I just wrote a hub about time-boxing. It is the best way I've found to knock out tasks that need to be done. I hope it helps!
http://hubpages.com/health/How-to-Time-Box-your-li...
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.