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Topic : Text structure in a fictional diary I began writing a novel. It's something I'm preparing for a long time and I now have enough material. Given the fact that I will concentrate on my main - selfpublishingguru.com

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I began writing a novel. It's something I'm preparing for a long time and I now have enough material. Given the fact that I will concentrate on my main character's poitnt of view, and that I want to show his toughts on a daily basis, I decided that the better form should be a fictional diary.

As I said, I know (most of) what the main character will have to say. For each Chapter / Day, I tried to see what could compose the text : the easisest part is the sequentials events : Where the MC will relate his interactions with other characters (or between the other characters) : A did something to B in day 1. B spoke to MC on day 2. D decided to ask MC what B said to him in day 5. etc — It's the easiesst part.

The problem lies in what remains :

Descriptions : The MC will describe a part of his environment in each chapter.

Flash-backs : The MC will remember what led him to this place, everything that happenned and that is related to his present situation.

Stream of consciousness : Here we go deep in the MC's toughts (feelings or general ideas about life, love, death in his actual context)

These three parts are not bound by any chronological or "cause and effect" rule in the diary ! So, nothing can decide that you have to write this part in that chapter.

So, my quetsion is : Is there any method, advices or guidance to help me stucture this in a less arbitrary way ? (like alternating flash-backs parts and descriptions parts from chapter to chapter, things of this kind)

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I would suggest a hybrid approach, keeping in mind the comments by @mbakeranalecta . How about only having certain chapters as diary entries? These would focus on the pieces where your MC has to show his or her opinion, thought processes, etc. The rest of the story could be third person, if you like, and that would have the burden of moving the story along in a style that reflects a more normal story arc.

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The way I'd make the diary is the way my character would make it. Don't think that much what will suite the way of story telling. On first place I'd consider my character. It he is male or female the structure would be different. If he is lazy, then it will be different. If he is messy, then it would be different and if he doesn't complete his planned tasks it would be unfinished or with gaps. If he has free time for writing, if he/she feels obligated to make this diary etc. etc.
Then plan what parts to take from it to present to the reader.
At least this is what I'd do.

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It's a diary. It can be arbitrary. It can be long or short, meandering or brisk, organized or all over the place. Do whatever serves your story and your character.

The only guidance you might need is to make sure that it's readable. If you're trying to build suspense, then you may need to focus on just "here's what happened today" for a few entries, and then have a "and here's what I think about it" section rather than insisting on rigidly using all three in order. Or conversely, if your character is a rigid sort, have him insist on putting in those sections but just writing "Nothing to report" for that bit.

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