I suspect many journal writers want absolute privacy for their writing, but are secretly curious about what other people write in their journals. I know I do, which is one of the reasons why I am currently reading The Assassin’s Cloak (extracts from lots of journals arranged by day).
There is an online exhibition at the Morgan Library in New York City showcasing 11 diaries from 1600s to mid 1900s. As well as a description of each writer there is an extract shown in both the original writing and type. My favourite is Bartholomew Sharpe, I love the idea of a pirate keeping a journal.
Several of these diaries have been gifted to the library and it started me thinking about whether it is something I would consider. To be honest I haven’t thought about what will happen to my journals when I die, apart from recognising they would be useful for someone researching my family tree. At the moment all my journals will be left to my husband or children, however I think I should consider what I would like (or not like) to happen with them, for instance would I want them to be published or used for research.
Have you thought about what you would like to happen with your writing? How do you plan for this to happen?