AI ToolsWritingChatGPTProductivity12 min read

AI Writing Tools: The Complete 2026 Guide (+ 40 Free Prompts to 10x Your Output)

The best AI writing tools of 2026 — plus 40 free prompts to get better output from every one of them. Bloggers, marketers, freelancers: bookmark this.

AI writing tools are everywhere in 2026 — but most people are still using them wrong. You've felt it: the blank document staring back at you, the LinkedIn post you've rewritten four times and it still sounds off, the blog post that took three hours when it should have taken 45 minutes. Maybe you've even paid a copywriter $300 for something you now realize you could produce yourself — if you just knew the right way to ask.

Here's the thing nobody tells you upfront: the bottleneck isn't the tool. ChatGPT, Claude, Jasper — they're all capable of producing seriously good copy. The real gap is on the input side. A vague prompt gets you a vague result. A structured, specific prompt gets you 90% of a finished draft in 60 seconds. That's the unlock.

By the end of this post, you'll know the best AI writing tools in 2026, how to actually use them, and you'll walk away with 40 prompts you can copy, paste, and start using today — for blog posts, social media, emails, marketing copy, and everything in between. Whether you're a blogger, a marketer, a freelancer, or a founder wearing all three hats, this is the resource you bookmark and come back to. For the broader productivity system that wraps around these tools, see AI tools for productivity.


Why AI Writing Tools Are a Game Changer in 2026

Go from blank page to polished draft in minutes. The hardest part of writing is starting. AI tools eliminate that entirely — you feed them a structure, they feed you a draft, and suddenly you have something to edit instead of nothing to stare at.

Write in any style, tone, or format on demand. Need a formal whitepaper and a casual Instagram caption for the same product? Done. AI writing tools adapt to whatever register you need without breaking a sweat.

Eliminate writer's block permanently. Writer's block is really just input paralysis. When you have a structured prompt, there's no block — there's just output. The words start flowing the moment you hit enter.

Produce a month of content in a weekend. Content calendars that used to take a team weeks to execute are now a solo job you can knock out in a focused Saturday session. Blog posts, social captions, email sequences — all of it.

Cut editing time in half by prompting for structure first. The secret the best AI users know: prompt for the outline before you prompt for the draft. When the structure is right, the writing falls into place and editing becomes cleanup, not reconstruction.

This is why the writers and marketers pulling ahead right now aren't working harder — they've figured out how to use AI tools for content creation to compress time. The full content stack (beyond just writing) is covered in that post.


The 7 Best AI Writing Tools in 2026

Not all AI writing tools are built the same. Here's an honest breakdown of the top options right now — what they're best at, and where they fall short.

1. ChatGPT (OpenAI) — Best All-Around Writing Assistant

ChatGPT is still the gold standard for general-purpose AI writing. It handles everything from blog posts and product descriptions to email sequences and social media copy with impressive consistency. The GPT-4o model is fast, fluent, and remarkably good at following complex multi-part instructions when you give it a proper prompt. If you only use one AI writing tool, this is it — and if you're using it with a quality prompt library, it punches even further above its weight.

2. Claude (Anthropic) — Best for Long-Form, Nuanced Writing

Claude has quietly become the go-to for writers who need depth. Where ChatGPT excels at breadth, Claude shines on long-form pieces: research-heavy blog posts, nuanced thought leadership essays, detailed case studies, and anything that requires maintaining a consistent voice across thousands of words. Claude's context window is massive, which means it can hold an entire article structure in mind while writing — the result is more coherent, less repetitive long-form content.

3. Jasper — Best for Marketing Copy at Scale

Jasper was purpose-built for marketing teams who need to produce volume without sacrificing brand consistency. It has a brand voice feature that lets you train it on your existing content, so every output sounds like you — not generic AI. It's pricier than the general-purpose tools, but if you're running a high-output content operation, Jasper pays for itself fast.

4. Copy.ai — Best for Quick Short-Form Content

Copy.ai is purpose-built for speed on short-form deliverables: product descriptions, ad copy, email subject lines, social captions, taglines. The interface is frictionless — pick a template, drop in your context, get five variations in seconds. There's a free tier that covers casual users well.

