But the ** really hit the fan with my work writing; major avoidance, any distraction will do, progress almost at a standstill. So I found a support group: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/

My goal is to get my work life back in order, and then eventually pick up sf/f writing again. One small step at a time.

There's a phone line for conference calling with other members, where we state our plan and then report what we did. I'm finding it helpful.

Wanted to share in case anyone else might benefit. I have hope

Of course one is pro writers blog where I'm learning a lot about agents, e-publishing and such. But reading all of the comments, to the blogs, takes up so much time its procrastination. As is critiquing stories by other writers.

Sometimes I procrastinate on purpose and I know why I do.

Actually, it's not the only reason I'm here.

My latest attempt to solve it? I've been writing with pen & paper on the train, on my way to and from work.

On a good day I get almost two hours a day, no internet, no pretty pictures. I'm finding it quite liberating just to get back into the whole writing headspace again after the distractions of the last few months.

Over an hour later, my consciousness finally kicked in. I realized one browser was set to Facebook, another to personal emails, another was playing The Tubes videos and concert footage. And I had my website code editor open, too. None of these things had anything to do with my story! It was then I realized the scope of my procrastination. I closed everything else (with much self-arm-twisting), and dove into my story.

PS...I finally did finish and submit it.

Now, it's time to procrastinate---er, I mean---resume work on one of my novels.

One catch phrase I picked up is "demand resistance", where any task or pursuit starts to feel like a demand, and I (and many others like me) instinctually resist it. It affects my writing at work and my writing for pleasure (its no longer pleasurable). Perfectionism and fear are major contributors.

I am fortunate to have plenty of people who encourage me in my various creative pursuits. I've tried (and loved) drawing, printmaking, painting, pottery, dance, poetry, origami, and speculative fiction. In every single case, I reached a point where I could not make myself continue. They've all petered out into past hobbies. I'm trying like crazy to reclaim my life and at least hang onto the job and the fiction writing. I fear that my life will be wasted if I do not use all this potential to forge ahead toward some form of substantial accomplishment.

For as much as I do a moderate amount of procrastinating, I am not like her. I am goal oriented, sometimes I just have to get started. I am trying to get better about this myself.

From that perspective, I will tell you the frustrations I have with my mom if only to hope in helping you see it from another side. These things might not apply to you and I don't want you, or anyone, to take them personally.

One of my biggest frustrations with my mom is that she always has an excuse for everything. She can't do this because of that. And she can't change the way she is because of how she was raised. She won't take responsibility for anything in her life. Everything is someone else's fault and even if she admits it's hers, she acts like she's powerless to effect anything in her life.

Some of this has to tie back to that paralyzing perfectionism you referred to, but I feel like that perfectionism is really just the pre-setting up of an excuse.