Some personal lessons learned:

(official recap next)

1. No one gets around the normal person writing rules and procedures.  Not even me. 
2. Drafts are necessary.   Set a deadline for each planned writing stage.  Meet them. 
3. Research and explore.  But, have a direction and a purpose. 
4. Take notes while reading.  It's easier to narrow existing content than generate new.
5. I like lists.  Sometimes, however, other crazy forms of planning (like post its, flow charts, and even paragraphs) can be just as effective.  Be open to new methods.