not leave you with that fuzzy feeling of happy endings, but you will view humanity in times of our darker acts. Each mesmerizing […]

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Peggy Jo Wipf
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars since it is well-written and has no errors or mistakes and I personally enjoyed it very much and recommend it to any fiction writer out there who wants to strengthen his literary knowledge and ability to write fiction books. You don’t need any […]

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blackjack1
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org “Knowledge is available everywhere,” what needs to be done is the will to crave it. This book will prod the interest of any author or student to know more about story-writing. There isn’t anything I find off in this book, even the author’s proficiency is evident in the lack of grammatical error, […]

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Dayodiola
4/4

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org The thing that I love most about the book is the way that the characters are demonstrated. The book successfully presents each character’s personality, intentions, history, and development in such a way that the readers feel they have known the characters their entire life. Even though Lucy was presented as a hostile, […]

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Laila_Hashem
4/4

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book is easy to read and all the characters described by William H. Coles are very vivid. This made me immerse in the story so much, that at times I was left reading while gritting my teeth. You get to know the characters inside out. It makes you fall in love […]

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Arma-Wolfomatiko
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell is a story about self-discovery and redemption. It teaches us how we, as humans, are easily ready to forgive those who we dislike when we see that they are trying to improve themselves. For example, the reader starts off hating Hiram but soon begins to love him as they read about […]

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Ladybug1516
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book is without a doubt a 4 out of 4. It is very well written, packed with engaging characters, thought provoking, and intelligent. I appreciated the short, italicized inserts which kept the story moving without over explaining. The characters were very real and each was unique with their own personalities and […]

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MoniqueBatty
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell is, like the expeditions that its main character enjoys so much, a trek into the unknown with priceless gems scattered along the way. I appreciated the use of third-person in this work because, in a way, Hiram is more or less on trial and not just before a jury of his […]

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HMH93
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell is an impressive book. I could not find any misspellings or grammatical mistakes, and it was overall, very well written and exceptionally well-edited. The novel itself is written in mostly short, descriptive sentences. At first, I found it a little off-putting, as I am used to the more flowery, descriptive lines […]

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Rhainu
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell by William H. Coles is an excellent read. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for it’s intriguing adventure, the characters, and the editing. This book is excellent and I really didn’t dislike any part outside of what is expected. There are some situations that are uncomfortable to read […]

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smaloy94
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org In addition to an ever-evolving and expanding theme, this book charms the reader with life-lessons about everything from blaming others for our misfortunes to understanding what’s really important in life. I enjoyed the storyline; it’s one of those books where you think you know what’s coming next but you’re not even close. […]

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Kristina Louise
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org A novel written by award-winning author William H. Coles, McDowell is one of the best examples of Literary Fiction I have read since such authors as Salinger and Fitzgerald. With the character of Hiram McDowell, Coles ranks right up there with the best. I must rate this a 4 out of 4 […]

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loriaharris
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really liked this book because of the morals involved. It made me stop and wonder about some actions that I may have taken in my personal and professional life that may have been harmful to others. Sometimes something that can be insignificant to you can be harmful to others. Definitely, something […]

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Bertha Jackson
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell, written by William H. Coles, was absolutely captivating throughout. It presents the characters and scenes in a way that makes them truly believable, and makes one forget it is a fictional read. The way it made me feel, as I read the beginning, contradicted how I felt by the ending. I […]

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McCrimmonal_91
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org It was an honor and privilege to write this review for the novel, McDowell. The author, William H. Coles, is a literary genius who created a dramatic story about a surgeon’s adventures through a tumultuous life. The book was very believable, especially considering the author’s background of ophthalmic surgery. He allowed the […]

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Lonawin
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Each chapter explains the many aspects of fiction writing, with examples that help explain the points made. I could find no mistakes, the book is well edited. It has no foul language. There were no grammar mistakes i found while reading the book. The thing I liked most about the book is […]

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Christy G
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I liked most about the book was how straight-forward and honest the advice was. The author did not miss a beat to talk about what will be the downfall of a writer. I also liked that he mentioned humour and how it can be tough to please every reader. The appendix […]

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samps1910
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org For anyone getting fumbled on how to formulate dialogue, characterization, in scene descriptions, finding your own voice, and so much more this is a book to treasure. Here is an excerpt from the story that I thought was so simple yet quite on point. “Feelings in a story can be told. “He […]

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Clorinda Donovan
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Writing is a skill. Writing a fiction story requires even more of it. Unlike in a memoir where events in the narration are a reality, a fictional story takes a lot more effort. The author has to put together the characters, come up with a setting, theme, and plot. What’s more, the […]

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Ms Awuor
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org CREATING LITERARY STORIES: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles explains everything needed to write a literary fiction story, starting off with the basics (definitions and introductions) all the way to the more complicated items. The content is delivered in a fun non-academic way. It’s not easy to achieve this kind […]

