Comments on: Between Gigs? 20 Things Freelance Writers Can Do to Keep Busy When There’s No Work

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:36:22 +0000

I have a horrible time writing when no one has given me an assignment. I used to be so creative, but that seems to have left me in my old age.

I keep a list of magazines I would like to submit articles to, and I SHOULD be working on those submissions when I’m between gigs. I’m the guilty dog who plays around instead. My current goal is become more focused and business-like.

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:15:58 +0000

I don’t get down time too often but sometimes I make some for myself and spend a few hours a week stumbling through stumbleupon.com. It’s very inspirational. I now only stumble blindly but also stumble through friends and colleagues sites and do social bookmarking on friends’ blogs and articles

By: Peggy

Peggy — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:04:00 +0000

#4 is good. I like to pick a bunch of mags and sit at the bookstore coffee shop and gently read them. They probably hate me since I buy maybe 1 of 15. : )

By: Amy Derby

Amy Derby — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:29:07 +0000

P.S., volunteermatch,org is a great suggestion. I’ve used their site a few times to find volunteer writing/blogging gigs for charities when I’ve been slow.

By: Amy Derby

Amy Derby — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:10:57 +0000

Great ideas, Deb.

After being out of commission with mono for a month, I’m so backed up with work that I’d LOVE to be in between gigs!! (Dr. Seuss sounds good to me, Matt!)

I was sad to read about the financial situation here (especially about Jodee). Jodee, if you’re out there, I hope you’ve got other steady work to keep you busy. If not, I might have a lead or two for you on lawfirm blogging gigs (for good clients I just don’t have time for at the moment). I can’t seem to find your email address.

By: Beth Morrissey

Beth Morrissey — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:23:45 +0000

I just wrote a post about lulls too! I included “talk about it with your writing friends” because misery loves company – sometimes it’s nice to hear that your not the only one a little light on deadlines.

By: John Platt

John Platt — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:40:36 +0000

14 – Volunteer. Visit volunteermatch.org. There are always charities and non-profits looking for writers for newsletters, ads, websites, blogs, etc. Good, fun work that can also help build up your clips if you need them.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:06:46 +0000

I have had work lulls and use them to catch up on other things, mostly relating to my book review site. I’ll read, revamp things that need tweaking, etc. This is only after I’ve sent out more resumes though.

I also use the lulls to spend more time with my kids and husband. You can’t forget making extra time for them!

By: Terry Finley

Terry Finley — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:00:06 +0000

This could apply to all writers.

By: Russ Roberts

Russ Roberts — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:23:24 +0000

Hi Deb,

I don’t know why a freelance writer ever has nothing to do. When there’s not a paying gig to keep you occupied, you can always work on a short story, a poem, or a novel. On the non-fiction side, you can always draft book ideas, research a publisher, or work on a proposal.

I don’t care how much the publishing industry has evolved, those sorts of things are always going to be part of writing.

I think it goes back to something I’ve always felt, and that is: What do you want to accomplish out of a writing career? If you treat freelance writing as just another way to make money, and count success by the amount of gigs you have, you might as well have never quit your fulltime job: you’re doing the same thing here or there, and that is using your time to make money. However, if you burn to write a great novel, or write poetry, or just even write a book about gardening, then those are the things you should pursue, either when you have time or even when you have gigs out the wazoo.

The biggest mis-statement in history is: An unemployed freelance writer. A writer is always employed in writing. If others care to rate us by the amount of gigs/money we make, that’s their yardstick.