The process now, as you know, consists of (1) writing, (2) reading your stuff and making it better (editing), and (3) reading more sources and incorporating them. Under each of these three headings, I'd like to add some hints culled fresh from my struggles with a paper.

1.)  WRITING

The is no secret except 'Do it.' But there are some helpful hints here:

Plan it: create a block of time when your writing flows best (early morn with me)

  Few interruptions, so normalize place/time with all writing necessities -- it's all there every day waiting for you, calling to you

Sometimes you have to force yourself -- so plan in some rewards for yourself and tell yourself about this 'trick' so that you are not fooled

Talk about your recent place in writing with anyone who will listen, including me

Stuck? Writing and creativity dried up? Go back to your outline(s) of this part and study the current part, and the before-&-after parts -- sometimes that helps

Read something related but different and unusual: be creative in your head as far as connections, applications, for example -- let it spark you to go further. Or re-look at something that once helped

Just cannot get that first sentence of the first page of that chapter? Then skip it and go to the second sentence, or better, the second paragraph

Take notes on your thoughts; back up all work every time you finish for the day or moment; thank God you have a computer!

2.) EDITING

Edit on the fly

While you are writing, go back and focus/feel the flow, transitions, explanations, sentence structure, endnotes; use short strong sentences rather than long -- same with words -- short and to the point; paragraphs are 'microcosm-theses'

Think about the relationship of other parts of your paper with the part you are writing: does the other part(s) need to be adjusted to take into account what you are currently writing? If so either do it now, or put "XXXXXX's" at that spot to remind you

Spell-Check on the fly regularly; keep eyes on: grammar, ordering of elements (logical steps), transitions, beautiful prose appropriate to the point at hand

Print a hard copy and read it with pen in hand

Reading parts backwards a page at a time is helpful to me to see the ordered flow (or lack of) -- start from the conclusion paragraph, then the paragraph that leads to the conclusion, then the one before with the last explanation of the last piece of evidence and/or reasoning, and so on

Give a clean hard copy to a friend, and a relative, and a school tutor for critique and feedback. Consider what they offer, not following slavishly or rejecting out of hand

Sometimes older stuff is better stuffed, thrown out, forgotten: it will be better today, given how you have grown, learned, become more experienced, more focused

Re-read your notes to be sure you've incorporated what should be

3.) MORE RESEARCH

Don't stop: new ideas that help are out there. Always. Get more books, but skim faster --  secondary and primary sources. Look at popular stuff in your spare time -- such can be helpful if only to show the nature of the interest in your topic which you might address or adjust to

You might go from reading straight to writing the new idea without changing outlines, or putting it in notes, although putting it in notes helps to re-cast things appropriate to your work and ideas. Gains some useful distance, sometimes.

Are your main points sufficiently addressed? Enough evidence (more evidence for the more important, more explanation for the more radical ideas)? Sure?

More evidence is better than less; overdoing is better than under.... better by far. 'Err on the side of the angels'