Here's a great tip about research and writing, from Cory Doctorow (I found it on Lifehacker but it appeared first in Locus Magazine, in an article called "Writing in the Age of Distraction," which is worth reading in its entirety):
"Researching isn't writing and vice-versa. When you come to a factual matter that you could google in a matter of seconds, don't. Don't give in and look up the length of the Brooklyn Bridge, the population of Rhode Island, or the distance to the Sun. That way lies distraction - an endless click-trance that will turn your 20 minutes of composing into a half-day's idyll through the web.
Instead, do what journalists do: type "TK" where your fact should go, as in "The Brooklyn bridge, all TK feet of it, sailed into the air like a kite." "TK" appears in very few English words (the one I get tripped up on is "Atkins") so a quick search through your document for "TK" will tell you whether you have any fact-checking to do afterwards. And your editor and copyeditor will recognize it if you miss it and bring it to your attention."
(There are also lots of tips on managing your writing time both of my books: "Your Writing Coach" and "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done," available from Amazon or your other favorite online and offline bookseller.)
