Many juggling writers spend their days at work wishing they were home writing.

Sometimes the opportunity to have time to write comes along in the form of a layoff.

I was laid off last December, and while landing my next job would be nice, it’s not something I’m stressing about (yet).

Some people spend their days following a layoff frantically searching for work. They wake up, start looking, and keep looking until it’s time to sleep.

Perhaps that method has worked for some, but the people I’ve known who have done it burned out fast, and became stressed.

There’s only so much job hunting a person can do each day before feeling like their search is in vain.

If you find yourself laid off and wanting time to write, here are some suggestions for juggling the job hunt, writing time, and finding time for yourself.

Save

Layoffs have become a fact of life for many. When working, if possible, set aside an emergency fund to cover the few months following a layoff.

Having the funds to help get through 2-3 months following a layoff lifts the stress of a scary situation, making it easier to focus on the job hunt and writing.

Schedule

It’s easy to meander following a layoff.

Especially if you’re a person whose job defined you on some level, it’s easy to sit in front of the computer meaning to look for work or writing, but not doing much more than wandering the Internet.

It’s important to have a schedule.

Here’s what my day looks like since being laid off:

• Wake up — Have breakfast while catching up on e-mail and blogs.
• Check LinkedIn and other places for new job postings. Make an effort to apply to a job a day (and track it on a spreadsheet).
• Write.
• Lunch.
• Get in touch with a friend or two (because I have more time to see the people I love being around, and yeah…I’m more likely to land a job from a recommendation by a friend than being another one of hundreds — or thousands — replying to an online job posting).
• Write.
• Workout (walking, running, or lifting something).
• Get out and do something or write.
• Dinner.
• More LinkedIn and other online networking.
• Get out and do something or write.
• Get a good night’s sleep.

I could spend the entire day stressing about not having a job, or I can make a schedule and put my time to good use.

After my fifth or sixth layoff, I choose to enjoy my time following the pink slip.

Chunks

I’ve had days dedicated solely to looking for my next job or to writing, but I try doing things in chunks.

Looking for a job once in the morning doesn’t cut it; while I’m writing or working out, somebody is posting what could be my next job.

While dedicating every waking moment to looking for my next job would depress me, I sweep through LinkedIn and get in touch with people a few times a day.

I take care of things in chunks, dedicating an hour or two to an activity without interruption.

Running errands, looking for work, and even writing here and there throughout the day can give you a sense of accomplishment if you’re the kind of person who liked scratching items off a to-do list at your previous job.

Automate the Hunt

I love the Indeed.com app for the iPhone. I’ve set up five different job searches, and throughout the day, I check the app for new jobs.

When a new job pops up, I e-mail the posting to myself so I can review the job and apply when I’m back at my computer.

Automating my search allows me to look for work anywhere (e.g. standing in line while running errands), leaving more time for writing and enjoying my time off.

Network

With work and life taking up most people’s time, it can be hard for many people to get together with friends. Unless your friends are overtime junkies and eat lunch at their desks everyday, that hour in the middle of the day is a good time to get together.

Get out and see people when you’re not working. It helps with your writing, your job hunt, and your sanity.

Writing is lonely work; add to that being separated from the social interactions that come with a job, and it’s easy to become reclusive.

Make it a point to meet a friend for lunch at least once a week.

Lunches with former coworkers become a reminder of how lucky you are to no longer be caught up in office politics. Catching up with busy friends is great for everybody involved. This time can also be a good time to spend an hour with a busy family member.

While you’re more likely to find a job through somebody you know than applying to an online want ad, don’t make the lunch all about your next job.

Use the time to talk about what you’re writing, and make sure you give your friend plenty of time to talk about what’s up with them.

Get Out

Some days, ignore writing and the job hunt entirely!

Go hiking, go to a museum…do something you enjoy that you normally don’t get to do on a weekday when you’re working.

Finding the next job and having time to write is important, but so is taking a breather.

Don’t feel guilty taking a few days each month all for yourself!

Volunteer

Volunteering can be a great way to put your writing skills to use and fill in that gap on your resume.

It can also lead to your next job.

Writing copy, assembling newsletters and flyers, and editing correspondence can all become portfolio pieces.

It’s a chance to show a whole new group of people how hard you work and what you can do.

Many people working for non profits started out as volunteers.

