June 7, 2006
Yesterday I wrote a little bit about how a writer defines himself or herself. Just some thoughts about the writing life. For the longest time I defined myself as an aspiring novelist, and thought I had no interest in nonfiction.

Later, it was as book reviewer. Writer.

Now it's as writer, freelance writer, journalist, businessman, novelist, editor.

I was thinking a little more about this because late yesterday I received an e-mail from my agent detailing a contract offer from Midnight Ink. This morning I had a long phone conversation with her about the offer and my so-called fiction career and fiction writing and publishing in general. No, no details here.

But when I left the gym today, headed out to lunch, I remembered something I wrote yesterday. Here it is:

"You're pretty much in the entertainment business, which traditionally was held by jesters, clowns and blind storytellers."

And what I thought, my brain making connections, was:

They used to call jesters "fools."

Best,
Mark Terry