How to create your own diary online

You don't need a guide with fifteen steps. Pick a platform, make an account, write something. That's really it. But here are the details if you want them.

Pick a platform

For actual diaries (not blogs), go with something made for the purpose: OhDiary, Penzu, Day One, Journey. They're designed for private writing, not publishing to an audience. WordPress works too but it's more than you need.

Set it up

Make an account. Turn on whatever lock your platform offers – password, PIN, Face ID, whatever. Put it somewhere you'll see it (home screen on your phone). That's the setup.

Write something

Doesn't have to be profound. "Started an online diary today. Not sure what I'll write about yet." Done. First entry complete. The blank page is no longer blank.

Keep your entries safe

Two things matter: privacy and backups. Make sure the platform encrypts your data (you don't want it readable if they get hacked). And make sure entries are backed up somewhere – cloud sync, exports, whatever. You'll care about this in five years when you have hundreds of entries.

That's basically it

The rest – adding photos, organizing with tags, reviewing old entries – you'll figure out as you go. The hard part isn't setup. It's writing regularly. Start with that.