#WhatsYourStory Featuring Michelle Draglin

Writer’s Introduction
My name is Michelle Dragalin and blog about writing, book reviews and other things on my blog Writer’s Journey.  I have another blog that I discuss education, online work and other educational technology things. Currently, I am published in a few small publishing companies, a small publishing house and adjunct professor for a small online school. I stay busy! In addition to writing reviews, author interviews and online education, I am a Mom to two adult children and a wife to a retired Navy mechanical engineer.  I earn most of my income by teaching online (hence the 51-talk tagline) and developing curriculum, as well as designing instruction. I work at home now, which I like. I work more hours which I don’t like, but it will all come together in the end. 
Underneath my name at the end of the blog you will see a link to 51 Talk.  Disclaimer: I receive a monetary reward if you click on it and successfully complete the application process.
Writer’s Notebook: Biographies, Alphabet books, Backyard Zoo and Guinea Pigs
I love to share information that I have picked up on writer’s journey and help other writers.  I am not famous. I am not well known. I just like to help. In this blog I would like to share some ideas that help me as a writer. ​

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The   picture below illustrates what my desk looks like; I have books on all the above topic.  I suffer a bit from ADD and so I need to be able to turn my attention from one subject to another.  I also keep the information in my writer’s notebook. Recently a favorite singer of mine had his backpack stolen, he said that of all the things inside the one item he really misses is his song journal.  I can relate, my writer’s notebook is a journal that I keep all my information in regarding my projects. If it were to go missing I would lose a lot of research, information and various quotes that I have developed or have received from other authors.  In addition, it holds information from my contacts at 12x12, Critique groups, and Social media groups. My writer’s notebook is priceless, someone else would probably toss it in the nearest dumpster. All this information gets transferred onto my calendar, files and other areas. Yet the original information all stays in my notebook for my reference. My little desk behind me holds the material I need for my work.

Each story in development is at different stages, in addition, I include research for my online work. ​

A Story in Development
 
A story in development has various stages.  The most important is the stage where I need to fully concentrate on that particular story.  Right now I am working a story about guinea pigs.

 The place I love to work at is the library.  There is enclosed room with a white board that I can spread out on and work.  Everything is available and there is no distraction, plus it has a small cafe and easy access if I need a book or some help from a friendly library.  On the desk I have my laptop, which doubles as tablet, a kindle and tablet plus water and time. This way I can focus on one subject at a time, did I mention the room is enclosed!!!
 My desk at home often looks like this:

A Mess!!

Writing is a process, a development there are many areas that a person must take into consideration they develop and write a story.   
In conclusion:
   Find out what works for you and organize your life to suit you!  Work for yourself and in a way that suits you! My way works for me because I need to move, yet have all my stuff centrally located for when I am online teaching or meeting with people.        Develop your environment to suit yourself!!

Michelle Dragalin
51 Talk          http://www.51talk.com/na?referrer=4869960
Social Media:  Linkedin
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