Dear Diary

Author Meg Cabot is taking her love of journal writing to the streets, so to speak, working with 140 libraries nationwide and the Young Adult Library Services Association on journal writing workshops.

How has journal writing been valuable to you personally?

When I was about nine, my grandmother gave me my first diary—one of those little Holly Hobbie ones with the little lock. I’ve been keeping a diary since then, and I’ve never stopped. As I started writing books for kids and teenagers, going back and reading the stuff I wrote when I was that age has been invaluable to me.

Have you ever regretted anything you’ve written?

Oh, God, yeah! The stuff I wrote as a teenager was horrible. But if you’re writing about stuff you’re feeling right at that moment, and you’re venting your emotions, it’s OK.

What else can we expect at your workshops?

Some librarians are having the kids make their own journals. There are also little journal-making kits some people have donated. One of the things I always recommend is not having a journal that looks like a journal, because my little brothers used to sneak into my room and read mine. I had to keep a fake journal to distract them. So I always say, “Write in a normal notebook.” If it says “Algebra” on it, no one’s going to read it.