Elliot couldn’t escape his previous cramped quarters quickly enough. Sparing them one brief backward glance, he raced off to seek adventure and fortune. And who knew? Maybe even romance.

To be continued…

Next time . . .

“Wait a minute. That’s it? That’s all? You call yourself a writer?” You, feeling cheated by such brevity.

Yes, that’s it, that’s all, and I do call myself a writer, thank you very much. But I want you to get your money’s worth be happy, so I’m offering you a twofer.

Last year, my first blog post ever was the “A” post of the 2016 A to Z Challenge, so I didn’t have much of an audience. Not that the quality of its members wasn’t stellar, just that there weren’t many of them. And it turned out that I wrote a bunch of stuff I’m — dare I say it — proud of. So in order to give you more, and see if those posts appeal to anyone else, I will post last year’s posts directly below this year’s.

“How’s that?” Me, the introverted optimist knowing I won’t get any answers till after the deed is done.

Here goes. From April 1, 2016:

Anticipation

Yeah, I’m new to this whole blogging thing. I’ve anticipated, in a somnambulistic sort of way, writing one — someday. I just didn’t know it would be today. But somebody I respect suggested the Blogging from A to Z Challenge  would be a good way to break into the blogging habit, and I believed him. My anticipation is now fully awake. And quaking.

It’s not that I haven’t ever committed to writing on a regular basis. I have. In fact, I’ve got a little light fantasy/adventure serial thing going, over on FB called Live to Tell the Tales. (The Perils of Pauline ain’t got nothin’ on Elliot’s Adventures!) Ten months of daily bite-sized episodes — each with its own photo — and some enthusiastically loyal readers. It’s on hold right now because The Book took over. (Another story for another day. Hey, maybe tomorrow: B Day!)

Anyway, this post is about Anticipation. That delicious knowing that something unknown is about to happen. If I were an anxious sort of person, it might not be so delicious, but I’m not, so it is. That standing-on-tiptoe-leaning-into-the-wind feeling, just waiting for it to hold you up. Or drop you flat.

“Faith is not a dirty word and hope is not for fools.” Robert Downey, Jr.

That’s my favorite thing about anticipation — it’s so hopeful. Possibilities soar on iridescent wings in a dazzling sky, carrying your heart, your dreams, your future to heights you’ve never seen. Will you land on your feet or plummet to Earth in a fireball of passion?

Landing on your feet is sweet, but a fireball of passion becomes a mythic Phoenix. So either way, you win — if you don’t mind re-inventing yourself. Honestly, how many times has that already happened to you?

Maybe that’s what anticipation is for. Creating a new vision of what might be. So I’ve created a blog. I hope you’ll find some semi-precious nuggets here, or a laugh or two, and I hope you’ll join me as I find my feet and my way.

I anticipate being here tomorrow.

#AtoZChallenge

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story... View all posts by Sue Ranscht