How to Start a Diary
Decide what sort of diary you want., Choose a paper diary., Purchase your writing instrument., Create a schedule., Set time limits for your writing., Choose a writing location., Don’t give up if you get off track., Start with a quote or a poem...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Decide what sort of diary you want.
There are plenty of options for keeping a diary – you don’t need to stick with just a paper version.
You can keep a traditional paper diary, but you can also use a website or blog that is private and password protected.
You can also simply use a document on your computer.Paper notebooks give you total control and privacy, but you won’t have a backup option unless you make copies.Keep in mind that anything you store online is susceptible to hacking, so even if your online diary is password protected or private, there’s always a chance someone could get in. -
Step 2: Choose a paper diary.
If you choose to keep a paper diary, you’ll need to actually purchase a diary.
You can use any paper notebook as a diary, even something as simple as a one subject spiral notebook or a composition notebook.
But you can also go a little bit fancier and choose a leather bound notebook or a notebook with thicker, higher quality paper.Some great options for paper diaries include the 'Leuchtturm' 1917 notebook, Moleskin notebooks, or Whitelines notebooks.Most stores have a notebook section – browse the shelves and see if anything pops out at you.
If you don’t love your diary, you probably won’t write in it.
To increase the security of a paper diary, you can purchase one with a lock on it.
Just make sure you keep the key in a secure place. , You have a lot to choose from when it comes to selecting what you’ll use for writing in your diary.
You can use a regular ballpoint pen or a pencil, including those you might have at home.
You can also mix it up with colored pens, fountain pens, and even colored pencils and markers.
The more you enjoy what you’re writing with, the more likely you’ll write regularly. , If you want to ensure that you write every day, schedule specific writing time.
Maybe you’ll like to write first thing in the morning about the day before, or maybe writing in your diary at the end of the day is a good way for you to decompress.
When you write is not as important as making sure that you write every day.To make sure you stick to your writing schedule, you can use a smartphone, your watch, or your computer to set a reminder to write every day at the same time. , On some days you might find it hard to write and other days you might have so much to say you feel like you could write all day.
Setting a time limit can give your writing structure and make it easier to turn into a daily routine.
Start with ten to fifteen minutes per day.
If you find you are always running out of time, you can always increase the amount of time you spend writing.Setting a timer can help you write within the time limit without having to check your watch every few minutes. , Writing in the same location every day can help you stay committed to writing regularly.
If you’re going to the same location every day to write, it will create a pattern and give your writing even more structure.
It doesn’t matter where you write – it can be at a coffee shop or a room in your home – as long as you always write in the same place. , It can be easy to give up on keeping your diary if you put too much pressure on yourself.
It’s okay if you occasionally skip a day or two – once you get back into writing, simply jot down short summaries of the days you missed., Sitting in front of a brand-new, blank diary can be a little bit intimidating.
If you find yourself stuck, start by writing down one of your favorite quotes or poems.
This can help you feel inspired and also takes the pressure off of you to write the first entry in your diary.You can also copy down new poems or quotes as you go. , Make sure you date every entry you make in your diary.
This can be useful if you’re trying to remember when a specific event happened or just to see how your writing – and therefore your life – have evolved over time., Once you begin writing in your diary, don’t feel like you have to commit to one particular type of entry all the way through your diary.
You can use traditional paragraph-like entries, but you can also add to-do lists, bullet points, drawings, or even your own poetry.
Your diary should be a place for you to record your thoughts, and your thoughts might take different forms on different days., You don’t need to write pages and pages every time you sit down to write in your diary.
One paragraph that sums up your day is plenty, especially when you first start writing.
You don't always have to write short entries, however.
Sometimes you'll find you have a lot to say about your day or something in particular that happened.
It's okay to write long entries in those cases. , Some days you might have so much
- or so little
- on your mind that it’s hard to even know where to begin.
Try by writing “So right now, I’m…” and just write down whatever comes to your mind first.
This can be a great way to get started and you might find that the words flow a lot more easily after that., Sometimes you might wish you could say certain things to certain people.
Maybe it’s someone you can’t or don’t talk to anymore, or maybe it’s someone you don’t see regularly.
Maybe there are things you need to tell yourself.
Using a diary entry to write to other people can bring you closure and help you work out your feelings.If you're not quite sure how to start this type of entry, simply format it as if you're actually writing a letter, with the date and address of the person you're writing to at the top. , This sounds counterintuitive, but if there’s an event you’d like to forget, it might actually help to write it down.
Once you get it out of your head and onto paper, your brain might not hold so tightly to it.For example, let's say something really embarrassing happened to you at school or work.
Writing down all the details helps you get them all out of your head, and might prevent you from reliving the event over and over. , A great way to add to your daily entries is to list the things that you’re grateful for that day.
These can be as simple as “the sun was shining” or as detailed as a conversation that you had with a friend.
It also helps you keep track of the good things in your life., The best part of keeping a diary is that you can be brutally honest in it without having to worry about being judged.
You can write down your deepest fears and biggest secrets without worrying that your diary is going to tell someone else.
If you feel like you have to edit yourself, you might be less likely to use the diary, so staying open is key. -
Step 3: Purchase your writing instrument.
-
Step 4: Create a schedule.
-
Step 5: Set time limits for your writing.
-
Step 6: Choose a writing location.
-
Step 7: Don’t give up if you get off track.