Even if your volunteering efforts don’t lead to your next job, you’ll have the satisfaction of helping an organization you believe in.

Make the Leap

If you have some savings and don’t need to find your next job right away, why not take a run at freelancing?

For a small investment, you can create promotional material and see if you have what it takes to be a full time commercial writer.

Use the time following a layoff to pitch articles and see if you can generate enough work to support yourself.

If you can survive several months following a layoff, why not use the time to write that novel you always talk about wanting to write?

If your goal is to one day support yourself writing, the time following a layoff is the perfect time to see if you have the discipline to write when handed all the time in the world.

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Most of us don’t want to be laid off from our jobs, but it happens.

It happens frequently.

It’s never a bad idea to save and have a plan in case it happens to you–having that plan just might lead to you living your dream of writing full time.

Spring is a great time to write articles. It’s no longer cold and wet, and it’s not so hot that you’d rather die than write.

Really, though, every season is a great time to write articles.

One of the problems with seasonal articles is planning ahead a few months and knowing what to pitch. If you have a tough time thinking ahead several months, I have a suggestion: think ahead one year from now.

I hear you saying, “If I have a hard time thinking ahead 3-4 months, how am I going to plan ahead 12 months in advance?”

Easy: look around you right now!

There are probably festivals going on that you wouldn’t have thought about 3-4 months ago. You’re probably getting out and enjoying the weather — maybe you’re running in a race, hopping in a canoe, or doing something else worthy of writing about. Making a list of ways to make spring cleaning easier won’t only help you next year — it may help readers.

Every season is a great reminder of all the things going on around us that can easily be turned into articles.

Here are 5 things you can do now so you’re ready to pitch seasonal articles next year.

Make a List

As you do things this spring, make a list of the things worthy of writing about.

Festivals, trips, seasonal tips — all the things we do when a new season rolls around can usually be turned into an article.

By making a list of things you do and discover each season, you have a list of ideas you can pitch in 8-9 months.

Take Photos Now

If you pitch an article about spring next winter, when the article is accepted, all the spring scenery will be buried beneath snow or dead leaves. Depending on timing, you may not be able to take photos in time for the article next spring, or you may end up rushing around at the last minute.

If you know you’re going to pitch an article about Texas wildflowers next year, why not take the photos this year?

Even if you take photos this year, you may have to return someplace the following year for a few last-minute shots, but it’s much better taking photos when you’re already familiar with that place.

Listen

If you need additional ideas for your list, listen to the people around you.

Listen to the things they’re doing — would it make a good article?

When they talk about something as simple as spring cleaning, ask them what one or two things they did made it easier…or what they wouldn’t do again.

It’s amazing how many article ideas a person encounters each day if only they listen and think about writing.

Rough it Out

When you do something this spring that you plan to pitch as an article for next year, rough it out if you have time.

Figure out how you will structure the article and what main points you’ll make.

If it’s a travel piece, it’s always best to write down your initial feelings right away, while things are still fresh in your mind.

With a roughed-out article, it will be easier to work the tone of the piece into your pitch when the time comes.

Research

The good thing about working on an article now is you have a whole year to research things to make it better.

If you’re rushing to complete an article, it’s easy to miss things: photos you meant to take, people you meant to interview, or points you meant to make.

By roughing out next year’s articles this year, you have more than enough time to research all the things necessary to make your article shine.

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There’s another benefit to roughing out next year’s articles in advance: Now when you think, “I don’t have anything to do,” that’s not true.

When you’re thinking ahead a year, you always have plenty to keep you busy!

While most writers will die with a head full of unfinished ideas, there are times — especially when writing articles or other quicker content — when a writer can find himself at a loss for something to write about.

If you find yourself searching for something to write about, I hope some of these five tips should help:

Get Out

Getting out in the world and living is one of the best things a writer can do. When you get out, you become surrounded by potential ideas.

That screaming kid in the restaurant may become the seed for an op ed piece about parents who take their kids places they shouldn’t, or an article for a parenting magazine about ways to handle outbreaks.

If you get out and look at the potential of everything around you  for articles, story ideas, or other writing fodder, you’ll not only never be without ideas — you’ll have a lot of fun gathering material.

Read

Many writers find ideas while reading. This isn’t to say they copy an existing idea and claim it as their own — obviously, that’s not right. But reading a humorous commentary about a family road trip gone awry might trigger a pitch about the top 5 or 10 family road trips.

