R.C. Woods's Blog, page 5

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I haven't updated in a while so I thought I'd let everyone know what's been going on in the world of RC Woods.

I've started writing a screenplay for the story of 'The Brothers Series'. It's much more difficult than I imagined, and nothing at all like writing a book, but I've already committed myself so I will finish it! (Might be 2 years from now, but I WILL finish it!) I have it all pictured in my mind, but squeezing it out of that deep, dark hole into an acceptable format is a completely different story.

Meanwhile, I have started a new story delving into the circumstances of Jeremy's life resulting in his placement with Carol and Victor Mathews. (And ultimately, Shane) It's a bit of a tragic beginning, but I hope it will help explain some things about him. The book will be a stand-alone and will not require prior reading of 'The Brothers Series'. But, it would be a good history lesson for those who've already read the series to find out exactly how the relationship formed between the two men.

I've been thinking of doing something I've never done before..(Hmmmm..... sounds so serious, doesn't it?) When it is finished, I'm thinking of offering a chapter each week FREE on this website. Nothing to download, nothing to buy. I still get to write and you still get to read it....for free.
I'd like to know what you think. Is it a good idea? Is it a bad idea?
What say YOU?

Please shoot me an email!

Think you can slay my dragon? I think NOT.

From time to time, life calls for us to suit up, grab the ol' morning star and broadsword, and storm the castle. Afterwards, as we stand battle-weary and bloody, yet proud of ourselves for a triumphant victory, someone says;
"Really? Man, you suck. You can't even fight your way out of a brown paper bag. How embarrassing for you!"
"Huh?"     
You're a little confused. Everyone else is excited and happy that you saved the castle and its inhabitants from the Evil Villains, and here in front of you is this individual, telling you that you have failed. (Quite rudely, I might add)

You pull off your armet and plackart, letting the heavy steel armor fall to the ground at your feet while you continue to stare blankly into the face of your critic.
Whoa there, negative Nancy....
With their words whispering in one ear, you thoughtfully begin to scrutinize your battle strategy, attempting to figure out if you've been wrong all along and why anyone would so blatantly attack your good intentions. You consider quitting, hanging up your armor in defeat...giving up.

Meanwhile, in your other ear, you hear the townspeople throwing out ecstatic shouts, praising your worth as a strong and mighty defender. You feel empowered by their shouts of encouragement and the chanting of your name. But even then, you find your mind returning to the haunting voice of one nay-sayer over the encouraging cheers of the crowd.

Then suddenly, a cool uplifting breeze penetrates the gaps in your armor plating and refreshes your spirit. (Among other things, because underneath that layer of steel, you're sweating like a pig)  You discover the gusts come from beneath the slow beat of shiny-scaled wings from above, ruffling your hair as the great beast hovers just a few feet from your head.

Monstrous translucent emerald pinions sweep the ground on either side of you and you can feel its fiery breath against the back of your neck. Large plated scales of iridescent greens and blues glitter and sparkle with every movement as the sun reflects across the smooth surface of its massive body.

Your cynic stands petrified before you, mouth agape and frozen in fear as they peer up with wide eyes at the mythical creature hanging suspended in mid-air.

And then unexpectedly, but with considerable eagerness, it lunges... your flailing and screaming critic vanishing within the beast's open jaws. There is an oddly satisfying crunch of bone as they are devoured. Their negativity and derogatory remarks are ground into unidentifiable bites of mush between razor sharp teeth. Finally swallowing what remains of your doom-sayer, a bit of blood dribbles from its lip as it turns its eyes towards you.

You smile and pat its head. "Good job, Dragonowski, good job."
(My dragon has Polish origins)
Your dragon smiles back, nods, winks one plate-sized ruby-red eye in your direction, and flies away.

The moral of the story:
If you believe in your battle, continue to fight with all of your heart and let your dragon take care of the critics.

