the glow sticks are a good idea, if there is already a hole drilled for you
If there is no hole, then what I have done in the past, although it is a bit of a pain, is to pop out a large KO and drill up through the panel hole into the top plate with one of those bendy 5 foot drill bits for 35 bucks. They have to pay for the bit or else its drywall/plaster repair - their choice. Just use a KO reducer to backfill your work after you push up your new romex with a glo stick and fish it from the accessible part of the attic.
Once you have fed enough up there, you are sort of working backwards so your romex connector has to go on, then the washer, etc. Then use the tightened down romex conn. to pull the washer tight.
Watch out for existing romex when you drill!!!!!
One other thing I have done is to pop out another KO so I can see what I am doing with my flashlight. Plug it when done.