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First, know your subject. If someone unexpectedly dumps a project on your desk and it's unfamiliar, don't start worrying about it, because you'll just add layers to the wall. Instead, seek helpful ideas/tips from peers or even the person who gave you the assignment. Asking for help is not a condemnation of your writing prowess, but it will show you're working on the project. Ask them (and yourself) questions such as, who is the intended audience, has the subject been addressed (written) previously, is this to be summary or in-depth, when is the first draft due, and so forth? Take good notes!
Secondly, do not start writing yet! Instead, prepare an outline, and then polish the outline until you're comfortable that topically, at least, you have a plan. The outline becomes your roadmap. Draw it well!
Thirdly, do not start writing yet - patience! Begin instead by taking each topic in the outline, and expand with key words or statements that you intend to write about. Take each topic and put it on a blank sheet - in the center of the page - then fill around the page with bullet-type thoughts you have about the topic. It doesn't matter that they are random thoughts, just get them on paper. This process will help you see "connections", from which you organize thoughts cohesively and in an orderly fashion. Save those scraps of paper!
Now, start writing in earnest, beginning with those topical elements you're most comfortable with. The psychology of successful writers is that starting with the hard parts quickly leads to frustration. When a topic is finished in rough draft, leave it temporarily and move on to the next. Polishing the draft will come later, when you have enough material to recognize that your rough draft has turned into a first draft. Refine until you're done, and then have one or more peers review and provide feedback!
Before you seek peer review, you can avoid setting yourself up by taking these steps:
1. Run a spell check on your work. It pays to keep a copy of a respected dictionary and thesaurus on hand.
2. Don't rely on computer spell checkers to catch errors in context. After running spell check, go back through the document, methodically. Be vigilant for correct words/meaning, for example: "principle" versus "principal" - "stationary" versus "stationery" - "imminent" versus "eminent" - "accept" versus "except"
3. Remember that punctuation errors are not 100% discovered by your spell check software. Use a respected guidebook for this.
4. Maintain configuration control over your work - save revisions as separate files - avoid delivering incorrect versions, especially when electronic deliverables are required. Remember, even experienced writers suffer from writer's block, but the secret is knowing how to get over, under or around the wall, quickly!
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