Writing is like any other human endeavour: to get productivity you have to get in the zone.
Seclusion
I was really lucky when I wrote Rockets of the Reich in that I had a secluded little house on a river as my writing location. All I could hear was the water and the wind. With no diversions - not even a phone - I could write from 8am until I had to go to work - music gig - at 6pm. Now, this was a one-time event, a whole summer. However, you can find yourself a hole to get into, whether it be under stairs- this has happened! - or letting everyone knowthat you are not to be disturbed during a certain time.
Forget the Facts
On my desk that summer, I had no less that 23 books on U-boats that, at first, I would flip through when I wanted to check out a fact, like how fast a torpedo leaves the tube of a Type VII boat (between 12 and 19 knots. I know stuff!). By putting aside the facts and letting the story flow my gingers went at lightening speed and I was able to do between 2,000 and 5,000 words a day. The fact checking came after the scene was written to give continuity to the later writings.
Speak Like Winston
Remember my blog on Speak Like Winston? Get into character and pretend you are the person you are writing about. Feel his or her feelings . . .but don’t go postal!
Breathing Exercises
Don’t neglect your body. Get up after a certain period of time, stretch have a drink of water and breathe. Read my blog Let’s Breathe.
Writing a novel is like training for a marathon. It is very mental. I’ve never run more than14 miles so I can’t tell you what a marathon feels like but I know people who run them regularly. It’s discipline and training your mind and body to be in the zone. However, there’s no trick to writing. You just do it regularly and, voilà, a novel happens.