Thinking about my non-writing hobbies, I always wonder if they connect. Maybe not directly to writing, but do they say anything about my personality. There are currently three big activities that I do when I can’t write or need a break. Not counting work or parenting because those aren’t hobbies. Anyway, they are:
- Jigsaw puzzles (limited to 1,000 piece due to table size)
- Lego sets (running out of display space)
- Pokemon Go
The first two are fairly easy to connect to writing. With Lego and puzzles, you’re putting something together. The former has instructions while the latter has a picture, which fits with me needing to make an outline before I write. Having a guide reduces my stress and keeps me focused. Though, I still run into issues where pieces don’t fit and I have to step back to figure things out. You’d be surprised how many times a Lego instruction isn’t very clear or two pieces look the same in terms of color. Means I have to take things apart and change stuff out, which is like editing. Jigsaw puzzles don’t have that issue, but I do have to pay attention to detail to put things in the right place.
Pokemon Go is a tougher one to connect to writing other than I work in fantasy and this game involves fictional creatures. It took me a while to figure out why this game grabbed me more than the stuff on the Nintendo Switch. At first, I thought it was solely that it acted as exercise and got me out of the house, which is good. Then, I thought about all of my goals in the game. I want to get a shiny of every Pokemon and get at least one of each, which is why the events with debuts get my attention. This is a more nuanced connection in that I want to at least outline every book idea I have for Windemere. Just don’t have the time for it these days, which is why I get maybe one character of Phi Beta done a week unless there’s a break.
Another thing with Pokemon Go is that I can go on mental autopilot with the game as I walk around. This allows my mind to sort through other things and clear my head for writing. I’m sacrificing writing time to make the hours I do get more useful. I do find that I don’t stare at the screen nearly as much after coming back from a walk even if there’s a lunch between activities. The mental wandering while playing also helps me settle plot issues unless I run into other players. Then, it’s socializing and chatting, but it still acts as a powerful stress reducer. Unless the weather is terrible, which puts me in the mall and I have to focus on dodging people. That’s another thing.
Now, what does all of this say about my personality?
- Need to be organized.
- Highly stressed and need outlets.
- Need to create.
- Need outside stimuli for mental focus.
- Need short-term goals on top of long-term.
- Easily frustrated by own hobbies.
Anyway, this is some meandering thoughts on me. Do other people have hobbies that they connect to their personality?
Legends of Windemere 
I used to do Pokémon Go because I played the games. When I took a break from the games, I stopped playing Pokémon Go. But I enjoyed catching Pokémon in many places and talking to people while doing so.
I enjoy puzzles of all kinds, including jigsaw puzzles. My family and I do several of the NYT puzzles, because we each have a subscription to the games.
I love to crochet. I’m working on a bear pillow right now. (It looks like the head of a bear.) I am part of a crafting group of friends. We get together once a month to work on crafts.
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Sounds like a cool crochet project. I’ve never had the hard coordination for stuff like that. Crafting group must be fun.
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It is. Some of the gorup members are writers. We craft to relax from the stress of the day.
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I guess my only hobby is cooking. I used to love restoring my 1973 Toyota FJ 40 but dad to let her go because a lack of a place to work. At least I had her to street legal status before the sale.
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That’s a shame, but it sounds like a victory in progress.
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I enjoyed small victories.
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I think your hobbies are all a result of your higher-level thinking. I like to bake, knit and of course, write. Plus swim when the pools are open. My daughter and I do crosswords together and I play some spatial orientation and word games on my phone.
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Used to have word games on my old phone. Never brought them back. Need to buy a new word search book too.
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I am word-centered – love those games!
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I also do jigsaw puzzles, and I garden. These both allow my mind to wander while building something. At the same time, I either read more books or play video games with a story in them. A way to bring in new ideas and influences.
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Fun. I’ve found games that are all action help me relax better. No down time to think of themes and stories.
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I think our hobbies have to relate to our personalities or we wouldn’t pick them up. I have an Isekai game I play, and I have been monkeying with AI apps for years. Gives me a chance to adventure without actually editing and worrying about story structure. Sometimes it inspires thing that can be reshaped into my stories.
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An isekai game? Curious which one.
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Isekai Slow Life
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Interesting. I’ll have to give it a look.
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