Underwear Model to Notorious Mr. Grey

It's inevitable.
As the long anticipated movie release draws near, I'm compelled to write something in regards to the negative feedback I've heard and read about the actor chosen to portray Christian Grey in the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' movie.
The one, single most important thing that I can say is this. It doesn't matter who would be chosen to play Christian Grey, there would be someone, somewhere, unhappy about it. Matt Bomer, Charlie Hunnan, ect, ect,...it doesn't matter. When we read a book, any book, our imagination creates the features of the characters based on our own personal preferences. (That's the glory of reading!)
WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT. If every one of us found the same type of person attractive, the entire world would be in chaotic disarray as we scrambled to get our claws into the few out there who actually match our envisioned 'perfect' specimen.
But the truth of it is, Jamie Dornan is in fact, an attractive man.
Does he fit my vision of the oh-so-beautiful and tortured billionaire Christian Grey?
No, not really, but he's growing on me. (You have to admit, he rocks those Calvin Klein underwear!)
Will his lack of living up to my Christian Grey standard stop me from seeing the movie?
Nope, I've already purchased my tickets.
Personally, I'm anxious to see life breathed into these characters; to see the wide range of emotion this story brings out on the screen. (I do adore a good love story...this one just happens to have a Red Room of Pain.) I've discovered that writing a screenplay for a movie is an entirely different animal than writing a book. It will be interesting to see how the scenes transform from page to screen. But, I won't use that as my excuse for wanting to see the movie. I want to see it no matter who they've chosen to play Christian Grey.
My advice to all of those people who are unhappy with the choice of actors is this....Don't see the movie.
It's really just that simple. If it is going to destroy the persona of Christian Grey that E.L. James created in your mind, don't bother.
But let me remind you of one very tiny, but important detail....
He isn't a real man.

"Christian Grey — he isn't a real person. He's a superhero — a myth. He's like Bigfoot! He's unbelievable. He's unattainable. There's no actor in the world who could live up to that." - Jamie Dornan (in that sweet Irish accent)

Agreed, Jamie, agreed.

FREE PROMO

What Lies Beneath - Initium

After resorting to desperate measures to escape an abusive situation, a young boy hides away from the world on the cold streets of Toronto. Surviving beneath the trash and debris in a cluttered alleyway, he remains undetected until one unique passerby discovers him. Although unable to trust, something buried deep inside the boy is drawn to the stranger.

Jeremy soon finds an exciting new world existing beyond the misery he's always known. At the end of his journey, he discovers a safe place where he can have a normal childhood, access to opportunities that would have otherwise eluded him, and the unexpected friendship of a boy who will stand with him
against any odds.

Is It You Sucking Me Dry?

Well, maybe sometimes I hate people,
but let me clarify.
On a sliding personality scale, I lean
more toward the introverted side.
Introvert.
It's a term used to describe shy people, right? 
Nope.

I'm not shy. I have no problem saying what's on my mind. I've been known to strike up conversations with random strangers. Just today, I launched into a conversation with a ridiculously handsome guy at the recycling center about the volumes of junk mail I receive. (No, shy isn't an issue)
I don't cringe away from confrontation and in fact, don't particularly mind a good 'clash of wills' if I feel strongly about an issue.
It really all comes down to where you draw your energy from.

Some people refuel by spending time with others in social situations or by group interaction. These people lean more heavily toward the extroverted side of the personality scale. They require more energy to arouse their minds, and they gain it from other people. They feed off of the energy of others. They need it.
                                                                                                                                                                         
Introverts do not require interaction with others to re-energize. Actually, too much 'socialization' can zap the energy right out of us and over-stimulate our minds, exhausting us mentally and physically.
People can suck us dry.
Literally.

Instead, introverts need time alone to rebuild their energy and regroup. We require much less stimulation to rouse our minds, and do so best in a quiet and less socialized atmosphere.

