Problem in perceiving my work is awful at the outset (6)
I believe the answer is:
myopia
'problem in perceiving' is the definition.
(vision problem)
'my work is awful at the outset' is the wordplay.
'work' becomes 'op' (abbreviation for opus).
'at the outset' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'is awful' is 'ia'.
'my'+'op'+'ia'='MYOPIA'
(Other definitions for myopia that I've seen before include "Condition of short sightedness" , "complaint" , "vision problem" , "lack of long-term vision" , "Near-sightedness" .)