Reinventing Myself
Spring is time to refresh and renew, time for cleaning and clearing and starting over. This season, I’m taking the concept beyond the closet and the garage, beyond even the many rooms of my own internal mansion, and have embarked on a path I first imagined taking as a lad in school, when I became aware that behind each great and sometimes impenetrable work of literature I had to digest was the story of a real person.
As it turned out, most writers of the classical and modern literature I studied were men, and disproportionately damaged ones, at that. But the back stories of their lives always seemed interesting and sometimes transcended the stories they wrote themselves. Authors seemed larger to me, and more heroic than the masses of other men from every epoch, who invariably led lives of quiet desperation.
In all likelihood, the chances of my story ever inspiring some youngster the way Byron or Twain or Homer or Hemingway lit certain fires in me are … well, as a correspondent of mine likes to put it — vanishingly small. But I am desperate to live what remains of my life driven by inspiration rather than by fear or desire, to reach for the best within me and not grasp at some external vision of success, or worth, or meaning.
To these lofty ends I have begun to receive my first commissions working as a freelance journalist. This month I’ve got a piece published in the Bay Area-based computer magazine Mac|Life, the print edition (May 2008) of which is on newsstands now. An extended online version of my interview with Wired magazine editor Leander Kahane should have a hyperlink within days. I’ll update it here when it goes live.
Next month, my contribution to a feature-length piece on the Apple iPhone SDK is scheduled to hit, and in July you’ll be able to read my reviews of gear ranging from a home media server, to a hand-held scanner, music-enhancement software and a bluetooth-equipped iPod boombox.
Tomorrow morning I’m interviewing Olympic swimmer and world-record holder Natalie Coughlin, who collaborated on the design of a waterproof case and headset for the iPod mini and produced her own swim training program.
It’s all part of an exciting change of direction for me after an abortive and largely unsatisfying foray into the realm of technology start-ups and corporate sales quotas.
I hope I Just Have To Say readers will check out my online writing for Mac|Life and leave comments or diggs to help the editors there understand what a valuable resource they’ve come into, and I encourage as well, subscription to this blog’s RSS feeds for both posts and comments so as not to miss any of the action.
Who knows, if I can get enough paid freelance work I might write a novel that could one day pop out of some school kid’s Norton Anthology and steer him or her toward a life of the mind and the heart.
Comments
16 Responses to “Reinventing Myself”
Share your thoughts...
LD:
can i just say… i have known you since your majored in English in college and was always dazzled by your deftness and adroitness with the spoken and penned word. Three cheers for “following your bliss,” as some “dead guy” might have said (yeah, Joe Campbell, I know)… considering where you live, i suspect you will find a good market for your unique blend of talents and an appreciative client roster as word spreads.
we’ll hoist many on 8/8/08.
Mercy Daze indeed.
L,
Best wishes in giving the best of yourself.
Your new path makes a lot of sense given your obvious writing talents as witnessed in your regular blog. Good luck to you Lon. Your dream of inspiring a fire in others has already been realized.
Byron’s first poems were recalled and burned, Twain was “Roughing It” for quite a while, Homer…well, lived in tough times, and Hemingway had to go to war. Lonnie, with your mind and heart, I think you just might get there!!
Congratulations on taking the plunge, LonBud. One of those natural fit “what the fuck took you so long” kind of things, it seems
You will no doubt excel, my friend. Following your heart’s desire is success at its core. You’ll still sing here and there, too, yes? Hope to see you soon.
May your mind and heart be wide and bright and your mind….kept always right.
Lonnie,
Congrats! Two bits that I heard when I went f/l several years ago now; 1) You now have the toughest boss in the world and if you call in sick no one will answer the phone, 2) When you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing the universe will conspire with you to make you a success. All the best and hopefully now you’ll have some time to help me out with some vocals?
“Open” Mike
Lonnie
It’s great to hear that you’re re-re-re-re-reinventing yourself once again. I’ve known you for a long time! Congratulations on taking your writing in another fulfilling direction. I’ll be looking out for it.
Fern
I’m so very grateful for the positivity and encouragement expressed here; thank you all. Please know I will endeavor to remain humble and diligent in the light of my own great expectations.
More to come…
As one late-blooming writer to another, good luck on your new adventure. I must admit that in order to finance my writing habit, I am now in the midst of learning Dreamweaver to keep the wolf from the door. Ah, art! What a mistress!
The best of Lonnie’s writings are letters written to me 30 years ago.I knew at that time we were dealing with a very talented writer. The world is not ready for their release however. The world must wait. Doc
Well, the world no longer has to wait for the Leander Kahane interview to be available online. Posted yesterday. Give it a digg and some favorable comments.
And thank you, Doc. I hope you’ve held on to some of those letters; would love to read ‘em again sometime…
You were blessfully not granted early success, so you could grow into a decent man who actually gave a damn about heart, head and what you put forth. I will be one of many that want to see you go wherever your rich talent takes you. I will also be willing to tell you if your pride goeth before you. Congratulations Lonnie Boy, the world is ready or not for the likes of you.
Your Friend and Admirer,
Jeannie B.
Lon my friend. Catching up on the blog and sending you the best of all I can muster to help you tap into the muse that shines within you and I have been blessed to experience for (now-whew) so many years! Be in touch.
Sanford I.
Lonnie -
Caught your articles in MacLife (not sure how to type the symbol for the dock divider included in the magazine title). Well-written and informative. I was struck, though, by the name of the author. How many Lonnie Lazar’s could there be in this world? I remember one from Memphis who went to my father’s camp in Wisconsin. Last I saw of you (if I’m correct) was onstage jamming with The Radiators at JP’s wedding in Memphis. Good to see you listening to your muse. Keep up the good work and keep us tuned in to all things blissfully Mac.
Jim Hiken (now in Louisville)
Jim, thanks for checking in and for the compliments. I think we have a few Timberlaners among the readership here and I’m pleased to say my summers in Woodruff were among the most memorable of my life. My son is eight now and next year, or the year after for sure, he’ll be headed to his first sleep-away camp, somewhere. I can only hope he enjoys the experience half as much as I enjoyed Timberlane.
I hope life is good for you in Louisville, the hometown of two of my favorite characters of the 20th century: Cassius Clay and Hunter S. Thompson.