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Eriny Youssef
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Short-story veteran, William. H. Coles condenses his years of experience into this book which attempts to explain the intricacies involved in creating powerful literary fiction stories. Having read a few of Coles’ books, most of which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was quite pleased and excited to finds this manual listed on the […]

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Wy_Bertram
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I liked about the book was how simply the information was presented. That is always a winner for me. It is easy to understand what the author meant and put it to good use. I enjoyed the book because I love writing. I also like to know how other writers approach […]

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Anngladys
4/4

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Inside the book, there are four things that I like. These are the definitions, examples, summaries, and the whys, like “why literary stories fail.” Every chapter starts with the definitions of literary words. These terms are operationally defined as to what their functions in the story that the writers are creating. As […]

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vee_blanche
4/4

Guardian of Deceit Review from OnlineBookClub.org This is the first book I have read by this author. He definitely had a way of drawing me in and keeping me interested. I was intrigued as it challenged my emotions and thinking. I am looking forward to reading more novels written by William H. Coles. Personally, I liked the overall […]

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Suzer6440 xyz
4/4

Guardian of Deceit Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author manages to create emotions of intense sympathy and interest for many of the characters in the reader. His writing is crisp and very effective. Written from the third person narrative, a compelling plot is created that generates excitement and an atmosphere of mounting social tension. An feeling of life in […]

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timd

Guardian of Deceit Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I loved best about Guardian of Deceit was the character development. William H. Coles really did a great job of developing almost all the characters that appeared in the book. He made the likes, dislikes, history, attitudes, weekeness etc. of characters such as Sweeney, Mrs Thompson, Helen, Lazlo, known intimately to […]

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Alex Baadom
4/4

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org enjoyed the variety of characters and locales throughout the book. Hiram interacts with many work colleagues, family, and then strangers who become friends in the second half of the book. There is something for just about everyone included in McDowell. I would recommend this book to all readers. There was nothing I […]

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For FICTION WRITERS and STORYTELLERS

"How Humor Works in Fiction" by William H. Coles
A transcribed lecture presented at Kenyon College.

A humor response in prose fiction is varied and often unpredictable. For authors, irony is the most useful form of humor for character development, but also forms such as satire, sarcasm, parody, and others, are stylistically important.
You can learn about humor and fiction here:

EXAMPLE: Original Illustration by artist Peter Healy from the short story "The Miracle of Madame Villard" by William H. Coles https://storyinliteraryfiction.com/original-storie…
#LiteraryFiction#Writers
... Read MoreShow Less

49 minutes ago
For FICTION WRITERS and STORYTELLERS

How Humor Works in Fiction by William H. Coles
A  transcribed lecture presented at Kenyon College.

A humor response in prose fiction is varied and often unpredictable. For authors, irony is the most useful form of humor for character development, but also forms such as satire, sarcasm, parody, and others, are stylistically important.
You can learn about humor and fiction here: http://ow.ly/cRC350EEO6p

EXAMPLE: Original Illustration by artist Peter Healy from the short story The Miracle of Madame Villard by William H. Coles  https://www.storyinliteraryfiction.com/original-stories-william-h-coles/the-miracle-of-madame-villard/
#LiteraryFiction#Writers
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For WRITERS
DRAMA IN LITERARY FICTION

Learn to incorporate the essentials of drama in your stories.
Drama is conflict, action, and resolution.
It is the core of characterization and effective plots.


#Writing #Teachers #Drama #HowTo

Example: original commissioned illustration by artist Peter Healy for the short story, "Suchin's Escape" by William H. Coles.
... Read MoreShow Less

2 hours ago
For WRITERS
DRAMA IN LITERARY FICTION

Learn to incorporate the essentials of drama in your stories.
Drama is conflict, action, and resolution. 
It is the core of characterization and effective plots.
http://ow.ly/dKXt50EEQrF

#Writing #Teachers #Drama #HowTo

Example: original commissioned illustration by artist Peter Healy for the short story, Suchins Escape by William H. Coles.
http://ow.ly/XOa050EEQrE
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“Captain Wither’s Wife”, by William H. Coles is FREE short story podcast!

The armed-service wife of an air force Captain stationed in France in the 1960’s stands up to the selfish philandering of her pilot husband and demands justice and compensation for her leaving him and returning to the states. A resistant commanding officer denies her just demands to disastrous consequences.

Award winning short story in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition.

#AwardWinning #ShortStory #Free #Podcast

... Read MoreShow Less

4 hours ago
“Captain Wither’s Wife”, by William H. Coles is  FREE short story podcast!

The armed-service wife of an air force Captain stationed in France in the 1960’s stands up to the selfish philandering of her pilot husband and demands justice and compensation for her leaving him and returning to the states. A resistant commanding officer denies her just demands to disastrous consequences.

Award winning short story in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition.

#AwardWinning #ShortStory #Free #Podcast

http://ow.ly/wOkL50EfSyC
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