Trying to Write a Diary Novel

I had begun writing a new story several months ago, the idea having come to me about a year ago. I have been waiting to work more on it, but did not get around to doing so until the tore day. I just had to get myself to do it.

I have begun doing a young adult diary-style novel set in the 1980s, the decade in which I grew up. Such works are called epistolary novels, the subject of one of the reading challenges I have been doing this year.  I've read over 25 such books to date this year  and have some at home I plan to read.

Such books have traditionally been in the form of letters, or a dairy, but have come to include emails and text messages to go with today's trends. However, I have found myself less compelled to write something set in current times, hence the reason I chose the 1980s.  I also would like to have kids today see how those my age did things when we were kids their age.

This graph from this link shows a rise in the popularity of the epistolary novel over different periods:

Number of Novels by Period


How many of you have considered writing this in style?