5. Notion AI — Best for Writers Already in Notion

If Notion is already your writing home base, Notion AI is a no-brainer add-on. It lives directly inside your workspace, which means you can prompt, draft, edit, and publish without switching tabs. It's not the most powerful standalone AI writer, but the workflow integration is unmatched.

6. Grammarly — Best for Editing and Polish

Grammarly isn't generating prose from scratch — it's the final layer that turns a solid draft into a clean one. The AI features in Grammarly Premium go well beyond spell-check: tone detection, clarity suggestions, rewrite alternatives, and a plagiarism checker all work in real time inside your browser.

7. NovaFlow AI Prompt Packs — Best for Getting the Most Out of Any AI Writing Tool

Here's the honest truth: the tools above are only as good as what you put into them. A bad prompt from a good tool gives you garbage. A good prompt from a good tool gives you a polished draft ready to publish. NovaFlow's prompt packs are built specifically to bridge that gap — 1,000+ structured prompts for writing, marketing, business, and social media. If you're using any AI writing tool and not getting the results you want, the problem is almost always the prompt.


Before & After: What a Better Prompt Actually Looks Like

The difference between a disappointing AI output and a publishable one usually comes down to one thing: how much you gave the AI to work with.

Bad prompt (what most people type):

Before
Write me a blog post about email marketing.

You'll get something generic, loosely structured, and probably padded with filler. It'll take more time to fix than it saved.

Structured prompt (what actually works):

After
[ROLE]: Act as an expert content marketer with 10 years of experience writing high-converting blog content for SaaS companies.

[TOPIC]: Email marketing strategy for small business owners

[TARGET AUDIENCE]: Solo founders and small business owners with a list under 5,000 subscribers who want to increase open rates and revenue from email

[TONE]: Direct, practical, and conversational — like advice from a knowledgeable friend, not a textbook

[FORMAT]: 1,200-word blog post with an H1 title, 4 H2 subheadings, 3-sentence intro, bullet points where appropriate, and a clear CTA at the end

[WORD COUNT]: 1,200 words

[SPECIFIC ANGLE]: Focus on the 3 highest-impact changes a beginner can make to immediately improve email performance — subject lines, send timing, and segmentation basics

[CTA]: Direct readers to sign up for a free email marketing template kit

With a prompt structured like this, you get a 1,200-word draft with real headlines, solid subheadings, and a clear CTA in about 90 seconds. The editing pass takes 10 minutes. Total time investment: under 15 minutes for a fully publishable blog post. That's the prompt framework. The 40 prompts below use this same logic — built-in structure, fill-in-the-blank variables, and output specs baked right in. Every prompt uses [BRACKETS] as variable placeholders — swap in your specifics in seconds.


40 AI Writing Prompts You Can Use Right Now

Copy these, fill in the [BRACKETS], and paste into any AI writing tool. Each one is engineered to get you a usable output on the first try.

Section ABlog & Long-Form Content

Long-form is where the leverage is. A great blog post compounds over months and years — but only if you can produce it fast enough to publish consistently. These AI writing prompts eliminate the blank-page problem and get you from keyword to publishable post in under 30 minutes.

A1Blog Post Outline from Scratch

Prompt
Act as an SEO content strategist. Create a detailed outline for a [WORD COUNT]-word blog post targeting the keyword "[TARGET KEYWORD]". Include: H1 title, meta description (155 chars), intro hook, 5–7 H2 sections with 2–3 bullet sub-points each, and a conclusion with CTA. Audience: [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Tone: [TONE].

A2Introduction Hook (3 Options)

Prompt
Write 3 alternative introductions for a blog post about [TOPIC] targeting [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Each intro should be 3–4 sentences. Option 1: lead with a surprising statistic. Option 2: lead with a relatable pain point. Option 3: lead with a bold contrarian claim. Tone: [TONE].

A3Transition Paragraph Between Sections

Prompt
Write a smooth transition paragraph between these two sections of my blog post. Section ending: "[LAST SENTENCE OF PREVIOUS SECTION]". Section starting: "[FIRST SENTENCE OF NEXT SECTION]". The transition should be 2–3 sentences and maintain a [TONE] voice.

