Author Interview – Jack Williamson – The Shitty Committee

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Jack Williamson about his work with mental health awareness, what inspires him, and his new book; The Shitty Committee.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

My name is Jack Williamson, and I am a former music industry executive, who 5 years ago transitioned into the world of mental health and well-being following the loss of my brother to suicide. I now through my qualifications as a coach and psychotherapist work with a whole range of artists, entertainers, sporting professionals and organizations to build mental agility and emotional resilience, and part of that journey has been to write my debut book ‘The Shitty Committee.’

When did you first WANT to write a book?

Writing a book has always been on my Fuck It List (my take on a bucket list), but when I really wanted to start writing this particular book was around 3 years ago, following the idea for the book coming to my book.

When did you take a step to start writing?

This April I knew something had to shift within me, to go from the book being a dream, to turning it into a goal that I would follow through with a plan of action.  I went on a couple of mindset courses and then cleared time in my diary to prioritize writing The Shitty Committee, because if you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

I began starting the book in mid-May planning out the whole idea and flow and released it on October 10^th to coincide with World Mental Health Awareness Day so from commitment to release 5 months, but from initial idea 3 years. 

What made you want to write The Shitty Committee?

I lost my brother to suicide in 2015, and it completely changed my pathway in life, and I found a bigger purpose than marketing records for artists.  Everyone has issues with their mental health, the company they keep and what they consume and so for me, it was about looking at that in more detail, and creating a book that could be easily digestible and help support people who feel like shit and help them start living a more fulfilling life.

What were your biggest challenges with writing The Shitty Committee?

The biggest challenge is always yourself, is it good enough, will anyone buy it, and then the discipline to commit to writing when there are so many distractions out there in the world.  When I wrote the first draft, I blocked out two weeks in my diary and it was glorious weather the whole time, but I had made a commitment to myself and this book, and as much as I wanted to be in the sun or out with my friends, if I did, the book wouldn’t be released into the world today.

What was your research process for The Shitty Committee?

For this book, I have done so much research throughout my life, from my own training as a coach and therapists, to self-help books, courses I’ve been on and so much more.  There is an abundance of knowledge out there, and it is about building on the great work that other writers have done in this space and creating a new piece of work that fans of this genre will buy into.

How did you plan the structure of The Shitty Committee?

I’ve always been a structured person, and so I created 3 sections – what is the shitty committee, how the shitty committee shows up and how to master the shitty committee, and broke the book down into 15 bite-sized chapters to make it easily accessible to your book.  Also success leaves clues, so looking at my contemporaries and what works for them and then looking to build on their structure of what works, and adding my own unique spin.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Shitty Committee need?

Yes an editor is integral for any author, especially self-published.  My grammar has always been a massive area of development for me and I couldn’t have completed this book without my editor Lynne Best who helped not only with the grammar but with the flow of the book, themeatically and more.

I had editing software to format the book correctly, but if you don’t then getting an editor to format your book is also integral if you want your book to flow and look professional, investing in those areas is worth its weight in gold.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?

Come up with a clear synopsis of what your book is and who your ideal client is (hint it’s usually you of 5-10 years ago) and then break the book down into small chunks that seem manageable to you (everyone is different) and take it on one step at a time.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

I have a few more ideas about books following the positive feedback from this release, which include (1) helping people to get unstuck (2) increasing the odds of success and (3) finding the spotlight.

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

When I received the proof of my book I shed a lot of tears of joy, and then to see it released and become an Amazon best-seller and to have so many people tell me that the book has helped them, or that especially the first chapter really touched them, made all the hard work pay off. 

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Instagram @JackChristopherWilliamson

Linked In @JackChristopherWilliamson

TikTok @JackWilliamsonAuthor

BookBub @JackWilliamsonAuthor

GoodReads @JackChristopherWilliamson

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