diff --git a/backend.go b/backend.go
index 44fa32f..39fc205 100644
--- a/backend.go
+++ b/backend.go
@@ -55,6 +55,14 @@ func NewFileBackend(filename string) (b *FileBackend, e error) {
 	return
 }
 
+// Creates a new backend to write the logs in a given io.Writer
+func NewIoBackend(buf io.Writer) (b *FileBackend) {
+	return &FileBackend{
+		l:         buf,
+		formatter: &defaultFormatter,
+	}
+}
+
 func (b FileBackend) Write(r *Record) error {
 	text := (*b.formatter)(r)
 	_, err := io.WriteString(b.l, text)