At their best, diaries and journals allow us to glimpse the interior worlds of other human beings and, in so doing, shed light on the human condition. In this course, we'll read the work of famous published diarists and keep journals of our own. We'll also look at some contemporary blogs, emphasizing local bloggers, and discuss blogging as a literary artform. Throughout the course, we'll consider these questions: What literary merit do diaries, journals and blogs have? How might an awareness of audience affect a diarist's approach? What kind of structure should a journal have? How can journal entries be used as the building blocks for larger, more “serious” literary projects? And last but not least, what can these readings teach us about what is means to be human?