Comments on: The Pioneer Cook and Her Intimate Voice

By: Jo Packham

Jo Packham — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:46:59 +0000

I wish I could have been there to hear the panel. I would have enjoyed it very much. Next time you are involved please post it early so that we can all attend.
Happy Holidays
Jo

By: Faith Kramer

Faith Kramer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:17:07 +0000

I was at the panel discussion and found her voice to be such an expression of her whole presence … the lesson I came away with was to try to find a voice that really fits your personality, not someone you think you should be or others want you to be. That panel had direct impact on my blog and my more recent postings already show signs of it.

By: Lynn McIntosh

Lynn McIntosh — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:45:21 +0000

The fact that Ree is a drop-dead gorgeous redhead doesn’t hurt things either.

By: alice

alice — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:28:01 +0000

Ree appeals to me because she’s comes across as authentic, gracious, generous, and humble. I wish her all the success in the world.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:42:29 +0000

Someone above used the term ‘blogging machine’ – and aside from the fact that we’re talking about a human being, I’d have to agree with that in terms of this particular blog and person. But any blog must be a ‘blogging machine’ to get the sort of numbers this one does. It’s not just voice alone, it is an amazingly constructed formulae that works for public consumption. The blog is easily edible and leaves one happily full but not too much so.

There does still seem to be a nature-of-the-beast difference between blogging and writing-as-literature. The books that win the top prizes and admiration of the world of lit certainly do not require a voice that is perky, believing in the good of all natural things, and friendly at the same time. Rather the opposite, quite often.

But in terms of capturing the beast that is blogging, that sort of voice does wonders if one is looking for serious numbers. 1. Keep it simple. 2. Keep it short but not too short. 3. Have a life that seems different than the norm yet close enough to not be alienating to the general reader. 4. Friendly perkiness helps a lot. 5. Personal touch displayed in graphic material.

Ree’s combination of her personal happiness displayed combined with the idea of being a pioneer woman (great title, we’ve all heard of pioneer women and have probably all wanted to feel like one at one time or another in our lives) plus how she simplifies to the very simplest level the idea of learning to cook, is simply a brilliant mix.

Did all pioneer women have the same experience in their lives as displayed in this blog? I rather think not. But we live in an MTV world and we so lust for pretty things, stripped of difficulties.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:22:50 +0000

I love her voice. I often feel like writing informational NF has stunted my ability to be personable – a problem I need to remedy.

By: Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.

Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food. — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:26:49 +0000

Her blog is the kind that once you entered, you cannot leave, which is why I don’t follow it often… it’s sucking time. But beyond the writing there’s the gorgeous photos, the life style which raises curiosity in those who are not familiar with it and draws those who live it. There’s the romantic story about how she met her husband – who deosn’t love that?! There’s a lot going on on Ree’s site. She’s a blogging machine.

An interesting point that you mentioned: “Ree chooses not to reveal negativity”. I have thought a lot about that and asked many times: do food bloggers have to be funny and entertaining in order to become popular? recently I have chosen to be more personal and changed tone on my blog. I want to focus on the emotional side of food, it’s a more seriuos tone sometimes, not always a happy one, but I try to make it with a good ending, or an inspiring one at least. We’ll see how that works.

And to those above who say veggies are not sexy, did you watch any of PETA’s videos? It’ll knock your socks off. Literally.

By: It's Not You, it's Brie

It's Not You, it's Brie — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:03:32 +0000

Anyone who can make miracle whip sound sexy is a force to be reckoned with. Her writing is so charming, and her posts make me want to buy a whole lot of Jimmy Dean tube sausage.

By: Nani

Nani — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:15:56 +0000

She does have a way of drawing you in, but I think it’s more than just her words, which I actually think are somewhat personal, or recipes but instead about life-style appeal. She’s lassoed the pony so to speak while also given readers something to look forward to outside their particular lives.

I find it funny, in a way, and yet interesting too (and admire her) the huge draw, though again I think it’s her story and down home sense of self that carries it off.

And Jill-I don’t even think you should compare yourself–it’s a different beast, no?. You’re right though that vegetables and plant based foods aren’t as sexy to the average gal about town-though I suppose they could be made to be (remember Roxanne’s?)..

By: Parisbreakfasts

Parisbreakfasts — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:42:14 +0000

Ree is AMAZING! There was another blog first that was not as focused on cooking and more personal life stuff-her background, how she met HIM etc. I used to try to keep up a year ago but it was daunting. She’s a super photographer and photoshops like crazy between cooking and herding cattle at 6 am etc. How does she do it? She was a graphic designer in LA I think…so not country-raised and bred – a city slicker! Her voice is certainly very warm and friendly and inviting. She seems to be sitting right across the kitchen table from you. The next Rachel Ray? Who knows.
If they did a movie on her I wouldn’t be surprised.