BOOKS

Welcome back to our Bestie Book Club—a community for book lovers from Girls' Life magazine.

If you're new here, hello and welcome! Here's how this works: Each month, we read, discuss and obsess over a new book. If you haven't already, be sure to follow us on TikTok and Instagram for Bestie Book Club updates, fun reading challenges, amaze giveaways and so much more!

OK, show of hands: Who's ever started a fresh diary with big plans to write on the reg—only to, well, fall out of the habit just as quickly as you started? Us, too. That is, until we discovered a secret trick: switching up the way we put our pen to paper.

Our inspo? A-dork-ably awkward and always authentic Nikki Maxwell from Dork Diaries. Nikki is very much back in the latest installment of Dork Diaries #16: Tales from a Not-So-Bratty Little Sister. And with last book's recent trip to Paris under her belt, Nikki's journaling style is more creative than ever. 

We heart Nikki's ever-evolving and forever adorbs diaries (and this time, we might just get a taste of bratty little sis Brianna's doodle style, too). So with the help of our GL Book Besties, we're sharing all the inspo with you. Ready to get back into journaling? Take a page out of Nikki's book (pun v. much intended) and upgrade your own diary next...

Sure, diaries are all about self-reflection and spilling secrets in a safeguarded spot (unless you're Nikki, who's stuck staying on the lookout for any diary-swiping little sibs), but who says you have to stick to *just* words?

Let your artsy side shine and try recapping your day in a different way. "I love how Nikki tells stories with cute drawings," says GL Book Bestie Kayden S. "I've never kept a diary before, but I love painting. Once I started reading Dork Diaries, I realized, why not do both?"

You can add art to your own journal, just like Nikki and Kayden. If you love sketching, try illustrating the memories you write about. More of a painter? Snag a set of watercolors and make a masterpiece to accompany your entries.

And don't get frustrated if your drawing skills aren't up to Nikki's caliber. Remember—this journal is for your eyes only. "I love to doodle in the margins of my diary," says GL Book Bestie Lexi J. "Even if it's not a full-blown illustration, I still think it's so cute."

Keep the creativity coming:
✨ Two words for the Y2K girlies: Gel. Pens. (Preferably glitter ones.)
🩷 Don't love your doodles? Try snagging a cute sticker book and picking out your favorites for each page. 

Hey, Besties! When can you totally relate to Nikki and Brianna?
"As a little sister myself, I know what it's like to look up to your older siblings, even if we might be a bit bratty in the process." — Lexi
"I'm a middle child, so I could totally understand both Nikki *and* Brianna's POVs." — Kayden
"We've got a big sister of our own—and we're always 'borrowing' her things. 😉 " — Andrea & Selena

After discovering French fashion mags on her trip to Paris, Nikki is totally inspired to switch up her own art. (Want a refresher on Dork Diaries #15? Check out our Bestie Book Club recap of Tales From a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure!)

Try turning your diary into a storytelling scrapbook with pieces from your own life. "I love keeping movie tickets, notes from friends and confetti from concerts," shares GL Book Bestie Joy T. "It's so satisfying to add colors, textures and memories to the pages of my diary."

Start collecting mementos, plus washi tape, cute paper and issues of your favorite mag (*clears throat* Hiii!) in a craft box. When you sit down to journal, lay out your materials the way you want them aligned on the page, glue and tape everything down, then write all the deets in the open spaces. Experiment with fun frames, color combos and your favorite celeb photos.

"I'm super into fashion, just like Nikki," reveals GL Book Bestie Isabella K. "I love how Nikki uses her diary to plan her outfits, so I started using my diary to do that, too!"

Agree with Isabella? Try taking Polaroid pics of your fave outfits and taping them into your diary, too. Not only will you have a super cute snapshot to add to each entry, you'll also be creating the perfect outfit encyclopedia for any future fashion emergencies.

Bond with a bestie:
👯‍♀️ Scrapbooking a page that features a friend? Ask them to write a little note inside so you can go back and reminisce.

Hey, Besties! Nikki's feeling frustrated with her "bratty"  little sister Brianna. Spill your secret to solving sibling sitches:
"Sometimes you just need to take some time and cool down." — Kayden
"We hash it out and come to a solution so it doesn't happen again." — Andrea & Selena
"My brothers and I try to joke about it after a fight. Laughter makes everything better!" — Lexi

Having trouble sticking to daily diary entries? It might be time to switch up your approach. Consider using journal time to write out lyrics to your current fave song, practice writing poetry or make a fun list of favorites.

Try these journaling prompts inspired by Dork Diaries: 
What is a memory you never want to forget?
What is your dream career? What inspires you to pursue it?
Make a list of your favorite things.
Write a letter to your future self.
Describe your best friends and why you love them.

"We both keep journals that we write in every night," GL Book Besties Andrea & Selena A. comment. "If we ever have trouble with what to write, it's nice to fill the pages with other things we love, too."

Your diary is a perfect reflection of you! Just like how we get to follow along with Nikki in Dork Diaries, you'll be able to take a walk down memory lane every time you page through an old journal. "I love being able to go back and look at my past memories and thoughts," says GL Book Bestie Lexi J. "Some of my older entries are so nostalgic to me now!" 

Want to get involved with our Bestie Book Club? Here’s how…
+ SOLO. Catch up on all 16 books in the Dork Diaries series. Then try starting a new journal for yourself with all of Nikki's incredible inspo!
+ ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Connect with us to share your fave a-dork-able Dork Diaries-esque moments @glbestiebookclub
+ WITH YOUR SQUAD. Host a scrapbooking + soul spill sesh with your crew. Gather a bunch of art supplies, magazine scraps and snacks, turn on some tunes (peep our personalized playlist below!), and spend the evening journaling together. 

by GL | 10/15/2024