64 You Have a Book in You took place along the way, that was just a positive side e昀昀ect. But just because everybody was expected to do it doesn’t mean that everybody did. Let’s face it: for many people, journaling is not easy. Mark Twain joked about how impossible it is. But it really isn’t impossible, and in terms of your writing career, journaling is de昀椀nitely worth a serious try. Oprah Winfrey has said there are two things that have shaped her life as an author. 吀栀e 昀椀rst is her decision to read two books every week—which I hope you’ll also do. Secondly, Oprah credits her commitment to journ- aling every day. Her journals ultimately became books, shows, magazine articles, and even businesses. She’s received one of the highest advances ever for a book proj- ect. All this comes from her journals. Unlike most people, Oprah doesn’t write about what’s already happened to her. Oprah journals her future. 吀栀e more you journal your future—the more you put it right there on the page—the bigger and better, the brighter and grander, the more meaningful and powerful your future will be. A Writing Secret from Detective Columbo Just when you think your book is done, it’s not done! 吀栀is is a very important technique for ending your book with a big bang.