-
Step 8: Start with a quote or a poem.
-
Step 9: Date your entries.
-
Step 10: Mix up your entry formats.
-
Step 11: Write short entries.
-
Step 12: Try the same prompt if you get stuck.
-
Step 13: Write to others.
-
Step 14: Write about something you want to forget.
-
Step 15: Record what you’re grateful for.
-
Step 16: Be open and honest.
Detailed Guide
There are plenty of options for keeping a diary – you don’t need to stick with just a paper version.
You can keep a traditional paper diary, but you can also use a website or blog that is private and password protected.
You can also simply use a document on your computer.Paper notebooks give you total control and privacy, but you won’t have a backup option unless you make copies.Keep in mind that anything you store online is susceptible to hacking, so even if your online diary is password protected or private, there’s always a chance someone could get in.
If you choose to keep a paper diary, you’ll need to actually purchase a diary.
You can use any paper notebook as a diary, even something as simple as a one subject spiral notebook or a composition notebook.
But you can also go a little bit fancier and choose a leather bound notebook or a notebook with thicker, higher quality paper.Some great options for paper diaries include the 'Leuchtturm' 1917 notebook, Moleskin notebooks, or Whitelines notebooks.Most stores have a notebook section – browse the shelves and see if anything pops out at you.
If you don’t love your diary, you probably won’t write in it.
To increase the security of a paper diary, you can purchase one with a lock on it.
Just make sure you keep the key in a secure place. , You have a lot to choose from when it comes to selecting what you’ll use for writing in your diary.
You can use a regular ballpoint pen or a pencil, including those you might have at home.
You can also mix it up with colored pens, fountain pens, and even colored pencils and markers.
The more you enjoy what you’re writing with, the more likely you’ll write regularly. , If you want to ensure that you write every day, schedule specific writing time.
Maybe you’ll like to write first thing in the morning about the day before, or maybe writing in your diary at the end of the day is a good way for you to decompress.
When you write is not as important as making sure that you write every day.To make sure you stick to your writing schedule, you can use a smartphone, your watch, or your computer to set a reminder to write every day at the same time. , On some days you might find it hard to write and other days you might have so much to say you feel like you could write all day.
Setting a time limit can give your writing structure and make it easier to turn into a daily routine.
Start with ten to fifteen minutes per day.
If you find you are always running out of time, you can always increase the amount of time you spend writing.Setting a timer can help you write within the time limit without having to check your watch every few minutes. , Writing in the same location every day can help you stay committed to writing regularly.
If you’re going to the same location every day to write, it will create a pattern and give your writing even more structure.
It doesn’t matter where you write – it can be at a coffee shop or a room in your home – as long as you always write in the same place. , It can be easy to give up on keeping your diary if you put too much pressure on yourself.
It’s okay if you occasionally skip a day or two – once you get back into writing, simply jot down short summaries of the days you missed., Sitting in front of a brand-new, blank diary can be a little bit intimidating.
If you find yourself stuck, start by writing down one of your favorite quotes or poems.
This can help you feel inspired and also takes the pressure off of you to write the first entry in your diary.You can also copy down new poems or quotes as you go. , Make sure you date every entry you make in your diary.
This can be useful if you’re trying to remember when a specific event happened or just to see how your writing – and therefore your life – have evolved over time., Once you begin writing in your diary, don’t feel like you have to commit to one particular type of entry all the way through your diary.
You can use traditional paragraph-like entries, but you can also add to-do lists, bullet points, drawings, or even your own poetry.
Your diary should be a place for you to record your thoughts, and your thoughts might take different forms on different days., You don’t need to write pages and pages every time you sit down to write in your diary.
One paragraph that sums up your day is plenty, especially when you first start writing.
You don't always have to write short entries, however.
Sometimes you'll find you have a lot to say about your day or something in particular that happened.
It's okay to write long entries in those cases. , Some days you might have so much
- or so little
- on your mind that it’s hard to even know where to begin.
Try by writing “So right now, I’m…” and just write down whatever comes to your mind first.
This can be a great way to get started and you might find that the words flow a lot more easily after that., Sometimes you might wish you could say certain things to certain people.
Maybe it’s someone you can’t or don’t talk to anymore, or maybe it’s someone you don’t see regularly.
Maybe there are things you need to tell yourself.
Using a diary entry to write to other people can bring you closure and help you work out your feelings.If you're not quite sure how to start this type of entry, simply format it as if you're actually writing a letter, with the date and address of the person you're writing to at the top. , This sounds counterintuitive, but if there’s an event you’d like to forget, it might actually help to write it down.
Once you get it out of your head and onto paper, your brain might not hold so tightly to it.For example, let's say something really embarrassing happened to you at school or work.
Writing down all the details helps you get them all out of your head, and might prevent you from reliving the event over and over. , A great way to add to your daily entries is to list the things that you’re grateful for that day.
These can be as simple as “the sun was shining” or as detailed as a conversation that you had with a friend.
It also helps you keep track of the good things in your life., The best part of keeping a diary is that you can be brutally honest in it without having to worry about being judged.
You can write down your deepest fears and biggest secrets without worrying that your diary is going to tell someone else.
If you feel like you have to edit yourself, you might be less likely to use the diary, so staying open is key.
About the Author
Jeffrey Murray
Creates helpful guides on lifestyle to inspire and educate readers.
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