Diary-keeping

Advice for keeping a diary

It is interesting, keeping a diary. For one thing is how we describe it. A diary, unlike a book, is not a project. It has no end goal, no ultimate objective and no real coherence, unless the writer chooses for it to have one.

No one would describe 'keeping' a book. But we will say we are keeping a diary. I am sure that this wordchoice is in fact simply shortening 'upkeep'. One does upkeep a diary. It is the written version of evolution, in a weird sense. It tracks and records the evolution of the individual, and the world around them.

Now, I will briefly describe my own diary keeping to give you an idea. I do not aim to write in it every day. For one thing, I don't believe every day needs to be recorded. Some days are boring, or not worth writing about. I will write an entry sometimes just once a month but at times of stress or great activity, I will write almost every day.

(If you keep a diary, by the way, don't feel you have to enter something each day or even each week.)

Most of my entries will first bring me up to date and mention any events that mattered to me. Then, I will talk about a subject. My recent entries concern many things, from the recent election to the upcoming anniversary of the London bombings. Sometimes I will go on a tangent about a subject, or an entry will begin with a cold open, not mentioning any events up to that point. Things I won't record, funnily enough, are things like my college work, because I don't find it all that interesting or feel that it will help me to write about it. Some meetings with friends go unmentioned. I have, in the past, made a quick biography of people close to me at that point.

A diary does not need to have a focus. It does not have to be written under the assumption it will one day be read. I used to think I would have to burn my diaries before my demise. I now believe this to be irresponsible and greedy. I will let people read it...after I'm dead. After I'm dead, my life can be read from them if anyone wants to. I just don't want to know about it. 

Another thing for me is that I don't address anyone. Anne Frank had 'Kitty' and that's fine for Anne Frank. I personally don't have an imaginary friend I write for. This does not make me superior, just different. I write with some idea that I will go back and read it. I have re-read my diaries twice before, for reasons I won't mention. If you want to address someone, feel free. But it is not required.

What you write about doesn't have to be emotional or even based in what you publicly do. My Diary usually is filled with what I privately think and what I don't feel I can discuss with others. I also will write rough drafts of essays or stories if I am so compelled but don't have my laptop at hand. I have been reading George Orwell's diaries and have been surprised to find that most of his entries are simply about his gardening. He hardly mentions much else unless he is keeping his political diary. It does not need to be interesting to read, even to you. It can be just an outlet, or a way of keeping track of a boring and/or everyday task, like Mr Orwell's gardening. 

That being said, you can write with intent. By which I mean that you can write as if someone else might read it. It can be good. How clearly can you read your past entries? How easily can you place yourself into your past through your own words? 

Of course, not everyone can write physically. I personally never write college work or even my fiction by hand. This is because my handwriting is embarrassing, a half legible scrawl that was formed partly from being born with under-developed muscles and partly from horrible teaching and guidance on my handwriting. So, I much prefer typing everything else. I still write by hand because of the physical feel of my diary. The weight of the page pasted with words, the sense of time, of personal experience, that paper and book provide. That and it doesn't require any kind of outer assistance. A pen is all that's needed.