I recently posted the following on a thread entitled "step 5 scares me":
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It was recently pointed out to me that people make too much out of this step.
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Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
| Please notice my emphasis on exact nature.
For example, I stole money from my ex-employers to support my bad habits. In taking the 5th step, I do not have to relate juicy details of every incident where I did this, I just have to admit that I stole money. This is the "exact nature" of that wrong.
Similarly, a friend in AA was unfaithful to his wife. The particulars of with who, at what times, at what seedy motels do not matter.
Steps 8 and 9 get into this level of detail, but not step 5.
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I agree the specifics should be written down and kept - you'll need them when you get to 8 and 9. Personally, I took my 5th with a lawyer. Anyone else (except a priest) could testify against me in court, so I wasn't going to have any of that! My sponsor knows most of it though.