One helpful thing to add to the great points that have already been mentioned:

--> The importance of describing successful outcomes <--

Items (1)-(7) all must be related to a successful outcome that is carefully described. If the outcome is too vague then it will become more difficult to know what the next action is -- or exactly what to do with a next action. "Write rough draft" is very vague if you don't already know what it is you will be writing a rough draft about and have enough of the contours of the direction to take your writing to get it done. This is why having a topic and the thesis are so crucial to finishing a writing project.

Typically writing projects start out as "look into" projects -- which are really just Next Actions to 'kickstart' you into being able to design the entire writing project. A "look into" next action is something you have to do before you will even know what the project will be. You may think, initially, that the successful outcome is a completed paper to turn into a professor; and that may be the case at first, but eventually that outcome needs more 'specificity' so that you can see exactly what it is you will be turning in; otherwise you will never write it or you will procrastinate on writing it because you don't have enough to go off of.

It's also important to write down all of the things that having this writing project complete will make possible for you. This allows you to see past the project and, if you review them, will keep you motivated to complete the project during times when it may be difficult to just get in there and get it done.

Todd V