Want to move to the US in a few years.

So, here's the deal.
I want to move to the US for a few years, and start anew.
I have a best friend in L.A, who I would like to live with when I arrive.
But the deal is, until now, I thought it would be as simple as crossing the border, and living happily in the U.S, I never took into mind all this VISA information. (I thought that was only for other countries far away, not Canada, since we're basically brothers to the U.S.)
The thing is, all I want to to is keep a casual job, at say, an Electronics store, while me and my friend focus on our writing career. I have no job lined up, no special skills that would help me get a better career over there, except for my writing. What can I do to maintain a residence and a job in L.A?
I heard that since we're so close to the U.S, we can move there, get a job, THEN apply for a permanent residence but everything else I've read has said otherwise.
(A Canadian passport will let me stay for 6 months at a time in the U.S, I think this is ample time to find a job and stuff like that.)

I want someone to clear this up for me once and for all.
Please be descriptive, and tell me what kind of VISA I would need, if I need one.
Or, just tell me how I can move to the U.S and get a job upon arriving at just a casual old place. (Best Buy. places like that.)
Thank you VERY much in advance, I've been stressing over this like you wouldn't believe, and would like everything answered.

You cannot work in the US without some kind of employment authorization. You generally have 2 options:

1) Work visa/status
2) Green card

To get work visa/status you need an employer to sponsor you. To get a green card, you either need an employer to sponsor you, or you need to marry a US citizen of the opposite sex.

The only other option to get a green card is the diversity lottery, but if you were born in Canada, then you aren't eligible for that.

There are a few other unusual ways you can get work authorization--you can go to school in the US and possibly work part time (not automatic though), you can marry an Australia who has an E-3 visa, etc.

You really can't just travel to the US, find a job and start working. If you do, you could get in some serious trouble. Likely be kicked out of the US and banned from re-entering (maybe worse).

And you can't legally look for a job while you're in the US either as a visitor. If you want to do that, you have to have a specific interview set up with a specific employer before you enter.

There is no visa category for non-professional jobs, except seasonal workers (less than a year). I suppose you might be able to get an H-2B visa to work at Best Buy over Christmas, but I've never heard of anyone managing it, it's more for people who work at ski slopes and holiday villas and the like.

It is easier for Canadians to get into the US, because there are things like the TN-1 entry category (professionals entering the US to work there temporarily) and you don't have to get a visa simply to visit or to study, but getting work authorisation is pretty hard, generally speaking.