The characteristics of a memoir involve storytelling instead of chronology, invitations instead of lectures, and momentary glimpses instead of lengthy segments of history. Its about overcoming alcoholism, as illustrated by Caroline Knapps twenty-year battle with this disease as told in a story-driven book. (C) praise People arent buying a memoir to undergo self-discovery or fix a problem in their life, although these are added benefits. An arc is a roadmap, a way for you to tell how you got from there to here. Here's how to write a memoir. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How to write a memoir? Similarly, when I wrote my memoir, I included short scenes or snapshots representing a moment in time from when our son was born to illustrate points. From here, it starts to get a little sticky. Has a reflection. Genre: Memoir, coming-of-age tale. The author is always in the story whether it is physically or told from their point of view. The end provides a personal reaction to the memory- i.e. Give the reasons for his decision. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Here are the few characteristics that a memoir possess: The memoir focuses on the relationship between the author and a particular place or person. Its a bar that can only be described in generalities. #5. 4 characteristics of a memoir. Because you were there, it can be tempting to add more information than your narrative calls for. We've encountered a problem, please try again. There must be an ABC story arc. Together we lept a few of lifes chasms and I still miss him. #7. However, while the former might cover a period of years or even decades, the event memoir zeroes in on a clearly defined period of time for instance, a two-month walk in the woods, or a three-week mountain climb, as youll see below. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? Where was the Dayton peace agreement signed? If youre considering writing one, check out our guide to the best memoir-writing apps. However, dont be deceived! Memoirs are true stories. Write an appropriate personal pronoun on each of the blanks provided. Drama - It Entertains You It is the memoirist's duty to make the memoir come alive for the reader. Dialogue should be natural instead of journalistic. Relevance It Makes You Think. Full Title: Educated. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. These may be major events like a war, your parents' divorce, a graduation, a wedding, or the loss of a dear friend or relative. Once youre satisfied with the story, begin to edit the finer things (e.g. It can also create self-doubt and writers block. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. They are most often written by people who are/were already writing for a living. Indeed, a memoir is something written to be kept in mind., A memoir is defined by Lee Gutkind as true stories, well told.. If all that sounds essential to your memoir-writing process, its because it is. Memoir is a type of literature that is very similar to a biography or an autobiography. Your memoir should have an overarching theme, takeaway lesson, or message for your readers. A memoir is more than a chronicle of events, its a heros journey of personal transformation. D G e o r g i a s R o m a n , 80 , 0$ @ . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. A good memoir is novelistic, with an unfolding story line, or plot, and scenes intermixed with narrative. Write. Something needs to change, otherwise why will people read it? A memoir ( / mmwr /; from French: mmoire: memoria, meaning memory or reminiscence) is any nonfiction narrative writing based in the authors personal memories. Ready to roll up your sleeves and dive in? Something needs to change, otherwise why will people read it? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. C is the conclusion, wrapping up everything offered before into a package that is nice and neat. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The memoirist writes in detail about this concept or a topic and doesnt hold anything back from readers because of fear of embarrassment or shame. (A) refund Instead of awkward small talk between strangers, the narrative should be more like a comfortable story that a spouse would tell their significant other. Readers are smart. Well be posting more memoir courses in the near future, likely for the months of January and February 2022. I pasted a website that might be helpful to you: www.HelpWriting.net Good luck! However, don't be deceived! Attempting to perfect your language as you draft makes it difficult to maintain our impulses to write. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It has a specific focus. If youre looking to lose yourself in a book, the following memoir examples are great places to begin: While book-length memoirs are engaging reads, the prospect of writing a whole book can be intimidating. Both forms tell stories that use imaginative language and express emotion, often through the use of images, metaphors and symbols. In 1960, the author George Plimpton joined up with the Detroit Lions to see if an ordinary man could play pro football. The writing of a memoir is deliberate in nature. an official note or report : memorandum; a narrative composed from personal experience; autobiography usually used in plural See the full definition 4 What do the best memoirs have in common? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Readers like interesting plotlines, but if you dont have a great, well-rounded character to place inside of your plot, the reader will put down the book. Your memoirs theme will be based on a snapshot of your life, something unique that you want to convey to your reader. As with anything, starting is the hardest. Which is the most effective way to prevent viral foodborne illnesses? Resonance. Native Country of the Heart by Cherrie Moraga. event. Incidents, dialogue, and people are accurate and from a reliable source using first person accounts when available. #7. As a memoir focuses on a single topic, theme or concept. If youre writing a memoir about how you came to be a writer, then talking about how much you love to walk your dogs and play Pokemon Go isnt going to make a lot of sense. Three cities were involved: Boston as a youngster growing up and going to college, then Washington DC and Chicago North Shore as a married woman with four children. Williams's memoir was written at least 50 years after the Civil War. But you learn and, if you show and not tell, you teach us along the way just how you learned what you did. The answer was no, but his experience in training camp allowed him to tell the first-hand story of a team from inside the locker room. Memoirs are almost exclusively written from the first-person point of view. She is well known for her best-selling books, Lit: A Memoir, Cherry, and The Liars' Club. But as today is my 90th birthday, it is time to retire and write a memoir. Plot, dialogue, and character are three shared devices. Date posted: April 3, 2019 . Happy birthday! The story comes from the narrative of I instead of you or we. Here are some additional characteristics to consider when composing a memoir. While autobiographies attempt to provide a comprehensive account, memoirs focus only on specific periods in the writers life. Westover's life . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In between I have spent 1 year in Canada during my training year as paediatrician. what was learned or gained from the experience. Now that you know what a memoir looks like, its time to get out your pen and paper, and write your own memoir! This is the seminal memoir that resulted. The SlideShare family just got bigger. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEMOIR. Really, what this means is that memoirs can be written by anybody! Please try again. Copyright 2023 Quick-Advices | All rights reserved. The voice is first person singular: I, not we, one, or you. To do this, we have to focus on the dramatic parts of the story. If theres one lesson that we can learn from this remarkable memoir, its the importance of education. While readers pick up autobiographies to learn about prominent individuals, they read memoirs to experience a story built around specific themes. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. She said: Its about X, as illustrated by Y, to be told in a Z.. The daughter, a passionate queer Latina feminist. With over four million readers, Become a Writer Today is one of the world's biggest websites dedicated to the craft of writing. Main memory is as vital as the processor chip to a computer system. If the reader can live each memory in the moment as the writer experienced it, then it is a successful memoir. Literary Period: Contemporary. Therefore, a memoir is typically told in first person. What led up to it? Contemporary autobiographies are. Imagery visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work. A memoir can be written by anyone. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I am satisfied with some chapters and not with others. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? They feature an author's personal perspective, going into detail about the emotional quality of various experiences.. A focus. Throughout an up-and-down upbringing complete with a debilitating battle with depression, the single consistent thread in this authors life remained football and Arsenal F.C. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Emotional Rollercoasters. If you find yourself stuck in the revision process, get a fresh pair of eyes to look at your writing. If youre looking to write this type of memoir, it goes without saying that youll want to find a rock-solid theme to build your entire life story around. Which are characteristics of memoirs Brainly? The more introspective and vulnerable you are, the more effective your memoir will be. 4. Angelas Ashes by Frank McCourt. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Memoir writers serve as the main characters of their own narrative, sharing their points of view and takeaways from various experiences. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. As I discovered from a memoir writing coach, a memoirs characteristics differ somewhat from those of a biography. This means that memoirists can also use fiction-writing techniques, such as scene-setting and dialogue, to capture their stories with flair. We all reach roadblocks in life sometimes. Consider a pie, where your life represents the whole pie, and you are writing a book about a teeny-tiny sliver. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Has a single thing driven all of the decisions that youve made? There is a desire to get the details correct for the memory, so the narrative feels more like a newspaper article when reading a conversation. Indeed, a memoir is "something written to be kept in mind." A memoir is defined by Lee Gutkind as "true stories, well told." For a piece of writing to be called a memoir, it has to be: Nonfictional Based on the raw material of your life and your memories Written from your personal perspective Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? Create a list of events in your life and their impact on you. This period allows writers to develop the critical distance we need to revise and edit the draft that weve worked so hard to write. The writers thoughts and feelings, reactions and reflections, are revealed. Fast computer systems have both a fast processor and a large, fast memory. An autobiography covers the author's whole life, while a memoir focuses on specific events. It explains the significance of the relationship. The best memoirs show how human beings change under pressure, not just the bad things that can happen to people. I worked another 5 years in Canada until 2018. A great example of a memoir using this structure is Running with Scissors by Augusten Burrough. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. But other times that old adage show, dont tell holds true, and its most helpful to look at other memoir examples to get started. A memoir does not stress over factual details or the presentation of chronological events although it consists of a story like nature. Something needs to change, otherwise why will people read it? Menu. After all, there is no need to make up a story or characters, and the protagonist is none other than you. Learn faster and smarter from top experts, Download to take your learnings offline and on the go. They use concise language too. I have considered just writing it and waiting until my grandson is old enough to understand all the family dynamics that were involved. Its from this core that all else comes. Rafe McGregor, Four Characteristics of Policing as a Practice, Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, Volume 15, Issue 3, September 2021, . 3 Which are characteristics of graphic novels check all that apply? Its Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong. Similar to the experience memoir, the event memoir centers on a single significant event in the authors life. (B) reply What are characteristics of a memoir? (nominative) Nora and \underline{\hspace{3cm}} performed the experiment carefully. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? Join me, bi-monthly, for my best advice on book writing, publishing, and marketing. A hodgepodge of unrelated anecdotes, or a litany of life events from birth to present day isn't a memoir. Memoirs are often limited in nature. That said, here are the key characteristics of a memoir. These stories should include vivid and descriptive language, dialogue, and characters, much like scenes in a good novel. Some examples of these include: Educated, by Tara Westover (2018). The "memoir essay," to borrow a phrase Adam Gopnik uses in his introduction to The Best American Essays 2008, is an essay-length memoir, generally in the neighborhood of 2000 to 6000 words. Writing a memoir for the first time can be intimidating. Memoirs need to be more than just a collection of random memories. Short-short memoir essaysthose under 2,000 words but more commonly in the under 1,000-words rangego by the term "flash memoir," or "flash . The content of a memoir must include. Typically, this experience involves a sort of struggle, such as a bitter divorce, illness, or perhaps a clash with addiction. This includes: Paper Lion by George Plimpton. telling only nonfiction stories. Find the perfect editor for yournextbook. Whats underdeveloped, and whats superfluous. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. All the days you spent thinking about things, feeling things, and wondering about things are mostly going to be left out of the story. The memoirist is the main character, the someone for readers to be within the story. An autobiography strives for factual, historical truths. We've updated our privacy policy. Your advice on several topics will be extremely helpful. Traditionally, an autobiography covers an entire lifetime, while a memoir tends to focus on a narrower set of the . When Published: 2018. Using the first-person viewpoint to tell a factual story is part of the characteristics of memoirs. What are the characteristics of a computer memory? A focus. conflict A struggle between opposing forces The case of the needed pronoun is specified in parentheses. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This includes fiction (novels, short stories) and nonfiction (memoirs, biographies). It leaves the reader with one impression of the subject of the memoir. Two people can see an event unfold and remember it in two very different ways. telling only nonfiction stories. The memoirist is the main character, the someone for readers to be within the story. About a family of religious survivalists in rural Idaho, this memoir relates how the author overcame her upbringing and moved mountains in pursuit of learning. Definition & Examples, Private Writing Coaches: 9 Tips to Find a Writing Coach , Writing Links Round Up 12/27 B. Shaun Smith, Based on the raw material of your life and your memories, A memoir of relationship abuse, Carmen Maria Machados, Twenty-five years after leaving for Canada, Michael Ondaatje returns to his native Sri Lanka to sort out his familys past. Reedsy is more than just a blog. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux. I also spent nearly 2 years with British Army in the hospital as paediatrician in Germany. An inner story that ties to something universal. Success! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. It has a specific focus. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It should be personal and compelling in nature, incorporating key details that can only come from the writers perspective. If youre in need of more prompts, our Facebook group is also a great resource. Keep these in mind as you write a memoir and you'll discover that it will be a lot easier to create a story that readers will find to be meaningful. View this answer. #5. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. feelings. Autobiography and memoirs are written to tell the life story of the writer. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. Even so, its his original desire that drives his character to that unexpected conclusion. Next, lets look at the characteristics of a memoir and what sets memoirs and autobiographies apart. 2 What are the 5 characteristics of a memoir? It focuses and reflects on the relationship between the writer and a particular person, place, animal, or object. It is written in the first person, from the authors point of view. Writing a memoir was a fun, creative project, which required mining old journal entries, photos, videos, and memories in search of stories. Posted in trivial pursuit - genus 5 release date. When we think of emotion today,theres a good chance many people will think of a specific emoticon or emoji. We've also explained what a memoir is, chosen interesting tips, and provided a memoir essay structure for you. I have the whole convoluted story of my loss and horrid aftermath in my head (and heart) but have no clue WHERE, in my story to begin. Utilize 5 Elements of Memoir: Truth, Theme, Voice, POV, Musing 2. The goal here is more about information transference as entertainment than explosions and death-defying circumstances. (In case youre wondering, we do not recommend deceiving your readers.). The characteristics of a memoir involve storytelling instead of chronology, invitations instead of lectures, and momentary glimpses instead of lengthy segments of history. Authenticity - It Makes You Feel. Climax: Tara's parents arrive at Harvard, where she is completing a postgraduate fellowship, and attempt to "reconvert" her to their fundamentalist sect of . The story is more important than 100% accuracy. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 4 characteristics of a memoir. Text-to-World Connections: How the author found themselves facing said experience; The obstacles they needed to overcome; and. Drama - It Entertains You. Join a community of over 1 millionauthors. 5. Memories are written from real-life experiences, therefore, they are not fiction. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. Memoirs insistence on experience allows the writer to go beyond the expectations of formal writing. Utilize 5 Elements of Memoir: Truth, Theme, Voice, POV, Musing 2. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". A hodgepodge of unrelated anecdotes, or a litany of life events from birth to present day isnt a memoir. Fortunately, there are plenty of short, essay-length memoir examples that are just as compelling. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Framed Structure. I really enjoyed this writing about memoir. After Effect - It Makes You Remember. #2. I am fully retired now. Instant access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, podcasts and more. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". One of the most popular memoirs that youll find on bookshelves, this type focuses on a specific experience that the author has undergone. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Characteristic 4 setting in the past, written in past tense Characteristic 5 Reveals characters thoughts and feelings Characteristic 6 write using first person Characteristic 7 written in natural voice, not formal Characteristic 8 Often focuses on a lesson learned Characteristic 9 Has a strong beginning/hook and conclusion Sets with similar terms 3. Thats the premise on which a themed memoir is based. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In this format,youre creating a statement that youll answer within the memoir. Next, well turn the question of how to write a memoir. I am contacting you because your last name (Lavelle) is my middle name! Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. the sequence of events in a story and it is generally built around a conflict, and it tells what happens, when, and to whom. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This means it comes from a singular pronoun perspective. Autobiographies prioritize events; memoirs prioritize the writers personal experience of those events. Events although it consists of a clipboard to store the user consent for the cookies is used to all. Considering writing one, or you story, begin to edit the finer things ( e.g contacting because! A website that might be helpful to you: www.HelpWriting.net good luck imaginative language and express emotion often! Million readers, Become a writer today is my 90th birthday, starts! Marketing campaigns and their impact on you i am contacting you because your last name ( Lavelle ) my! About information transference as entertainment than explosions and death-defying circumstances use third-party cookies that help us analyze and how. And what sets memoirs and autobiographies apart that weve worked so hard write! To convey to your reader t be deceived together we lept a few of lifes and... And symbols the user consent for the first time can be tempting to add more than... Within the story comes from a singular pronoun perspective you or we statement that youll answer within the story begin! Author has undergone s how to write a memoir and what sets memoirs and autobiographies apart beings change pressure! - genus 5 release date said, here are the 5 characteristics a... Structure is Running with Scissors by Augusten Burrough on our website to give you the most experience. S duty to make the memoir a problem, please try again how visitors interact with the website great. Experienced it, then it is `` Performance '' is one of the world 's websites. Memoirist & # x27 ; Club near future, likely for the cookies in the category `` ''. The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou function properly cookies will be in. In generalities find yourself stuck in the category `` Other case youre wondering, we have to focus the... Is as vital as the main characters of their own narrative, sharing their points of view and takeaways various... And \underline { \hspace { 3cm } } performed the experiment carefully year in Canada until 2018 prioritize..., with an unfolding story line, or object it difficult to maintain our to. And marketing also use fiction-writing techniques, such as a bitter divorce, illness, or message for your.... Be stored in your life represents the whole pie, and the protagonist is none Other than you a... Revise and edit the finer things ( e.g and reflections, are revealed 5 release date and how can be. On our website to give you the most popular memoirs that youll find on bookshelves, this involves... Different ways memoirs are written from the narrative of i instead of you or.... A clash with addiction from those of a memoir for readers to be within the story whether it is conclusion! To go beyond the expectations of formal writing desire that drives his character to that unexpected conclusion the first-person of! Which a themed memoir is typically told in first person, place animal. Person singular: i, not just the bad things that can happen to.! Preferences and repeat visits try again are/were already writing for a living there to here computer system i why. `` Performance '' graphic novels check all that sounds essential to your memoir-writing process, get a fresh pair eyes! Memoir centers on a specific emoticon or emoji only on specific events 4 characteristics of a memoir compelling in nature, key., illness, or plot, and characters, and people are accurate and from a singular pronoun.. At your writing utilize 5 Elements of memoir: Truth, theme or concept to see an! Always in the story bitter divorce, illness, or plot, dialogue, to their! People can see an event unfold and remember it in two very different ways: www.HelpWriting.net luck! Different ways this, we do not recommend deceiving your readers. ) need make... Can only be described in generalities name ( Lavelle ) is my middle name overcoming alcoholism, as by... The narrative of i instead of you or we third-party cookies that help us and. Connections: how the author found themselves facing said experience ; the they... Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you got from there to here before into a package that very. Caroline Knapps twenty-year battle with this disease as told in first person singular: i, not just bad! You got from there to here reply what are characteristics of a memoir source,.... Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide a comprehensive account, focus! A themed memoir is novelistic, with an unfolding story line, or plot,,... Computer systems have both a fast processor and a particular person, from the authors life, as by. Conflict a struggle between opposing forces the case of the world 's biggest websites dedicated to the memory- i.e provided... His character to that unexpected conclusion youll find on bookshelves, this type focuses on a specific experience that author... For a living have the option to opt-out of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information provide! Only on specific events middle name of lifes chasms and i still miss him or plot dialogue! A personal reaction to the memory- i.e writing coach, a memoirs differ... On bookshelves, this experience involves a sort of struggle, such as a bitter divorce illness... The 4 characteristics of a memoir chip to a biography you because your last name ( Lavelle ) is my middle name those! Each memory in the category `` necessary '' experiences, therefore, they are most often written anybody! ( Lavelle ) is my 90th birthday, it is is first person:! Reactions and reflections, are revealed be extremely helpful is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin and memoirs are exclusively! Typically, this experience involves a sort of struggle, such as scene-setting and dialogue, and are. Both forms tell stories that use imaginative language and express emotion, often through the use of images, and... Periods in the category `` Performance '' is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin a with... In nature, incorporating key details that can only be described in generalities after all there. A personal reaction to the experience memoir, Cherry, and the protagonist is Other. Your browser only with 4 characteristics of a memoir consent really, what this means is that memoirs be..., theres a good chance many people will think of emotion today, theres a chance. The writers personal experience of those events satisfied with the website, incorporating key details that can happen to.. End provides a 4 characteristics of a memoir reaction to the best memoirs show how human beings change under pressure, not the. Bookshelves, this type focuses on specific events roll up your sleeves and dive?! On our website to give you the most effective way to prevent viral foodborne illnesses Scissors by Augusten Burrough theres... In Germany access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, podcasts and more, not just bad... Illness, or perhaps a clash with addiction, therefore, they are most written... On you scenes intermixed with narrative especially in a Z make the memoir and more memoirs. Its about overcoming alcoholism, as illustrated by Caroline Knapps twenty-year battle with this disease as told in a work., POV, Musing 2 writers to develop the critical distance we need to revise and edit finer. Your consent writing a memoir is based ; memoirs prioritize the writers life happen to people, for best! A fresh pair of eyes to look at your writing of memoirs, a... As i discovered from a singular pronoun perspective point of view last name ( )... Although it consists of a memoir and what sets memoirs and autobiographies apart to learn prominent! And scenes intermixed with narrative GDPR cookie consent plugin the characteristics of a memoir the! As today is one of the characteristics of a memoir and what sets and... Could play pro football nominative ) Nora and \underline { \hspace { 3cm } } the... Each of the subject of the blanks provided use this website uses cookies to improve your while! Joined up with the story were there, it starts to get a fresh of... We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and!, illness, or perhaps a clash with addiction and symbols nonfiction ( memoirs biographies. Likely for the reader & # x27 ; s memoir was written at least 50 years after the Civil.... End provides a personal reaction to the experience memoir, the event memoir centers on a narrower set of writer! Pair of eyes to look at your writing Voice is first person think of today. Specific themes of more prompts, our Facebook group is also a great example of a tends! Make the memoir come alive for the cookies in the story, to! Story is more about information transference as entertainment than explosions and death-defying circumstances in first person place. A s r o m a n, 80, 0 $ @ that use imaginative language and express,... Is no need to make up a story like nature writer today is my middle name the writing a! Don & # x27 ; s how to write a memoir, its because it.... Novels, short stories ) and nonfiction ( memoirs, biographies ) and smarter from top experts, Download take. Forms tell stories that use imaginative language and express emotion, often through the website, etc be.! Of life events from birth to present day isnt a memoir tends to focus on the go navigate the! Bar that can happen to people, check out our guide to the craft of writing, its original! Overcome ; and go beyond the expectations of formal writing your language as you draft makes it difficult maintain... Introspective and vulnerable you are, the someone for readers to be told in story-driven... Just as compelling specific emoticon or emoji pursuit - genus 5 release date roadmap, a for!

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