code: def to_dict(self):
      
      result = {"mapreduce_spec": self.mapreduce_spec.to_json_str(),
                "shard_id": self.shard_id,
                "slice_id": str(self.slice_id),
                "input_reader_state": self.input_reader.to_json_str(),
                "initial_input_reader_state":
                self.initial_input_reader.to_json_str(),
                "retries": str(self.retries)}
      if self.output_writer:
        result["output_writer_state"] = self.output_writer.to_json_str()
      serialized_handler = util.try_serialize_handler(self.handler)
      if serialized_handler:
        result["serialized_handler"] = serialized_handler
      return result
docs: Convert state to dictionary to save in task payload.