Greetings to fellow writers, diarists and aspiring writers.

It is my dream that everybody considers diarizing their life.

There are several reasons why you should consider writing a diary. Everyone starts off by saying, ‘oh I couldn’t possibly think of enough interesting things to write about’. You will be amazed what happens when you set your mind to it. Tell your brain to give you 500 words or 1000 words or whatever you want and over a period of time it will reconfigure your mind to do just that.

Reason 1 – record keeping for its own sake
It’s a bit like a calendar only more so. You can refer to any event to see the details you have forgotten
Reason 2 – keeping your family and friends in touch
You don’t have time to keep your family, friends and associates in touch with everything you do, so this is a very handy way of disseminating information. From time to time you can remind them about the diary and ask them to visit it if they are interested
Reason 3 – enjoying the memory. Re-reading something will rekindle your fond memories and you can enjoy it again perhaps with embellished understanding bearing in mind events that will have happened after the event
Reason 4 – the act of writing a diary is good therapy. You don’t know what you know until you have to put it in writing and you will get inspired with more nuances as you write. You will just have to believe me on this one because it just happens.
Reason 5 – knowing that you are going to write a diary, it increases your observational powers. You are not doing something just for yourself but for everybody who might read it, it enhance your perception
Reason 6 – an example of honesty and clarity
If you can be honest with your hesitations, your doubts and your triumphs you will set a good example to others and give them the courage to be honest about themselves

Why not choose social media? You would not write a book with a few sentences on each of 100 post-it notes. Setting up a website is something that can be done at a very small cost. Certain organizations will even give you a free website but I would advise you to have your own domain name, one that can be easily searched, consisting of your name followed by .com or .net or .info or co.uk one of them will be available. WordPress is as good as any for setting up such a simple thing. Look at this website and you will see what can be done

If anyone would like to join a small writers group or simply get some encouragement, hints and tips, then write to me or do a Google search.

If you have not visited the diary of the man himself, google Samuel Pepys or visit my go-to website, The Diary of Samuel Pepys

If you would like to have a ZOOM meeting, our next meeting will be advised.  Please sign up to become a subscriber and I will send you the access details shortly before.   You don’t have to be writing a diary though that helps. Even if you are thinking of writing one then that qualifies you. We are all in this together so let us share what we know.

Happy writing and lots of love to you all

Brian Snellgrove

A comment from ‘Lee’

Tell us about your interest in Diaries and whereabouts you live.:

Hi Brian,

I decided to take a look at your diary writing having enjoyed so much getting to know you through the SMN these last months, wishing I had discovered SMN sooner. But I’m here now and that’s what counts. I find diaries and letter writing a lovely art.

I’ve kept diaries on and off over my lifetime since I discovered Anais Nin as a young teenager. She was a huge inspiration to me.

 

I lacked confidence in myself as a writer, having grown up in a bohemian circle that included many interesting people like Henry Miller coming to our house and my cousin eventually living with him for a time. I was named after the poet Robinson Jeffers in whose house I spent many a day and over night. At any rate, I’ve been recently rediscovering my own writing and poetry and discovered it isn’t as terrible as I used to think! And it’s nice to connect with other people who share such a passion.

I’d just like to add that I have enjoyed your Friday glass of wine group at SMN and want to say you’ve done a super job. Maybe you could lead your own group there? Lee xo