Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. (Prov 9:9)

When fall approaches, I start thinking about going back to school. I always enjoyed school, from learning new things to seeing my friends to joining clubs.

Even as I got older, I continued my love of learning. I studied English literature and writing as an undergrad and secondary education as a graduate student. Sometimes, I think about going back to get my Master of Fine Arts or maybe even my doctorate.

But until then, I take advantage of the learning opportunities that come my way every day. I sign up for free webinars and listen to podcasts on business, leadership, and writing-related topics. For my birthday, I received an all-access pass to Masterclass from a good friend. Masterclass offers over 65 online classes taught by experts in the field. I never imagined I’d get to learn about writing from Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, or James Patterson, but those are just a few of the online program instructors.

Writing conferences, local writing group meetings, and critique groups are essential components of any well-rounded writing syllabus. In-person meetings are an important networking tool, and this is just as useful to me as a freelance editor as a writer.

Writing, as in any profession, is one in which learning is important. Many people think that writers just sit down and a complete book flows from their fingertips, but that’s not the case. As with anything worthwhile, writing takes time. Craft can and should be learned and then put into practice.

In Proverbs, we are instructed to use learning as a tool to gain wisdom. Throughout the gospels, we learn how to follow Jesus through his example and the teachings he shared with his followers. No matter how old we get or how much we know, there is always more to learn.

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me a love of learning. Help me to never stop learning more about you. Amen.