I tend to get lost when I should study but there's a ton of things that I distract myself with. If it wasn't LJ, it would be a book, tv, computer games, coffee, the gym, role playing... whatever.
I guess for a writer it must be even a bit harder, because talking about his book with the fans could be considered work too

I agree that a time schedule is the best way to deal with it.

Btw.: Guilty pleasures arrived today, I only got to read the first 10 pages or so, but I think it's my kind of thing. It reminds me quite a bit of the Dresden files. Thanks for the rec again!