Although about half of the population is introverted, most activities in our world are created with the extrovert in mind. Schools encourage such activities, sitting students together in small groups to inspire socialization. Work environments are no different, with clusters of desks in offices with no barriers of privacy between them.
It's acceptable, right?
Sure. It's a grand thing if it's in your personality. If it isn't, too bad.

What happens to the introvert in these situations?
Already on edge and drained from this forced 'social interaction', we tend to sit back and let others do all of the talking. (Not to say we don't add our two cents in if we feel the need.) We miss a lot because we're too busy trying to gain some composure and assess the situation, thoughtfully considering the best answer or solution. By the time we think it all out, the opportunity is gone.

Personally, I don't seek out social interaction situations, and I'd rather stay away from activities where I might be required to work in a group. Am I able to work side by side with people? Of course, I do it every day. Do I like it? Not particularly, but sometimes you learn to adjust. I find that I'm way more productive if I can do things on my own.

We are sometimes called shy, unsociable, boring, or stuck up, but we are none of those things.
Don't judge.
No, I don't hate people.
Sometimes I just need a break from all of the suckers out there.

The Dilemma of the Human Heart

All organs in the body are crucial for survival.

The brain is the system administrator, slaving away day and night to insure all systems are a go, cracking the whip to keep them in line and working efficiently. Without the brain, we would fail to exist. Without its decision making capability, we would wander around like imbeciles not able to determine our next move. Without its memory retention, we couldn't recall cherished memories from days gone by, remember what we did yesterday, or be able to recite the names of our children. (I have children??)

Why then, does this trusted organ betray us?

Deep down inside, something else pulses with ferocious determination. It is said to be responsible for feelings of sadness, love, and compassion along with many others. There are tons of quotes about the passionate capabilities of the ever sensitive heart.
"She has a good heart." (I hope so! She's in trouble if she doesn't.)

"His heart is in the right place." (Ummm...there's pretty much only one place it can be.)

"Trust your heart." (I trust that if it's beating, I'm still alive!)

“The heart has eyes which the brain knows nothing of." (Eyes Without A Face...isn't that a Billy Idol tune?)

How can a mass of mindless pulsating cardiac muscle be credited with such emotional sentiment?

I'll tell you why.
It is because we yearn for hope.
When circumstances seem desperate, it's the heart that whispers reassurance. It helps us continue to search for the tiny shred of possible in the impossible, for the slim-to-none chance in ten million, and for the concealed needle in the haystack. It is responsible for the spark of passion remaining even after our brain has told us to give up.

The heart was programmed to keep the brain in check. It comes forward when our brain is torn with indecision, urging us in one direction or another.
When the heart is winning, the brain rebels. It screams, "Don't do it! It isn't the right thing! You'll be sorry!"
To which the heart calmly replies, "Look, sweetheart (Oddly, my own heart calls me 'sweetheart' in a seductive male tone) Just follow me. What's the worst thing that can happen? Come on, you know I won't steer you wrong."
Sometimes the internal chaos produces feelings of sickness; the back and forth turmoil as a result of indecision. We blame it on nerves, but it isn't nerves. It's the battle waging between our virtuous heart and realistic brain. While the brain pummels us with cold hard facts, the heart argues a soft, but persuasive rebuttal that promises what we are all searching for...hope.
You can't live without either of these organs.
Which one wins?