A4Conclusion with CTA

Prompt
Write a conclusion for a blog post about [TOPIC]. The conclusion should: (1) summarize the 3 key takeaways in 2–3 sentences, (2) reinforce the main benefit to [TARGET AUDIENCE], and (3) end with a clear CTA directing readers to [DESIRED ACTION]. Tone: [TONE]. Length: 100–150 words.

A5Listicle Framework ("7 Ways to…")

Prompt
Create a listicle framework for "[NUMBER] ways to [ACHIEVE GOAL] as a [TARGET AUDIENCE]". For each item, provide: a punchy headline (under 10 words), a 2-sentence explanation, and one actionable tip. Tone: [TONE]. Target keyword to use naturally: "[KEYWORD]".

A6Personal Story Paragraph

Prompt
Write a personal story paragraph I can use in a blog post about [TOPIC]. The story should illustrate [KEY POINT] and be written in first person. Start with a specific scene or moment. End with the lesson learned. Length: 100–150 words. Tone: authentic, [TONE].

A7Repurpose a Blog Post into 5 Social Posts

Prompt
I have a blog post about [TOPIC]. Here's the key content: [PASTE CONTENT OR SUMMARY]. Repurpose this into 5 social media posts: (1) LinkedIn thought leadership post, (2) Twitter/X thread hook, (3) Instagram caption, (4) Facebook community post, (5) Pinterest description. Each post should be platform-native and include a CTA linking back to the blog.

A8Expert Roundup Intro Email

Prompt
Write an outreach email asking [EXPERT NAME / TYPE OF EXPERT] to contribute a quote to an expert roundup article about [TOPIC]. The email should: feel personal and non-generic, explain why their perspective matters, make it easy to respond (include the specific question), and be under 150 words. Tone: professional but warm.

Want the full social media repurposing system? See ChatGPT Prompts for Social Media — 50 prompts to create a month of content in one session.

Section BSocial Media & Short-Form

Short-form is where most writers leave time on the table. You've got a blog post, a newsletter, an idea — and it never makes it to social because you don't want to spend 45 minutes writing a caption. These prompts make social content the fastest thing you do all week.

B9LinkedIn Thought Leadership Post

Prompt
Write a LinkedIn post sharing my perspective on [TOPIC/TREND]. I want to position myself as a thought leader in [INDUSTRY/NICHE]. Include: a strong hook in the first line (no "I'm excited to share"), 3–5 key insights formatted for easy reading, and a question at the end to drive comments. Length: 200–300 words. Tone: [TONE].

B10Twitter/X Thread (10 Tweets)

Prompt
Write a 10-tweet Twitter/X thread about [TOPIC] targeting [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Tweet 1: bold hook that stops the scroll. Tweets 2–9: one insight or actionable tip per tweet, each under 280 characters. Tweet 10: summary + CTA to [DESIRED ACTION]. Use short sentences, no fluff, and make each tweet stand alone.

B11Instagram Caption with Hook + CTA

Prompt
Write an Instagram caption for a post about [TOPIC/IMAGE DESCRIPTION]. Structure: (1) hook line that cuts off at "more" to drive clicks, (2) 3–5 lines of value or story, (3) CTA directing followers to [ACTION]. Include 5 relevant hashtags at the end. Tone: [TONE]. Max length: 300 words.

B12TikTok Script (30 Seconds)

Prompt
Write a 30-second TikTok script about [TOPIC] for [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Format: (1) hook — first 3 seconds must stop the scroll, (2) main content — 3 punchy points or a fast story, (3) CTA in the last 3 seconds. Include [PAUSE] markers and note any visual suggestions. Tone: energetic, [TONE].

B13Facebook Post for Community Engagement

Prompt
Write a Facebook post for a [TYPE OF GROUP/PAGE] about [TOPIC]. Goal: spark conversation and comments. Include: a relatable opening, a question or poll to engage the audience, and a warm CTA. Length: 100–150 words. Tone: conversational, community-focused.

B14YouTube Video Description

Prompt
Write a YouTube video description for a video about [TOPIC]. Include: (1) first 2 sentences optimized for search with keyword "[KEYWORD]", (2) 3-sentence summary of what viewers will learn, (3) timestamps section (use placeholders), (4) links to [RELATED RESOURCE], (5) subscribe CTA. Length: 250–300 words. Tone: [TONE].

