How it works
How Diarly works.
Three steps. No surprises. From blank page to published — or kept entirely to yourself.
Step 01
Claim a pen name
On signup you choose a pen name and lock it in. It can be your real name, a pseudonym, or something deliberately anonymous like 'quietink' or 'fieldnotes'. The handle is yours for as long as the account is.
We support one identity per account today. Multiple personas — separate diaries under separate names — are on the roadmap for late 2026.
Step 02
Write your diary
Every entry is private by default. The editor is calm on purpose — no scoreboards, no streaks, no manipulative nudges. Mood, tags, and a quiet word counter, if you want them.
Before you publish, the Privacy Helper finds names, employers, places, and dates that could give you away. One tap masks them, and the alias sticks across every future entry — so 'Sarah → [Person A]' stays consistent across your whole archive.
Step 03
Share your way
Four privacy levels, chosen per entry: Private (default), Anonymous Public, Public, and Subscribers Only (launching with creator subscriptions in Q3 2026).
Anonymous Public means readers see the entry under your pen name with the masking applied — no follower graph crossover, no exposed identity. You stay in control of what gets seen and by whom.
Free during pre-launch. Pen names locked in on signup.