Students at my May class at the Santa Ana, CA home of blogger Kim Burnell of Rustic Garden Bistro. That's blogger Sanam Lamborn of My Persian Kitchen, snapping a photo. In the foreground are vibrantly-iced cookies by Lana Watkins of the blog Bibberche (behind Lamborn in red).
This summer and fall I’ll be traveling for three workshops. I love these face-to-face connections with other writers, full of positive energy and excitement. Not to mention how fun it is to answer burning questions about writing, blogging and cookbooks, and learn about food in new destinations. This time my classes are in St. Louis, MO and — drum roll please — in the UK.
Yes, for the first time, I’ll be teaching in Ireland and in London in September! Details are below. The craft of food writing is the focus of all three classes. As you know, I have a thing about overused words in food writing, why to use action verbs and similes, and don’t even get me started on the subject of adapting recipes and writing them correctly. Also during the class, we’ll do writing exercises, particularly for sensuous writing.
If I’m teaching for the whole day, I’ll also talk about writing cookbooks and what to when a publisher calls. We might also discuss freelancing, and how to attract more readers to a blog.
It’s not always expensive to attend a conference (okay, if you have to fly to Ireland from the US, I see your point. But what a great reason to go!). The first two workshops are very reasonably priced. Here are details:
July 28-29, 2012
Keynote Speaker
St. Louis Food Media Forum
Moulin Events
St. Louis, MO
$100
This conference costs only $100 for two full days and includes lunch and snacks! I’ll be teaching the entire first day, on writing craft, how to engage with your readers as a blogger, recipe writing, and getting a cookbook published. There’s lots more on Day Two, on food photography, SEO, ethics, and marketing and branding. Thanks to Stefani Pollack of Cupcake Project for organizing this event.
September 21-22, 2012
Instructor and Coach
Food Writing Workshop
BrookLodge Hotel
Co. Wicklow, Ireland
€75 per person (Additional coaching sessions are sold out)
I’m thrilled to be making my first trip to Ireland to meet food writers and bloggers at a gorgeous hotel in the Irish countryside serving organic and wild foods. Thanks to organizer Dorcas Barry and sponsors Bord Bia and Fáilte Ireland, we’ll visit a farm Friday late afternoon, enjoy a splendid farm-to-table dinner Friday night, and I’ll teach all day Saturday about the craft of writing, blogging, reviewing, recipe writing, and cookbook writing.
September 28-30, 2012
Instructor
Food Blogger Connect
Beaconsfield
London
€299 for full weekend access, plus €99 for my writing workshop (20 students max)
The Food Blogger Connect conference is already five years old, and I’m delighted to be a part of it. I’ll be teaching a special workshop on the craft of writing about food, with exercises. We’ll cover use of adjectives, similes, metaphor, contrast, and I’ll show you writing samples that will inspire and delight. The workshop is open to only 20 students, so please sign up soon.
Welcome to my blog. Whether you're an aspiring or accomplished food writer, you'll find posts and comments about blogging, recipe writing, cookbooks, craft, finding agents or publishers, writing trends, and interviews with food writing luminaries. Please join the conversation! For more about me, Dianne Jacob, see 
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats, Dianne, on your continued success. These sound so exciting!
Thank you Patti. Two of the three events were created for me, which is incredible, really.
Dianne, do you ever have any online workshops? I’d love to go to one of yours, but there always a distant travel for me.
Thanks for asking. So far, I haven’t. I kind of like to have reasons to step away from my office and my computer, to tell you the truth.
Dianne workshop good. Me take. Writing better.
Thanks a million, Stephanie, for this killer testimonial! Me likee.
What a great lineup of events, Dianne! Congrats on really making the rounds, even over the Pond!
Thanks Averie. I’m so excited about going to the UK to teach. That’s a first for me.
Wow Ireland?? How awesome! My mom would be very jealous.
Some day I will go to multiple conferences/workshops a year, but this year I only went to one blogging getaway. It was my first and it was life-changing!
Life changing! That’s about a big a compliment as anyone could ask for.
Now, why would your mom be jealous, Amanda?
I’ll be there
For the 1st time I’ll partecipate to #FBC12 and to one of your workshops. I really can’t wait. Meanwhile I try to follow your book and improve my written English.