Reading an article about somebody hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail might lead to interviewing somebody who’s paddled the length of the Mississippi or biking across the country. (Or the writer engaging in the activity herself and writing about the experience.)

If you’re at a loss for ideas, crack open a book or magazine and get reading!

Twist a Trend

In recent weeks, I’ve read articles about the iPad written by people playing Devil’s Advocate. I read an article about the benefits of fatty foods we’re told to avoid and their health benefits. I even read a humorous piece by a scientist about the skewed physics in the movie Hot Tub Time Machine. (Definitely a better piece than another review saying, “It’s full of toilet humor, but has it’s moments.”)

If most articles about something lean one way and you don’t agree, pitch an article countering the trend. (Just make sure your piece isn’t a rant.) Consider something you hold dear and look at it a different way. Write about it.

Don’t take a different side just for the sake of taking a different side, but don’t be afraid to be different. We all gain something when people challenge convention — even challenging their own convictions — and produce articles about it.

Take a Class/Learn Something New

I loved juggling from a young age, but it wasn’t until I started attending juggling clubs and conventions that I became obsessed.

I always wrote, but it wasn’t until I started hanging out with writers and artists taking their work seriously and submitting it that I became obsessed.

A healthy dose of obsession drags you into a scene much deeper than an outsider looking in.

If somebody told me to write an article about gardening (while I’ve enjoyed the little gardening I’ve done), it would be a fluff piece at best. But if somebody obsessed with gardening writes an article about it, chances are, it will be more useful to readers than if I wrote the article.

Classes, workshops, or learning on your own fires people up, creating new fans of something with, perhaps, a different point of view that hasn’t been offered before in articles.

Ask for Help

Writing used to be very easy for me.

One day it got hard.

Only recently have I realized the reason it seemed easy was I used to write independent comic books, so I collaborated with others all the time.

Now that I’m a solitary writer, writing takes more of an effort.

I fixed this by asking for help. (Not always an easy thing for me.)

Every month or so, my wife and I go out for coffee or a beer — notebooks in hand — and we help each other come up with ideas for things. Sometimes I have a vague idea for an article, but it seems too typical. Chatting with people helps me put a twist on things I may have never thought of (even though it often seems so obvious!). If I’m stuck in a section of a story, I chat about it with my writing group friends and things break wide open and I can’t wait to write!

If you’re writing articles or stories, you’ll work with editors who will help make your good writing great; why not get a head start and work with the people around you interested in your writing? If you feel weird asking people for help, think of it as a brainstorming session, not charity or you losing your ability to come up with ideas.

The writing world is filled with people working together to create great things.

Yesterday, The New York Times ran a story about book covers and e-books.

I know we’ve all heard that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but covers do matter.

I’ve judged more than a few books by their covers in my time (found my favorite book that way), and in almost every case the art director and cover artist tapped into the heart of the book better than the jacket copy.

Images are powerful things.

The New York Times article discusses something we lose with e-books: if everybody is reading e-books on the subway or in other public places, we don’t see the covers. Publishers lose out on free advertising, and conversations about books slide a little.

There’s no doubt that moving toward e-books comes with some huge changes to how publishers will do things. One of the biggest changes I’ve thought about, even before a good friend sent me the link to this article, is how e-books will affect cover artists.

I started out writing independent comic books. More than working in a scripting format I liked, I loved working with artists. I met one of the nicest people and best artists I know through those early days of independent comic books.

I rarely read genre fiction, but I will eventually read the book below based solely on the cover.

Covers matter to me.

The couple times I’ve bought an e-book that didn’t have the cover image from the book, I’ve felt a little ripped off. Even on my iPhone screen, I want to see cover art. The weak graphics for the Kindle are one of the reasons I never bought one. Call me shallow, but I like seeing color covers. (Fortunately, the iPad and what follows will support large, full-cover colors.)

While good artists will always find work, it is unfortunate that the work of Chip Kidd, John Picacio, and other artists and designers won’t leap out like they do when people hold physical books in their hands.

Are you a nurse?  If you are, I have a great job lead for you—it pays $2,500 a year!

Project manager?  Great gig at a place I know for $3,000 a year!

I don’t know a nurse or a project manager who would work 6 or 7 days a week for that kind of money.

