Olá, escritor!
That's Portuguese for "Hello, writer." I know this
because... well, because of Google Translate.
But also because the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott has convinced me to learn a new language.
Well, convinced me in a roundabout way.
See, last week we were at the Writers' Museum in Edinburgh and I came across a display that contained Scott's chess set.
He played chess often as a
young man, with his mates -- 18th century peer pressure! -- but found the game to be what he called "a sad waste of brains."
Why spend hours studying and practicing to become a better chess player, the
author wondered, when one could use that time to learn a new language instead?
What Scott was really saying is this: "Intellectual pursuits are more important to me than
amusement."
And that's fine. We all have to set our own priorities.
Me, I need my leisure time. I lounge; I watch TV and movies; I play the occasional video game. And I don't believe these things keep me from writing, or from becoming a better writer.
When I want to write, I write. When I don't, I don't. My amusements keep me sane.
In other words, Sir Walter can stuff it. Hey Wally, how do you say "pompous ass" in Maori?
Still, I thought about it for a while, and there is one activity I engage in that I would consider a "sad
waste of brains." And I'm going to give it up, and spend that time studying a new language instead.
Do you engage in any activity that Walter Scott would call a sad waste of brains? Do you think it is? If so, and if you gave it up, what would you do instead?
Let's talk about it! Share with the group in the comments of the post, or reply to this message to reach me directly.
