Author Bio:
I am an open-minded author who loves to learn about everything and anything. I love to read, write, but most importantly provide some values to others. I have and always will be looking to pay it forward.
I have been born and raised in New York, although I did spend 4 years in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina during my college years. I have been raised by two AMAZING parents, with an older sister and younger brother (middle child syndrome right here, haha).
I love all activities, especially sports and the outdoors. I am now big into Mixed Martial Arts, as well as learning instruments and new languages. In a nutshell, I love continuously learning and growing mentally as well as staying in the best shape possible.
I am approaching 3 years of sobriety from alcohol (I drank 8 days a week and nearly died twice), which has completely turned my life around 180 degrees in every positive way possible. At the age of 28, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, and now focus on helping others by seeing the positive side and giving them hope. I choose to lead by example rather than to preach.
Around the age of 18, my mother gave me the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. That book alone changed my life and even during my drinking years I studied the subject as an obsessive hobby…I studied others closely. I was always intrigued by the way the brain ticks, and what motivates people to go one way or the other. Psychology fascinates me to no limit, people fascinate me. It was not until I made the lifestyle choice to get sober that made me really look at my own life. That is when I started to really buckle down and try out everything I was reading about, and walk the walk rather than talk the talk.
When I began to gain clarity and peace of mind back from the wrath of addiction, I chose to follow one of my mentor’s leads and set a goal for how many books I was going to read in that one year. I wrote down a list of mainly “self-help” books that I still have on my wall, that is long! My goal was to read 100 books in that first year…mission accomplished. The first of those books was a book on speed-reading. Anyways, I have learned so much, ESPECIALLY after my drinking days, that I knew I could help others.
I have found tricks and methods that got me to get sober AND STAY SOBER, set and achieve goals (I have risen the ranks in belts in several martial arts…1 Black Belt), I have learned two instruments, and I have literally manifested money into my life out of nowhere. I did this all by CHA!NGING MY THOUGHTS and BELIEFS!!!
What inspires you to write?
People inspire me to write. It began as a self-therapeutic outlet for me, cutting my emotions in half by spilling it on paper, yet one day I looked at what I was writing and felt that it could provide value to others. I have LEARNED and CHANGED my life for the better from the Greats such as Napoleon Hill, Rhonda Byrne, Wayne Dyer, Zig Ziglar, Og Mandino, Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, Eckart Tolle, and so on and so on. I feel I might just be able to bridge that gap to the next generation and help change just one life in a positive way. Wishful thinking? Yes. Can it be done? 100 percent.
If my life has been influenced so greatly by others writings before me, why can’t I pass on some of what I have learned to those who come after?
Tell us about your writing process.
I ALWAYS have a pen and paper on me, no matter what. As unsafe as this may seem, if I am driving alone, that pen and paper are riding shotgun. As with everything, it all starts with an initial thought. Sometimes a catchy title will come to me and I will flow with that, or I will start writing about a certain topic and find that I cannot stop.
I usually always write the traditional pen and paper method first, it flows out of me much easier this way. I believe it was in Excuses Begone by Wayne Dyer, where he describes the flow of hand writing. Eckhart Tolle mentions hand-writing first as well. I agree with their methods!
As soon as I feel I have gotten across a solid message with enough backing (not fluffing) for the reader to comprehend, I break it down and outline. When I say enough for the reader to comprehend, I prefer to display my message in a way a 4th grader could understand it. That is just my preference, I want all target areas to be able to “Get” my message.
I also love my WHITEBOARD! That is when I start really putting it all together and making my checklists. It is a beautiful thing to see that Whiteboard begin to get whiter.
After the whiteboard, I start typing. I do not start typing on a simple blank document. Something about the blankness irks me. I have a preset template already in place in which I start plugging in each chapter and idea. For me, this takes away any sort of writer’s block.
What advice would you give other writers?
Just write! Know you are a writer. I would never claim to be the next great novelist, but I do know that we can all write. You should write how you speak in everyday life. Don’t go word for word from a thesaurus or dictionary, write as you would talk to anyone. Convey your message and don’t feel pressured as to how long or short anything should be. Just get “you” out on that paper, let the editor’s handle the specifics.
Which brings me to a HUGE piece of advice: DO NOT SKIP EDITING! I have noticed this trend recently, where people are pushing out books for quantity sake rather than quality, and are altogether neglecting editing. This is a HUGE DO NOT DO ZONE. You should not skip editing (this is the MOST important part) no matter how long it may take. You may be on a budget, but find anyone to edit it that is not related to you or knows you. Make sure it is unbiased and know that it will be worth it tenfold. Writer’s write and editor’s edit, and I am so thankful for every editor out there.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
For me, this decision came with some research. It all depends really on which route you as a person feel most comfortable. I think publishing is publishing, and whatever way you feel works best for you to get your work out there is best.
I would first say explore every area. Like everything there are pros and cons. With traditional publishing you may find you love having the support (which is amazing) of a team backing you and handling so much. For me personally, I chose self-publishing for this particular project due to the fact that I have marketing techniques that I know to work. I was first a salesman, then decided to write. I feel as if I know how to promote myself, and hopefully along the way someone bigger will come in and assist me further.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
The future of book publishing is and has been heading in the e-book direction. There are numbers to prove it. I love my library and love reading my “tangible” books, but as far as publishing goes; e-books have opened up a whole new world. It is the wave of the future due to the ease and affordability of publishing. Throw social media in the mix and you don’t have to get dressed in order to market all day to people all over the world.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?
Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Motivation, New Thought, Psychology,
What formats are your books in?
eBook
Website(s)
Brendan William Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8389565.Brendan_William
http://twitter.com/peelster123
