I'm trying an experiment. To write a 5,000 word article, I will spend (up to) 30 days. Work for the first ten days will consist of writing about 500 words each day, whether rough notes or finished draft, spending no more than a few hours each day. That leaves about 20 days or 40 hours to bring it to finished form. The article is due on October 1, so my own deadline will be September 1.

Usually when I write it's about something I already know about. The research is already complete. This method wouldn't work for starting from scratch with a completely new topic.