You can also buy a used book from a bookstore if you don’t want to ruin any of the ones you already own. There are a lot of videos and tutorials online on how to make a hollowed-out book that you can follow along with. To make sure your diary isn’t discovered, pick a book that you know your parents or siblings won’t want to borrow or read.
The trick is choosing a spot that no one else would look in. For instance, the bottom of your art supply box is great if you’re the only one who uses it, but not good if your sibling borrows it sometimes. Pick a container that completely camouflages your diary so you can’t see any part of it. Make sure that your diary doesn’t affect how the container looks, either. If the tissue box is bulging out from the size of the book, for example, your siblings may suspect something is hiding inside.
Put your diary in one of the top drawers of your dresser or desk if you have younger siblings who are more likely to get into bottom drawers.
Use strong tape, like duct tape or packing tape, if your diary is heavier. Avoid taping your diary underneath your bed. That’s an obvious place to hide it and it will likely get found.
For extra protection, place a rug over top of the floorboard. Be careful not to pull too hard on the floorboard when you’re placing your diary inside. You don’t want to damage the floor.
If you have a set of matching notebooks, use a similar one for your diary. For example, if all your notebooks are cat-themed, don’t make your diary a neon striped notebook. Go with another cat-themed one. You can even fill the first couple pages with fake notes so if someone opens it, they’ll think it’s just your science notebook, for instance.
Good options for boring covers are old textbooks or classic novels that most of your classmates wouldn’t want to read. Pick a book that’s realistic for you to be carrying around if you’re taking it to school. For instance, your dad’s book on how to fix plumbing problems might be super dull, but your friends will probably ask why you have it, drawing unwanted attention to your diary.
Design your fake diary to look as realistic as possible. You can even write “My Diary” on the front. Write a few pretend entries in your fake diary so it’s convincing if they open it up. Of course, don’t include any real secrets though!
If your parents or siblings use your laptop sometimes, set up a different login for them. You can create a guest login so they don’t have access to your personal files.
For example, instead of naming your file “My Diary,” name it something like “Biology Homework” instead. On some computers, you can hide entire folders, too. Right-click on the folder, then select “Properties. " There will be a box labeled “Hidden” or something similar that you can check. Now, nobody can see the folder. [6] X Research source
To password-protect a document, click “Preferences” on the main menu, then “Personal Settings” followed by “Security. ” Select “Password to Open” to require someone to know the password to even open the file.
If your diary is disguised, like in a notebook, you can write in it around other people as long as no one is close enough to see what you’re writing. When you’re at home, wait until your parents leave or until everyone else goes to bed before you break out your diary.
If someone asks what you’re doing, say something casual like, “Oh, nothing, just finishing up algebra homework for tomorrow. Cute shirt! Where did you get it?” Avoid acting nervous, tripping over your words, or fidgeting. These are all signs you’re lying and the other person will likely suspect you’re hiding something.
One example of a code is the reverse alphabet. “A” is now “Z,” “B” is now “Y,” “C” is now “X,” and so on. So for instance, you’d write “boy” as “ylb” or “love” as “olev. ” If you’re fluent in a language other than your native one, you can write in that. For example, if all of your friends speak English but you’re also fluent in Spanish, keep your diary in Spanish. But remember, some friends may use translation services like Google Translate to find out what’s written in your diary. A good place to keep your key is on your phone in the notes app. Don’t write the key in your diary because, if someone finds your diary, they’ll then be able to translate everything.
