(Warning: I picked the highest value/return things to mention first, after this its kinda diminishing returns)

Briefly because it was mentioned:

• People can be distracting.
• time of day (linked to scheduling)
• noises (but also other sensory perceptions)

Time of day: I know someone who does his weightlifting before breakfast; breakfast being the reward, but also fixing the task into a time-of-day occurrence. (If breakfast is something you do every day) - because breakfast is something you do every day, by doing something just before or just after breakfast, its easy to build a habit of the new task linking to the old task.

notepad next to bed: depending on how you use your bed; keeping a notepad/pencil/writing implement there will help you write things down if they spring to mind.

notepad next to toilet: similar point. its better to notepad than facebook on the loo. (or actually maybe it isn't. Make that choice.)

notepad on top of tv remote: similar, but also reminds you that you would rather be writing than watching tv (most of the time. When you really want to watch tv, a notepad won't stop you. But it will help you when you only kinda want to watch tv because you have nothing better to do)

other sensory distractions: this is a point on distractions again, but a reminder to think of all your senses. You have already noted a few;

• TV or people in your vision, (I mentioned adequate light), if you are going to a park, be aware that finding a place without sun on your screen might be tricky.
• Sounds, (well covered elsewhere)
• Touch - your clothes might be more/less comfortable or distracting on different days, and different clothing similarly might be more/less distracting. A different type of chair might be more comfortable, made of a warmer material (i.e. plastic not metal)
• Smell - delicious coffee shop smell is probably not helpful to your focus, but it might be helpful for that written imagery. (point is - consider it, decide if it matters to you)
• Taste - simple food, new food, complex foods, distracting foods. (well maybe, again - consider if it matters)
• Spicy food, or too much food (relevant also to quality of sleep) if something is likely to distract your stomach, be aware of it, and consider avoiding it, that will probably also distract your mind.
• hot/cold environment. You probably have a temperature that you find most-nice, or a range of temperatures that you can work well in. try to work in places within that temperature range. Also try not to be fooled when you think you are writing really well in one kind of weather but don't seem to have produced as much as in a different kind of weather. Brains can be sneaky like that. lets go out to the park even though we work better inside. Also consider the weather at this time of year where you are.

Your environment changes; take as much control over it as is worthwhile.

Warning: don't take the fun out of it. If you find that you seem to write the most when inside a plain white room with bland food and bright light on you. Doesn't mean you should do it. You may just end up deciding that writing is not something that you want to do. This project is something you want to do; and hard work is by definition - not easy. You can lower barriers in some places, but you can't actually make hard into easy.

Its impossible to make yourself do something that you don't want to do. On some level - i.e. long-term goal you want to get it done, but on a short-term level, playing with this cat is what you are doing right now, also its pretty satisfying.

The way to convince yourself that the long term goal is more important than the short term reward is to make it more relevant. The reason we don't go straight for the long term goals is they are harder to understand for a simple primate brain. Find a way to measure the short-term progress as a clear growth towards the long term goal. Find a way to tell your brain that the long term goal is also obtainable right here and now. Or the progress towards the long term goal is actually worth more than the kittens in front of you today. Simple measures include wordcount; progress on the plotline; you understand your goal better than I do - but make an everyday version of "the long term plan" so that you can work towards that, instead of waking up every day wondering if you are actually closer or not.

Make the story fun! If the process of writing is a chore, you will not be happy about spending hours and hours on it. Consider - how can you make this more fun? (I can't suggest much here - but try not to be too distracted by having fun)

Make yourself a writing buddy. accountability buddy to check in every few days and make sure you are making progress. Its quite easy to lie to yourself. I have seen it done, but its harder to lie to someone else as well.

Join a local group about it. you are not alone. its fun to meet people; and it could give you more ideas. If you can't find one; make one. I solemnly swear to show up at this time and place to write things for a few hours even if no one else comes along to also write things at this time and place with me.

Reward yourself for doing it? (benefits and disadvantages of this) by rewarding yourself you may trick yourself into doing more of it; but on the other hand it should be its own intrinsic reward; by creating an outside reward you limit yourself to external rewards. take the external reward away and you may lose motivation.

There may be more points but they exist inside my disorganised mind. Will try to get them onto another post in the next few days if I find them.