Diary & Logging

The diary feature lets you create dated entries for when you watched, read, or listened to something. This builds a chronological history of your cultural consumption, similar to a personal journal or diary.

What is a Diary Entry?

A diary entry is a dated record of when you consumed a specific item. Each entry can include:

• Date: The exact date you finished (or watched/read/listened to) the item
• Rating: Your rating for the item (1-5 stars or similar)
• Review: Your written thoughts and review
• Repeat Indicator: Whether this is the first time or a repeat viewing/reading

Creating Your First Diary Entry

When you mark an item as "Finished" and add a "Finished On" date, a diary entry is automatically created:

1. Go to an item on your shelf
2. Click "Edit" to open the edit form
3. Change the status to "Finished"
4. Enter a "Finished On" date (or select today's date)
5. Optionally add a rating and review
6. Save the item
7. A diary entry is automatically created with that date

Adding Multiple Diary Entries

You can create multiple diary entries for the same item, perfect for tracking repeat viewings or readings:

1. Go to the item on your shelf
2. Click on the item to view its details
3. Find the "Diary" or "Log Entries" section
4. Click "Add Entry" or "Log Again"
5. Enter the date you watched/read/listened
6. Add a rating and review if desired
7. Save the entry

Each entry is stored separately, so you can see your complete history with that item over time.

Viewing Your Diary

Your diary entries appear in several places:

• On the Item: Each shelf item shows its diary entries in chronological order
• Activity Diary: Your shelf has an "Activity Diary" section showing recent entries across all items
• Monthly View: Diary entries are grouped by month for easy browsing
• Recent Activity: The most recent diary entries appear in your shelf's activity feed

Editing and Deleting Entries

You can edit or delete diary entries:

• Edit: Click on a diary entry to edit the date, rating, or review
• Delete: Remove an entry if you made a mistake or no longer want it
• Update: Change ratings or reviews as your thoughts evolve

Diary for TV Shows

TV shows have special diary functionality for tracking episodes:

• Episode Tracking: Mark individual episodes as watched with dates
• Season Progress: See your progress through seasons
• Episode Reviews: Write reviews for specific episodes
• Show-Level Entries: Create entries for when you finish entire seasons or series

Diary Best Practices

• Be Consistent: Add dates when you finish items to build a complete history
• Add Reviews: Write reviews when you finish items to capture your thoughts
• Track Repeats: Log repeat viewings/readings to see how your relationship with content evolves
• Use Accurate Dates: Try to use the actual date you finished, not just today's date
• Review Your Diary: Periodically look back at your diary to see patterns and remember great content

Privacy and Diary Entries

Diary entries follow the privacy setting of their parent shelf item:

• If an item is public, its diary entries are public
• If an item is subscriber-only, its diary entries are subscriber-only
• If an item is private, its diary entries are private

This ensures your diary entries respect your privacy preferences.