Wonderful, Rossella. I’m so impressed that you could come to a workshop that is not in your first language.
Congratulations, Dianne! Good for you and this is so exciting! I wish I could attend one of your workshops! Actually – if dreams could come true – I would love to teach a workshop with you! Now that would be exciting! I do wish I could attend the Dublin workshop, though!
Hey Jamie, you’ve been teaching workshops in Europe for a while now. One day we’ll have to figure something out together, or at least meet up.
I’m trying for that meet up… as for something else, let’s talk, as they say!
I am so bummed, you’re coming to St Louis and I will be out of town. I’m so sorry I will be missing this event. Hopefully next time around I will be there. You’ll enjoy everyone helping at the event. They’re all terrific!
Oh, what a shame, Vicki. It’s the first time they’ve done something like this, and I’m pleased to be invited. I hope you will help spread the word so they can get a good turnout.
We would love to see you in the Philadelphia area, would that ever be a possibility?
Yes definitely. I just need someone to set it up. Maybe that would be you, chef?
Congrats. How fun, a writing class in Ireland!
Ireland is where strange tales begin & happy endings are possible.
Charles Haughey
All of it sounds so exciting, but travel feeds one’s soul. Enjoy.
wow! These look amazing! Congratulations! Hope you’re well!
How very cool. If I weren’t going to Paris in a few weeks for a wedding, I would seriously consider going to Ireland for this conference. I would absolutely love to attend one of your workshops. I know I would gain so much from what you have to offer.
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Dianne, I am so thrilled for you and for the folks lucky enough to attend your events. I’m emailing my friend in London right now to tell her about this!
Thank you Liz, for telling your friend.
You were the second blogger to set up a workshop for me, and I remain grateful for it. Plus, I got the chance to meet Larry! And Kim, who set up the third workshop.
I know some of the folks in St. Louis and I know they’re excited to have you attend. It’s my hometown too so be prepared for humidity and pack accordingly. A little head fan on during your presentation would probably not be considered totally awry.
Oh my. I’m sure we’ll be inside in the air conditioning, but thanks for the heads up, Barbara. I look forward to meeting the rest of the organizers.
Looking forward to attending! I looked at the agenda and couldn’t pass it up, so much to absorb, and being amongst my food loving brethren sounds like a great weekend in St. Louis!
Fantastic, Jodi. Being among food loving sisteren (is that a word?) is a huge benefit at these things.
I’m sure one of these days you’ll be nearer to my neighborhood. Meanwhile, have a blast; I’m sure your students will!
Thank you, Tinky. I plan on it.
I have not been to Mass or Virginia yet, but hey, it might be fun. I just looked up where you live on your About page.
Wish you were coming downunder soon. We are just on our second blogger conference this year in Aug but perhaps we will be big enough next year to temp you across. In the meantime I have you book to read, once it arrives.
http://www.foodbloggersnz.com/2012-conference
What a terrific conference, Alli. I hope you get a good crowd. Anyone who wants to visit NZ now has an excuse!
I’m so looking forward to hearing your workshop at FBC 12. Will Write For Food made me take blogging seriously and helped to give me real focus. I now recommend it to everyone whose thinking of writing a blog whether or not it’s about food. It explains the getting started and etiquette processes so well. GG
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much. I can’t wait to meet you, glam.
I will be meeting you in Saint Louis! Although I have only followed your blog for a few months, Dianne, I’ve enjoyed reading each blog and always learn something or see something in a new light. I know spending a day with you for the Saturday session will be invaluable. I’ve been blogging for the past nine months and totally enjoying the entire process. I’m looking forward and excited about the Food Media Forum–my first blogging event.
Oh how wonderful, Janice. Congrats on your first blogging conference. Look forward to meeting you, and thanks for the kind words about the blog.
Thanks for providing info about those cookies. Perhaps not surprisingly, they caught my eye–very appealing!
Yes, they were certainly eye-popping. Almost too pretty to eat. Although Kim’s two dogs gobbled down a few!
Diann,
I hope you’ll be at FoodBlog South in 2013. I had a scheduling conflict in 2012 and was so disappointed that I couldn’t attend and hear you speak.
Best of luck with your upcoming conferences1
I am going to be there, and registration is open. Look forward to meeting you in Birmingham, Jackie. We had a blast last year.