B15Pinterest Pin Description

Prompt
Write a Pinterest pin description for a pin about [TOPIC]. Include the keyword "[KEYWORD]" in the first sentence. Describe what the pin delivers, why it's useful to [TARGET AUDIENCE], and end with a soft CTA. Length: 100–150 characters for the title, 200–300 characters for the description. Tone: helpful, actionable.

B16Short-Form Hook (5 Options for A/B Testing)

Prompt
Write 5 alternative hooks for short-form content about [TOPIC] targeting [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Each hook should be under 15 words and designed to stop the scroll. Vary the approach: (1) bold claim, (2) question, (3) controversial statement, (4) specific number/stat, (5) relatable pain point. I'll A/B test these across platforms.

Going deep on content creation? AI Tools for Content Creators covers the full stack — writing, video, graphics, and distribution.

Section CEmail & Newsletters

Email is still the highest-ROI channel in digital marketing. These prompts cover the full email stack — from welcome sequences to cold outreach — so you can build and monetize your list without staring at a blank draft for an hour.

C17Welcome Email Sequence (3-Part)

Prompt
Write a 3-part welcome email sequence for new subscribers to [BRAND/NEWSLETTER NAME]. Email 1 (sent immediately): warm welcome, deliver the lead magnet [DESCRIBE IT], set expectations. Email 2 (sent day 3): share the most valuable piece of content or insight you have. Email 3 (sent day 7): soft introduction to [PRODUCT/SERVICE] with a clear benefit and CTA. Tone: [TONE]. Each email under 300 words.

C18Newsletter Intro That Gets Opened

Prompt
Write a newsletter introduction for this week's issue of [NEWSLETTER NAME]. Topic: [THIS WEEK'S THEME]. The intro should: open with a hook that rewards people for opening, preview 2–3 things in this issue, and feel personal — not like a press release. Length: 80–100 words. Tone: [TONE].

C19Cold Outreach Email (Not Salesy)

Prompt
Write a cold outreach email to [TARGET: job title or description] at [TYPE OF COMPANY]. My offer: [WHAT YOU DO / WHAT YOU'RE PITCHING]. Goal: get a reply, not make a sale. The email should feel genuinely helpful, reference something specific about them, and ask one clear low-friction question. Under 120 words. No buzzwords, no "I hope this finds you well."

C20Follow-Up Email After No Response

Prompt
Write a follow-up email to someone who didn't respond to my previous outreach about [TOPIC/OFFER]. Keep it short (under 80 words), add a new angle or piece of value they didn't get in the first email, and end with an easy yes/no question. Tone: direct but not pushy.

C21Re-Engagement Email for Cold List

Prompt
Write a re-engagement email for subscribers who haven't opened an email in [TIME PERIOD]. Acknowledge the silence without being weird about it. Offer something valuable to bring them back — [DESCRIBE OFFER OR CONTENT]. Give them a clear way to opt out if they're not interested. Tone: honest, human, zero guilt-tripping. Under 200 words.

C22Product Launch Announcement

Prompt
Write a product launch email announcing [PRODUCT NAME] to my email list. The email should: open with the problem it solves, explain the solution in plain language, list 3 key benefits (not features), include social proof if available [PASTE TESTIMONIAL], and close with a clear CTA to [CHECKOUT/LANDING PAGE URL]. Length: 250–350 words. Tone: [TONE].

C23Weekly Digest Template

Prompt
Write a weekly digest email template for [NEWSLETTER/BRAND NAME]. Sections to include: (1) intro (2–3 sentences this week's theme), (2) top article or resource of the week, (3) quick tip or insight, (4) what I'm working on / behind the scenes, (5) one CTA. Make it modular so I can swap content in each week. Tone: [TONE].

C24Abandoned Cart Recovery Email

Prompt
Write an abandoned cart recovery email for [PRODUCT NAME] priced at [$PRICE]. The customer added it to cart but didn't buy. The email should: acknowledge without being creepy, remind them of the main benefit they're missing out on, handle one common objection, and give them a direct link back to checkout. Under 200 words. Tone: helpful, not desperate.

Using AI writing tools to run a freelance business? ChatGPT for Freelancers has 35 prompts for proposals, client emails, and cold outreach.

