Q&A for How to Keep a Secret Diary

Keep it out of sight when you are around them. Only pull it out when you are alone.

Find a good hiding place or always keep it with you.

Yes, that's fine. It's your journal and you can do whatever you'd like with it.

All you need is a pen and notebook or a book with a lock and key. Read the article for more suggestions.

Get a diary with a lock on it, and keep the key with you. Even if your family members find your diary, they won't be able to open it. You can also keep your diary at a trustworthy friend's house instead. Lastly, if you have a desk or locker at school, you can keep your diary in there, and write in it only while at school.

You could write using a code or, if you know multiple languages, try writing it in another language.

With a gel pen, it's difficult to write neatly. Even if you do, gel pens have a reputation for leaking and you can easily smudge your writing by accidentally running your hand over it.

You can tell them the truth and ask them not to invade your privacy, or you can deny that you have one and just keep it well-hidden.

Apologize. Class isn't the time for diary entries. Hopefully your teacher will be understanding and let it go.

I always draw a map, much like a treasure map that only I can understand. That way I can always locate my diary.

Try going on your computer really late at night or early in the morning when nobody's awake. If you have a laptop, use it in your bed, so if you think somebody's awake, you could hide it in your pillowcase. Also, a good idea is to clear your history every time you use your computer, in case your mom would check your history.

You can write whatever you want to write. It's your diary, and you have every right to express your feelings. Just make sure to hide your diary well if you don't want anyone to see what you've written!

It is your diary, so you can do whatever you want. If you have an important date to mark down, you may want to try adding a date to the top of the page.

My only real answer is to not use it in a public space. A personal item should be used when only you are present.

Scrapbooking paper or plain paper (colored or decorated with your own patterns) are perfect for covering. Use the type of book cover you'd use for school books to make your diary more inconspicuous.

You could get another notebook and make a new one, but keep writing in the old one and use it as a decoy.

Hide it. Refer to How to Hide Your Diary .

You can consult guides on how to improve your handwriting. Regardless, there's no shame in having a messy diary. If you write in it all the time, it's bound to be scratchy. You could get a new, fresh notebook and write everything over with improved handwriting. Maybe use a pencil, as pens can leak ink and that'll be hard to clean.

Write "Diary" on the front cover or tell your parents that it is a diary, or do both.

Look for them everywhere, and if you can't find them, try to pick the lock. If you cannot pick the lock, you may have to cut off the lock.

Of course you can still use it. You could make a new cover for it out of cardboard or construction paper, just so the pages are less likely to fall out.

You can either just start writing fresh from today or spend time writing about all the things that have happened since the last time you wrote.

If you have a backpack pocket you could put your keys there or hide them elsewhere.

It can be fun to write with a fountain pen, but it is not necessary. A normal pen will work just as well.

You can show it to your best friend if you want, because I doubt that your best friend would tell someone and talk behind your back. However, if your best friend is not good at keeping secrets I would refrain from showing him/her/them anything that can get you in trouble. Better yet, don't write bad things about your worst friend, and if you don't like that person much, don't be friends with them.

If she took your diary away, approach her after class and apologize again. Then ask her when you can have it back.

Yes. As this article said, the fancy one should be your decoy diary. Use a plain book to write your real thoughts, no one will ever suspect.

There are tons of diary or journal apps that you can download onto your computer from the associated App Store. You could also use a basic text program like Word.

You obviously trust the person, so tell them before you die where the diary is located. You can also include this info in your will.

Hide it somewhere better, or carry it with you. But still be wary and act as if you hid it in the same place. You could also leave a decoy diary there for him to find.