© RC Woods and rc-woods.com 2015.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from
this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to RC Woods and rc-woods.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Choices.
We are all faced with them. Sometimes they're easy to make while at other times, not so much.
Do we always make the right decisions? Nope.
Do we learn from our mistakes? Uh....well, we should, but not always.
Should you beat yourself up over the bad ones from the past?
Let me first ask, will it do any good?
We've all screwed up. It's a given - it's life - we're human.
Even those people who you think lead the most perfect and flawless lives have screwed up. They may never mention it, and you'll probably never know about it, but they have.
We all do.
They've just chosen not to dwell on it, and instead move forward.
But, back to beating yourself up over it....should you?
Here's my answer to that question. You can take it as you'd like, after all, it's only my opinion.
(And, we know what opinions are like, right?)
No, you shouldn't.
If you are, stop it!
(I might add, and I say this loosely... If you're making the same bad decision over and over again, I believe you may have other issues needing to be addressed.)
Today, at this very moment, let go of any guilt, blame, fault, or anything else you carry with you related to the bad choices in your past. The past is over and gone. It stays alive only if you keep feeding it a steady diet of your insecurity or guilt. You can't go back there, and even if you could, you must ask yourself... Do you feel lucky... punk?
Ooops! I mean, would you really want to?
It's what you do from this day forward that matters most. If you want to be a better person, strive for it, you will become such. Don't let the past haunt you. It will destroy this day as well as future days ahead.
You've got this one life...that's it.
(Unless you believe in reincarnation, under which circumstances you may return as another person, sloth, or possibly dirt depending on the level of wrongness resulting from your bad decisions.)
Once again, it's your choice how you wish to proceed.
As for me....see ya later, past.
I don't live there anymore.

More Ways Than One

I've been reading an interesting book in preparation for my next exciting endeavor and I've found that I can apply the same principles to my own life. It might be because the book just makes an obscenely amount of sense, or it could be my writer's brain attempting to create something more exciting from a mundane "How to" book. (Actually, it's an interesting "How to" kind of read)

Either way, it's human nature to constantly attempt to validate our actions. We need a reason to do what we do, the promise of accomplishment for some long anticipated goal if only we take the proper steps. If we get that raise at work, we will be content. If we find true love, we will finally be happy. If we win the lottery, all of our problems will disappear. (I'd like to give that one a whirl!) If we write a book, we'll sell it, make millions, quit our day jobs, and write books for a living.
(Go big or go home!)
Seriously though, sometimes our goals aren't realistic; not in the context of how we think we need to accomplish them. There are times when we need to re-evaluate the things we want.

NO!! I don't mean to give anyone the false impression I think you should give up on your goals and dreams...that's just a brand new kind of crazy! What I'm trying to get across is, sometimes we need to revisit, regroup, and possibly change things up a bit, choose another course of action to obtain what we want. The goal doesn't have to change, but perhaps the way we are pursuing it does. Maybe we're going about it the wrong way. As you know, there are more ways than one to skin a cat.

Everyone wants something; love, success, notoriety, happiness. The list goes on and on. I've never met anyone who is perfectly content with what they have. It's human nature to always want more, or at least something different than what we already have. But, there's very little point in being miserable while you're trying to accomplish your goals and dreams. If you are, it's a terrible waste of something very valuable and irreplaceable called LIFE.

If you're getting nowhere in the pursuit of your "happiness", whatever it may be, it's time to reconsider you plan of attack. It may take some serious thought, and you may end up feeling frustrated and ready to yank out your own hair (or maybe someone else's!) but, give it some time and you'll figure it out. There may be a few different ways to get to your destination so don't lose hope. I've found from my own experiences that all dirt roads lead somewhere.



© RC Woods and rc-woods.com 2014.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from
this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to RC Woods and rc-woods.com with appropriate and
specific direction to the original content.

For the Love....

It might've taken me a while
to finally decide to love you.
First, you had to prove your devotion.
I needed to learn and experience all of the things you could do for me.
I needed to test you.
I needed proof.
I'm sure it didn't take long.
And, when I finally decided you were worth loving, I loved you with all of my heart,
and never stopped.
I will never stop.
Strong and protective, you were a force to be reckoned with where I was concerned.
You taught me a lot of things about life; sacrifice, discipline, and responsibility.
But mostly, love.
There were times when I was pretty sure you were wrong about everything.
Yet, after the smoke cleared...I found you were right all along. Back then it was hard to admit, but I'm older, and it's much easier now.
I know you think I don't need you like I did then, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
I will always need you.
You are my hero.
I love you, Dad.