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Dear Diary

Dear Diary

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Written by Stephanie
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Before you write a novel in diary form, here are some thoughts to consider. There are several drawbacks to telling a story through a diary. First, the narrator has to explain things to herself that she already knows, and this strains credibility. Second, there is no relief from the first-person confessional narrative, which can make a character seem too whiny after awhile. Third, the reader is distanced from the action. When everything is told to us secondhand, we aren’t allowed to perceive things for ourselves. Young readers prefer immediacy and being able to draw their own conclusions about the characters and situations. They want to walk in the protagonist's shoes through the course of the book and not be reminded that they are an outside observer. Diary entries have their place—they can be used as one form of narrative in a novel that also has immediate scenes--but beware of their limiting qualities. They should perform an important function, such as shedding new light on a scene we just read, or revealing the truth about an unreliable narrator. For an example of how diary entries can enhance a novel for young readers, take a look at FIRE FROM THE ROCK by Sharon M. Draper. Fire from the Rock Tag it: ?
Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 March 2008 )

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