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instantly exposed
Whether they're your most intimate thoughts or most mundane daily details, it no longer takes a computer science degree to publish them online. A number of websites make keeping an online diary as easy as type-and-click.

		diary-x.com
		Easy enough for the beginner, but versatile and powerful enough to make even übercoders drool, Diary-X is as robust as it gets. The site offers e-mail (user@diary-x.com), easy URLs (user.diary-x.com), visitor statistics, the ability to password protect your journal (20+ reader accounts) or just individual entries (one passcode), automatic previous/next links and versatile archives (including a monthly calendar display), user-definable variables to automate repetitive coding (to link a favorite site, for example), multiple and interchangable templates and full customization. The system writes flat-text files that are called by a script, which makes archiving easier but makes linking individual entries more difficult. Journal contents are also thus invisible to most search engines. Optional paid accounts include a host of additional features, including the ability to submit entries via e-mail. Advertising is minimal and limited to users (not visitors). Diary-X is based on a powerful (and also free) script that allows webmasters to automate journals on their own site. In Short: Professionally friendly, easy to master, and incredibly versatile. Not a host you'll easily outgrow. [Discuss!]

		diaryland.com
		Diaryland is one of the first sites to bring online journaling to the masses, with a scandalously simple interface. Multiple e-mail aliases (custom@user.diaryland.com), easy URLs (user.diaryland.com), limited password protection of entire journals (maximum 10 approved-reader accounts), a handful of templates and basic customization, and a fairly active user community. The site recently partnered with NotifyList.Com and SignMyGuestBook.Com to expand user services. It writes static HTML files, allowing indexing by search engines. Advertising is moderate and limited to users (not visitors); the site does accept donations and provides added features (such as visitor statistics) for [b]optional paid accounts[/b]. Archive indexing is rudimentary, but functional. In Short: Cheesy design, but it's as simple as it looks. Great for absolute beginners. [Discuss!]

		livejournal.com
		A different breed of journal site, melding diaries and 'blogs (short blurbs/posts with links) and offering the ability to post from a small program installed on your computer as well as via the web. Has free and paid (approx. $2/month) accounts, with available templates and customization severely limited for free accounts. Versatile friends network (automatic, mutual links between users), support for reader comments on each entry, limited password protection (based on approved 'friends' other Livejournal users only), easy searching of journals, and a new topics directory to find entries on specific subjects (i.e. movie reviews). Built in support for a handful of user photos and a mood indicator even text messaging to certain pagers and cellular phones. Journals can be indexed by search engines, but the site offers easy toggling of a spider block. Advertising is absent, but may turn up on free-account journals in he future. [b]Optional paid accounts[/b] bring more features and placement faster servers. In Short: Clunky interface belies almost too many bells and whistles. Suited to those who write best in small bites. [Discuss!]

		scribble.nu
		Review pending. [Discuss!]

		opendiary.com
		Review pending. [Discuss!]

		mydeardiary.com
		Review pending. [Discuss!]

		deardiary.net
		Review pending. [Discuss!]

		my-journal.com
		Though only recently launched (only five journals as of this writing), this service stands out for two reasons. First, up-front acknowledgement of money matters: all accounts are paid $1/month, subsequent months free with a certain number of entries posted and a future rewards programs for authors is promised. Secondly, a stated focus on adult journalers... if not adult content. Authors can easily post via the web. Also, readers must register, but that's free, at least for now. As the service is fee based, there is no advertising. In Short: The jury's still out, but it has a refreshingly narrow focus. Hopefully not only a spot for amateur smut. [Discuss!]

Updated: 24 August 2001

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