Section DMarketing Copy & Sales

Marketing copy is the highest-leverage writing you'll do — and the type where most writers feel the most out of their depth. These prompts cover the full conversion stack: landing pages, product descriptions, CTAs, and closing arguments.

D25Landing Page Headline (5 Options)

Prompt
Write 5 headline options for a landing page selling [PRODUCT/SERVICE] to [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Each headline should be under 12 words and lead with the primary benefit or outcome. Vary the approaches: (1) outcome-focused, (2) time-based ("in X days/minutes"), (3) pain-point-first, (4) social proof angle ("Join 10,000+ people who…"), (5) curiosity-driven. I'll test these.

D26Hero Subheadline

Prompt
Write a hero subheadline for a landing page for [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. The headline is: "[YOUR HEADLINE]". The subheadline should: expand on the headline's promise, address [TARGET AUDIENCE]'s main objection or fear, and be under 30 words. Tone: [TONE].

D27Product Description (Benefits-First)

Prompt
Write a product description for [PRODUCT NAME] priced at [$PRICE]. Lead with the primary outcome/benefit, not the features. Structure: (1) one-sentence benefit hook, (2) 3-bullet benefit list (outcome-focused), (3) what's included, (4) who it's for, (5) CTA. Length: 150–200 words. Tone: [TONE].

D28FAQ Section (5 Questions)

Prompt
Write a 5-question FAQ section for [PRODUCT/SERVICE/PAGE]. Anticipate the real questions a skeptical buyer would ask about [MAIN CONCERN 1], [MAIN CONCERN 2], pricing, delivery/access, and [SPECIFIC QUESTION]. Answer each in 2–4 sentences. Be direct — no corporate hedging. Tone: [TONE].

D29Testimonial Request Email

Prompt
Write an email asking a satisfied customer of [PRODUCT/SERVICE] for a testimonial. The email should: feel personal and genuine, tell them exactly what you're asking for (a 2–3 sentence quote about their experience and result), make it easy to say yes, and offer a simple format they can follow. Under 150 words. Tone: warm and direct.

D30About Page Bio

Prompt
Write an About page bio for [NAME], a [TITLE/ROLE] who helps [TARGET AUDIENCE] achieve [OUTCOME]. Include: what they do, who they help, why they do it (brief personal story), and a credibility point or social proof element. End with a soft CTA to [ACTION]. Length: 200–250 words. Tone: [TONE] — first person.

D31Sales Page Closing Argument

Prompt
Write the closing section of a sales page for [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. This is the last section before the buy button. It should: recap the core promise, address the last remaining objection ("I'm not sure if this is right for me"), create urgency without fake scarcity, and end with a direct CTA. Length: 150–200 words. Tone: confident, [TONE].

D32Call-to-Action Button Copy (10 Options)

Prompt
Write 10 CTA button copy options for [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. The desired action is [WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO]. Vary the approaches: some action-oriented, some benefit-oriented, some urgency-based, some curiosity-driven. Each option under 6 words. Format as a numbered list. I'll test the top performers.

Building a full marketing strategy with these tools? ChatGPT for Marketing covers 45 prompts for campaigns, ad copy, and growth.

Section EEditing, Rewriting & Polish

The difference between a good draft and a great piece is almost always editing. These prompts turn ChatGPT into your AI copy editor — tightening, toning, and polishing anything you hand it.

E33Rewrite Paragraph to Be 50% Shorter

Prompt
Rewrite the following paragraph to be 50% shorter without losing any key information or meaning. Keep the tone: [TONE]. Remove filler, passive voice, and redundant phrases. Here's the paragraph: [PASTE PARAGRAPH].

E34Change Tone (Formal → Casual or Casual → Professional)

Prompt
Rewrite the following copy in a [TARGET TONE] tone. Original tone: [CURRENT TONE]. Keep all the key information and meaning intact — only change the voice and language. Here's the copy: [PASTE COPY].

E35Add SEO Keywords Naturally

Prompt
Edit the following paragraph to naturally include the keyword "[TARGET KEYWORD]" and related terms "[RELATED KEYWORD 1]", "[RELATED KEYWORD 2]". Do not keyword-stuff — the additions should feel like a human wrote them. Show me the edited version with keywords bolded so I can review placement. Here's the paragraph: [PASTE PARAGRAPH].

