Is it better to spend free time learning a new skill, or perfecting?
Go to new skill. Any one. There is that thing of 10.000 hours of practicing, right?Some people say it is a myth. But for me there are two important things. First you must be born to do it to really excel at something. I could practice piano for a hundred thousand hours and would still be a fiasco. My mother taught piano and understood that in ten minutes: the time she took to realize I wasnt kidding around, I was really trying. Everyone is born different, with some innate ability to some things. But we dont know what until we really try. And that brings the second point. You dont need 1.000 hours to learn a new skill. You will improve a lot in the first few hours. After some hours you should know if you really enjoy it and if you are going to be any good at it. Remember that most skills are mostly about patience and techs. So, it is not like committing to a TV show that will be aired for years to come, like Firefly. :) Besides each new skill improves the others. So you write. Good. You think that learning how to draw wont improve your writing abilities? I (almost) cant draw but I know it would improve my writing. Drawing a sword with a pencil, or with words, is complementary. If you can draw a sword, or a person, you will be able to describe it much more precisely. You dont need to master a skill to enjoy and learn from it. I know because I started playing theatre some time ago. :) Go for it. And then pick another.