Writing a diary entry

A diary is for you. A diary entry is written for yourself. It is private and honest, and it can say how you felt.

Layout:

• at the top: the date and day on the left, the time on the right: '26 April 20xx, Saturday … 8:00 p.m.';
• then 'Dear Diary,' and begin.

Start with a line about the day: 'Today, I feel, was a special day…'

Then tell what happened, with real details:

• whom you helped;
• the situation they were in;
• the place and time.

'An elderly lady outside the vegetable market, at about five in the evening' tells far more than 'someone somewhere'.

Describe how you helped (what you actually did), and how the other person reacted. What they said or did makes the entry come alive.

Then say how you felt during and after. These are often different: nervous as you went up to help, glad afterwards. Write both.

End by saying why you would do it again.

Useful phrases:

• 'It all started when…'
• 'At that moment, I realised…'
• 'A wave of relief washed over me…'
• 'This experience taught me the value of…'
• 'In the end, I realised…'