Why?
Why do people write online diaries? Why would they put their most intimate thoughts online? Why would they write about things they wouldn't tell their mothers about? You'd probably be surprised to find out that most online diarists are not eccentric or flamboyant people. Most are regular, everyday people just like you. Some are single people looking to find themselves, some are business people trying to deal with their stressful lives, some are parents who like to talk about their kids.
Weblogs
Some people chooose to write a weblog instead of an online diary. A weblog, or blog, is great for people who don't have the time to create an entire Web site and keep it updated. There are many sites that allow you to write your own weblog on their server for free. All you have to do is sign up and start writing. Updating is done easily in just a few minutes. Some of these sites even have software you can download that allows you to upload your daily entries right from your desktop without having to log into their site first.
Some popular weblog hosting sites are Blogger, Live Journal and Open Diary. They all offer online weblogs that are easy to update and easy to use. Which one is best for you is a matter of opinion. If you want to have an online diary but don't have time to create and update a Web site then I encourage you to look through these sites, or one of the other weblog hosting sites and choose the one you like best.
Get Personal
If you want something much more personal, something that says who you are and not just what you do then you should consider creating an online diary. An online diary is more personal than a weblog because you add more to it than just your entries. You will have a homepage that tells people what they will find on your site complete with clip art or pictures that set the mood for your site. There will be a biography page telling the reader who they are reading about and what to expect to see on your site. There may even be essays by you on topics you are interested in or a photo album to make your site complete.
You Can Do It Too
Anyone can write an online diary if they want to. It's really not that hard. If you want to create one yourself you can follow this Online Diary Tutorial. If the tutorial looks too long or too hard to keep up with you could sign up for the 5 week email course. It takes you through setting up an online diary one step at a time over a 5 week period so it's easier to keep up with.
Don't Be Afraid
If you're afraid to create an online diary because you think your friends and family might find it and read it, don't be. Many online diarists use a fake name so no one will ever know who they are if they don't want them too. They also use an online email site for their site's email using their fake name so the site can't be traced to them.
Some people have the opposite need. They use passwords for their site because they don't want strangers to read what they write, online people they know and a select few on the Net.
Writing your diary online does not make you an outlandish, bizzare or freakish person. It just makes you a person who wants to create a Web site so you can tell all about yourself, your family and your interests. It makes you a person who wants to keep track of your life in a new, modern way and doesn't mind if other people read it and are, possibly, inspired by it.
