As adults, we underestimate the value of play. It’s important to resist this bias.
For example, one of the most valuable tools for a writer is editing (which happens to be one of the skills I most need to develop), so next to my keyboard I have Stet! Dreyer’s English—A Game for Language Lover’s, Grammar Geeks, and Bibliophiles, a box of grammar and style cards that I can play with throughout the day.
Once or twice a day, I pull out a card, read its poorly worded content, and see if I can identify its grammar or style flaw for myself. Then I will flip it over to see Dreyer’s answer. Right or wrong, I am always learning, and if I had to guess, I am getting a little bit of dopamine after each attempt. (In this sense, I suspect it’s similar to practicing free throws back in high school .)
By itself, will it level me up as a writer? Probably not directly, but one thing I can say with certainty: it makes me enjoy the act of editing, and over time developing the joy of editing may indeed make me a better writer.
Well, goodbye until tomorrow. It’s time to play.