Yes, it’s true. I have written in a diary daily for 50 years (if you do the math, that means since I was 13) and have decided to donate my diaries posthumously to the Iowa Women’s Archives. You can read all about it soon in Welcome to Diary-land, my nonfiction book to be published by Beacon Press about the value of diaries to their keepers and others. The book explores the diary as an enduring yet perpetually evolving and unique vehicle for narrating life as it happens on the day, for creating self, for discovering meaning and safeguarding memories.
Check out the interview I did during the early days of this project with Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa program. Here’s the promo:
The Benefits Of A Diary
We are living through strange and difficult times. This is a period in history that will not be forgotten and you can contribute to the historical record by keeping a diary.
Betsy Rubiner has been keeping a diary for 47 years. She is working on a memoir that chronicles her journey of practicing daily writing and the process of donating her journals to the Iowa Women’s Archive. Rubiner also offers several tips for starting a diary and the value it can bring to your life.