Minding the Gaps in Serial Diary Fiction: The Case of "Susy L—'s Diary"

Although diaries and periodicals appear to be distinct genres with opposing functions and relationships with audience, this essay argues that serial diary fiction reveals the important intersections between the genres. "Susy L—'s Diary," a popular serialized diary novel, exemplifies how both genres take advantage of their fragmented structures to create a sense of intimacy with readers. The fact that the phrase "The Author of Susy L—'s Diary" was employed as an authorial pseudonym for almost twenty-five years furthers my contention that this novel sheds new light on the ways in which periodicals created and sustained relationships with their readership.