Why is it, then, that some writers will take jobs paying $5 for a 1,000-word article?

I’ve done some crappy jobs in my time, and the people who paid me very little and treated me poorly gave me more credit than many writers give themselves.

When I used to read about writers who took low-paying jobs, it angered me. I’d read about it and think, “They’re ruining pay rates for the rest of us!”

While there’s some truth to that statement, if somebody offers to pay a laughable rate and people are willing to take the job, that’s what the market supports. I think it insults some writers not so much because of the low pay, but because it means the content we create is no longer the rare commodity that it once was.

Anybody can do it!

When it comes to sharing information, I believe anybody can learn to write a basic article that they can be paid for.

I can’t even begin talking about how much this used to bother me — I was clearly on the side of writers who fumed, claiming that these cheap writers were creating unfair conditions for the rest of us. But when you cling to old standards that are being torn down all around, whether you like it or not, you’re going to be left standing there, skinned, like a dinosaur in a museum going nowhere.

So why doesn’t this bother me like it once did?

Change forces me to adapt

I’ve always heard, “Nobody likes change,” but I typically do. (And when I don’t like it, I eventually come around to seeing the good even in an unfortunate situation.)

Change forces me to focus; change forces all of us to keep striving for more, instead of hiding behind the status quo.

While there are people writing 1,000 – 2,500-word articles for $5 – $25, there are still plenty of markets willing to pay more for quality. Perhaps in some of those markets the competition has increased because as one market falls, those clinging to it rush into another, but there’s always room for good content.

Most of the articles I’ve been paid for were very informative, but I rarely pushed myself when writing those articles. I wrote some articles solely because I was paid a decent rate to produce content.

With more competition and people willing to write informative articles for a handful of change, I have to now rise above just being informative. As I look at the articles I want to write in 2010, I’m looking at them more like I look at writing fiction.

I wouldn’t write a story just for money, and from now on, I’m only going to pitch articles I really want to write, articles that are more fun and rewarding, instead of just informative content for cash.

Change forces me to be the best I can be

With some markets for informative content being filled by people writing for less spare change than they’d probably make begging in the streets, my competition consists of great writers who are informative and entertaining.

To compete with better writers, I have to become a better writer. I can no longer do just enough to complete an assignment — I now have to put into non-fiction as much as I’ve put into fiction.

I should have been doing this all along.

If all you strive for is mediocrity, it’s not hard to attain.

To make it now, I have to be even better.

Change forces me to look at the value of free

While there may be a day I monetize this blog, I’m creating content for free.

And I will continue creating content for free.

For the non-fiction writing I’ve done, my average per-word rate probably averages around $.35/word.

If I applied that rate to The Juggling Writer, I’ve given away over $10,000 of content in three months.

Some people would look at that and say I’m insane!

To me, it would be insane to create the content I’ve created on this blog for approximately $500, writing for somebody else making most of the money.

Some people may be willing to take a fistful of singles for thousands of words of content, but I’m not one of those people.

In Chris Anderson’s book, Free, he talks about how when something that was once a commodity becomes common, its physical value (i.e., monetary value) is greatly reduced, or becomes free.

With so many sources of information available for free — like it or not — it’s in a writer’s best interest to at least consider offering some free content.

The Juggling Writer may not be making me money, but I enjoy challenging myself to keep a regular schedule. I get to think about writing more by writing about it almost daily. And if something I’ve written helps somebody else, as sappy as it sounds, there are times that means so much more to me than even decent money.

Change makes me look to the future

When you are at a decent enough job; when you are writing informative content because it pays well; when you are doing anything for the sake of comfort, your world is eventually going to come apart all around you.

I was raised to believe if I stuck with a job I could kind of stomach that I could eke out a decent living.

After 5 or 6 layoffs in approximately 10 years, I’ve realized that’s no longer the case.

Change is inevitable and, many times, that change isn’t for the better.

Newspapers, which have been good to me, are on their knees. Publishers cling to what used to work and ignore new possibilities. Writers complain about other writers doing what they do for a fraction of what they were once paid. It seems every week, lately, there’s been somebody claiming that the end times of publishing are nigh.

But if you are open to change and look around and forward, there are so many possibilities for writers right now.

While many claim it’s the worst time ever to be a writer, I’m looking ahead and more excited than ever.

I wouldn’t be this excited had things never changed somewhere along the way.

