You're on the right track with the research items. I suggest organizing what you have and considering if there are any other items you might need to look up, then moving on to the next assignment.

Think a column or two added to your spreadsheet for each subplot is the way to go. I do that when trying to block out fight scenes for comic book or TV scripts. It's irritating when the hero manages to get off a string of attacks while off screen his sidekick has managed to fire only two shots.
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Regards,
Eric Fretheim
Assistant Prep Leader, 2015 October NaNoWriMo Prep Challenge

"It is perfectly okay to write garbage-- as long as you edit brilliantly." ~C.J. Cherryh

“No, writing 50,000 words in a month is normal. You are not crazy. This is not insane.” ~Teri Brown