E36Improve Headline Click-Through

Prompt
I have a headline that isn't performing well: "[CURRENT HEADLINE]". Rewrite it 5 ways to improve click-through rate. For each version, briefly explain the psychological trigger it uses (curiosity, urgency, benefit, social proof, etc.). Target audience: [TARGET AUDIENCE].

E37Fix Passive Voice Throughout

Prompt
Rewrite the following copy to eliminate passive voice. Replace every passive construction with an active one. Keep the meaning identical, keep the length similar, and maintain the [TONE] voice. Show me only the rewritten version — no explanation needed. Here's the copy: [PASTE COPY].

E38Add Emotional Resonance to Dry Copy

Prompt
The following copy is accurate but reads too dry and clinical. Rewrite it to have more emotional resonance — make the reader feel something. Add a specific detail, a relatable scenario, or language that speaks to the reader's deeper motivation: [UNDERLYING DESIRE OR FEAR]. Keep factual claims intact. Here's the original: [PASTE COPY].

E39Turn Bullet Points into Flowing Prose

Prompt
Turn the following bullet points into a flowing, readable paragraph (or two). Keep all the information but make it feel like it was written by a human, not assembled by a robot. Maintain [TONE] voice throughout. Bullets: [PASTE BULLETS].

E40Write 3 Alternative Versions of Any Paragraph

Prompt
Write 3 alternative versions of the following paragraph. Each version should convey the same core message but with a meaningfully different approach: Version 1 — shorter and punchier, Version 2 — more story-driven and emotional, Version 3 — more data/credibility-focused. Maintain [TONE]. Original paragraph: [PASTE PARAGRAPH].

Using AI writing tools to maximize productivity across your whole day? AI Tools for Productivity covers the complete workflow.


The 30-Minute Writing Sprint

The best AI writers aren't spending hours prompting and editing. They're running a tight workflow that gets from blank page to publishable piece in 30 minutes. Here's how:

Thirty minutes. Five prompts. A complete, publishable blog post.

Step 1

Pick Your Topic + Angle (2 min — Prompt A1)

Use A1 to generate a full blog post outline in under 2 minutes. Drop in your keyword, audience, and tone, and you'll get a structured framework with every section mapped out before you write a single word. The outline is your map — don't skip it.

Step 2

Write the Intro (5 min — Prompt A2)

Use A2 to generate 3 different hook options. You'll get a stat-led version, a pain-point version, and a bold contrarian version. Pick the one that fits your angle best — or blend two of them. Your intro is done in 5 minutes.

Step 3

Draft the Body (15 min — Prompt A3/A5/A6)

Work through the body sections using A3 for transitions, A5 for any listicle sections, and A6 if you want to add a personal story element. Each prompt takes 60–90 seconds to run. The body writes itself once the structure is locked.

Step 4

Write the Conclusion + CTA (3 min — Prompt A4)

Use A4 with your topic and desired action filled in. You get a clean 3-point summary, a benefit reinforcement, and a clear CTA — all in one prompt. Done.

Step 5

Polish and Publish (5 min — Prompt E33/E37/E38)

Run the draft through E33 (cut filler), E37 (kill passive voice), and E38 (add emotional punch to anything that reads too dry). Then run it through Grammarly for a final clean pass. Publish.

That's a complete, polished blog post in 30 minutes. Not a first draft — a publishable piece. The system works because the prompts do the heavy lifting on structure and language, and you're in the editorial seat.


Get the Full Prompt Library

The 40 prompts above are a taste of what's possible. NovaFlow's AI writing prompt packs go deeper — with structured prompts built specifically for writing, marketing, social media, business development, and more.

NovaFlow — AI Tools That Work

Less Guessing. More Writing. Better Output.

The writers and marketers getting more done aren't using better tools — they're using better prompts. These 40 prompts are the foundation. The full prompt library is the system.

Start Writing Faster

The blank page problem is solved. You now have 40 structured prompts that work across every major writing format — blog posts, social media, emails, and marketing copy. Use them, save hours, and ship more.

For marketing-specific writing, see ChatGPT for marketing. If you're a freelance writer or copywriter, see ChatGPT for freelancers. And if you're a founder using these tools to build a business, ChatGPT for entrepreneurs covers the full strategy stack.

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