Change makes me love writing like I did in the beginning

I love working on The Juggling Writer entries.

I love working on article ideas.

I love working on fiction.

I love thinking about other kinds of writing I haven’t done for years, or never tried.

I’ve been thinking about a lot of things since being laid off in December. The big thing on my mind: writing!

I’ve spent two decades going about things “the right way.”

I’ve focused on “balancing” my career and passions, and have had sloppy luck at both pursuits. This isn’t to say I haven’t had successes with writing and jobs, but I’ve looked at writing and work the way I was taught. You go to work, work hard, and all is well. Don’t make waves, keep your head down, and do the right thing. Do this, and you’ll retire with security. We know that’s no longer the case, and it’s in our best interests to embrace the inevitable changes.

With non-fiction, I walked right in and had success. (It just wasn’t what I wanted to do full time.) With fiction, I bought into old methods and hit a lot of walls. When doors opened — granted — they were big doors, but even they ultimately closed before I was invited in to live the big dream. Over time, it’s easy to get frustrated, wondering if the big break will ever come. My love of the process became a little stale.

My love of writing has never wavered, though. Writing is something I’d do whether I’m paid for it or not. I write not because I have to; I write because I want to!

There have been times over the years that I forgot that.

There have been times over the years that big dreams got in the way of what I loved.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know there will be a lot more change — good and bad. I can’t control a lot of the change coming my way.

There’s only one thing I can know for sure: I will always love writing and never stop!

Whether it becomes a part time job, a full time job, or if nobody ever reads another word by me, I will write until the day I die and put all I’ve got into every word!

I may not make enough change to fill my pockets, but by changing the way I look at writing, I’ll always be able to sit down at my desk and do what I love for all the right reasons.

We let out a sigh of relief when “the other guys” are shown the door instead of us.

We hope the proverbial pink slip never comes our way, especially in a time when the unemployment rate is over 10% and when many of the 90% working are underemployed.

It’s not a good time for a layoff.

But a layoff may not be as bad as it sounds for somebody juggling a day job and writing; in fact, it might be a blessing in disguise!

Laid Off

Most part time writers spend their days at work wishing they had more time to write.

With a layoff, you do have more time to write!

For most people, finding the next job takes priority to writing all day, but between the job hunt and interviews, there are hours each day to write.

Get your mind off of losing your job and put the time to good use doing what you used to spend all day wishing you could do all day.

Slow Down

The natural tendency after being laid off is to rush right out and find your next day job. Even if you can’t afford a lag in employment, once you’re done with the job hunt each day, relax and write.

Slowing down can help your writing. Take time to just sit and do nothing…because you can! Go for a walk and think about article or story ideas. Meet with friends and talk about your writing plans.

Slowing down clears the mind and is good for the body.

Getting a taste of writing without being so rushed gives you a taste of your dream.

If you’re lucky and productive, your next day job may be writing from home.

Organize

Organizing the home office for the job hunt is good for your writing, too.

As you organize or prepare files in your search for a new job, also clean and reorganize your writing folders. (It’s a good time to organize physical and electronic files.)

There’s something refreshing about preparing for the job hunt and dedicating more time for writing. After working for years or decades at the same place, once the shock of being laid off falls to the side, most people have a sense of relief and look forward to what’s next.

Organizing for the job hunt and writing is one of the most important steps in the next chapter in your life.

Research and Plan

As you research potential new jobs, also research potential writing markets.

If you write fiction, consider writing articles, Web content, or other shorter pieces that bring credits and a little money your way.

Use your time to think beyond what’s right in front of you — make a plan of where you want to take your writing, even if you end up finding a new job quickly.

With a fresh start, it’s a perfect time to research story ideas and plan where you want those articles and stories to take you.

Do It!

You can prepare all you want, but to make it writing, you have to put your ass in a chair and produce!

Many people, when faced with producing on their own, have a harder time than they thought they would — some people find that they aren’t cut out to be full time writers. (There’s nothing wrong with continuing to juggle a day job with writing if you find that structure easier.) Others find they write more than they ever believed.

The time following a layoff is a great time for writing. This is your moment…make the most of it!

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Tomorrow I’ll put my money where my mouth is and discuss how I was laid off the Thursday before Christmas, and how a layoff seven years ago was one of the best things to ever happen to me as a writer.