How to Start Writing a Diary Like Book

Last Updated: November 3, 2020

Some of the most well-known books written are diary-like. Consider "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", "Dork Diaries","Ally's World", and "Dear Dumb Diary." Why not write a best-seller about your everyday life, just like a diary?

Steps

1
Decide a topic. Will it be about the life of a boy or girl? Teen or child? Adult or Elder? Or will it be about yourself? Decide where they live and their characteristics, like name and hobbies. Come up with everything they like and dislike, and spend a lot of time dwelling on it.
2
Come up with the other characters. The family and friends are the most important people in their lives, and they are the people who make things very interesting in the storyline. Decide the people around them, like the parents and friends, family and enemies.

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3
Propose a basic storyline. If you just want it to be about their basic life, that's fine, but you might run out of things to say, and the story might become dull. Begin to think of what your character's life revolves around, whether it's a pet, family member, grades, friendship, etc., and think of a story to tell about it. Begin to think more about your idea and then write down your ideas at the moment for their life (remember, you can change it along the way).
4
Decide the title and cover art. Either draw it or take a photograph. Remember, it is a diary, so try to make it like a cartoon or something that relates to this person's life. Maybe make it look like the cover of a diary of something. Then, begin to make illustrations in the book, if needed.
5
Start writing! Don't forget to label the days and make each entry about a page long. Also decide how long you want the diary to last for, whether it's a year, a decade, or until you run out of paper.
- Realize the format of the book. There shouldn't be any chapters or anything in the book because it is a diary. Try keeping a diary to see how a diary really works.
6
Get it published! Try reading, "How to Publish a Book" for more info.

Community Q&A

Question

If it's about lifestyles of girls what should I put in the book?

Community Answer

Add in a few things that girls commonly go through that might pique the interest of the reader, such as a secret crush, a few mean girls she has to contend with, and a strict teacher.
Question

Do I need to make lots of simple problems and one big problem, or just one big problem?

Community Answer

It's really up to you, but books like "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and "Dork Diaries" have lots of small problems that build up into a larger one. If you add too many problems, though, the book might be hard for the reader to follow.
Question

How can I make a book like Dork Diaries?

Community Answer

Just start keeping a diary, writing the most interesting things that happen to you each day, then embellish it by writing things that are more outrageous, funny, or interesting.