• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar

Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

Useful Tips, Interviews, and Stories to Inspire Food Writers and Bloggers

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Bio
    • Freelance Writing
    • Media Mentions
    • Teaching and Speaking
    • Contact Me
  • Services
    • Coaching and Editing
    • Clients
    • FAQ
    • Testimonials
  • Books
    • Will Write For Food
    • The United States of Pizza
    • Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas
  • Events
  • Categories
    • Awards
    • Cookbooks
    • Career
    • Contests
    • Ethics
    • Food Blogging
    • Freelancing
    • Literary Agents
    • My workshops and conferences
    • Personal Stuff
    • Photography
    • Promotion
    • Proposals
    • Radio interviews and writing
    • Recipe Writing
    • Restaurant Reviewing
    • Self Publishing
    • Social Media
    • Travel Writing
    • Uncategorized
    • Useful Links
    • Writing
    • Memoir
    • Writing Apps
  • Resources
  • My Newsletter
  • Blog

Snaps from My Seattle Food Writing Class

June 2, 2010 by diannejacob

Share this...


  • Facebook


  • Pinterest


  • Twitter


  • Linkedin


  • Email

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my free newsletter.
Thanks for visiting!

A few Saturdays ago I taught a day-long class on food writing to about 50 people (about half of whom were bloggers, and some of whom drove up from Portland) at the oh-so-chic Seattle Fairmont Olympic. Keren Brown of Foodportunity organized the event and invited me. Professional photographer and blogger Jackie Donnelly Baisa wrote a post about it and made her images available, so I thought I’d share a few with you.

I must say, I’ve never taught a class in such elegant surroundings. We had a large private room with an entryway for coffee, tea and sponsor displays.

Rebecca Mongrain from Sur La Table brought several copies of the company’s gorgeous new hardcover cookbook, Eating Local: The Cookbook Inspired By America’s Farmers for raffles throughout the day. (Disclosure: I researched the chapter on urban homesteading.) Other sponsors were Greek Gods Yogurt (OMG that fig yogurt) and Viv Agave, a prebiotic.

We spent the morning reviewing writing techniques and doing a writing exercises focused on the senses, using Red Hots candy. A few brave students read what they’d written, and some got laughs and smiles.

Then came an elegant lunch of sandwiches and salads, presented with panache by the chef at the hotel’s Georgian restaurant, Gavin Stephenson. He also made a jar of preserves for each attendee.

For dessert, Chef Stephenson created a chocolate ganache lollipop with chocolate Pop Rocks, an idea developed after studying with a Spanish chef specializing in molecular gastronomy.

After lunch, I tried to keep people awake (it’s the deadliest time of the day for a teacher) by having them pair up to interview each other. Then we talked about food blogging, recipes, cookbooks, and the publishing process. These students were no amateurs: some were already published cookbook authors, and publishers had already approached some of the bloggers. It was a lively discussion with many knowledgeable people lending their insights. I’m always amazed by what I learn at these events.

At the end of the day I helped my young host Keren, who blogs at Frantic Foodie, shlep the props back to her place. It being Seattle, it poured as we made a run for her door. But never mind. I had a fantastic time and I can’t wait to go back.

Share this...
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Email

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Food Blogging

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite says

    June 3, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    If I wasn’t going to IFBC in August, I would be terribly envious!!!

    • diannejacob says

      June 3, 2010 at 6:15 pm

      Well, I’m going to be part of a panel there. It’s not the whole day! But I’m really looking forward to it too. I didn’t get to go last year.

  2. GoodStuffNW says

    June 3, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    Classy location and classy content to match it. I found it inspiring and invigorating, and it was great to meet (and, yes, network with) other bloggers I’d only read about. I’d encourage other writers to make the investment in yourself and take the class. Terrific!

    • diannejacob says

      June 3, 2010 at 6:16 pm

      Thank you, Kathleen. The networking was an important part. That’s why Keren scheduled a few breaks. I enjoyed meeting everyone too.

      It’s going to be a while before we do it again, but I can’t wait to do so.

  3. franticfoodie says

    June 3, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    I can’t wait until you come again. You are an amazing teacher.

  4. alice says

    June 3, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    It was a joy and a pleasure to finally meet you. This workshop gave me more tools and confidence to write beyond my comfort level. Thank you so much for teaching this class.

    Alice

    PS: I would recommend anyone who is serious about food blogging or writing to take one of Dianne’s classes. She is a wealth of information and her teachings will equip you to be a better writer.

  5. Veena says

    June 3, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    I’m so glad I heard about the workshop in time. The blogging and recipe writing tips are helping me out a lot. And thanks to Keren for organizing the networking opportunities!

  6. Stephanie - Wasabimon says

    June 4, 2010 at 10:11 am

    Keren really goes all out with her events, finding some of the best venues the city has to offer. She should teach a class on how to throw fabulous food events! I’d drive to Seattle again for that.

  7. Chris says

    June 10, 2010 at 11:38 am

    This class was fun, informative and inspiring, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in food writing. Thanks again to you and Keren, Dianne!

Primary Sidebar

My Books





Awards and Honors


Will Write for Food 2022


Will Write For Food 2022


IACP Member of the Year 2022


Will Write For Food 2022


Will Write For Food 2020


Best Essay 2016


2016 Grand Prize
MFK Fisher Award
for Best Essay


Will Write For Food 2016


Will Write For Food 2016


Will Write For Food 2010


Best Essay 2007


Will Write For Food 2005

Member

Secondary Sidebar

Subscribe to my Free Monthly Newsletter on Food Writing Here

Food Blogger Pro Ad
Cookbook Publishing Course

Categories

  • Awards (17)
  • Career (72)
  • Contests (23)
  • Cookbooks (122)
  • Ethics (60)
  • Food Blogging (230)
  • Freelancing (54)
  • Literary Agents (12)
  • My workshops and conferences (35)
  • Personal Stuff (24)
  • Photography (7)
  • Promotion (27)
  • Proposals (10)
  • Recipe Writing (73)
  • Restaurant Reviewing (22)
  • Self Publishing (20)
  • Social Media (23)
  • Travel Writing (3)
  • Useful Links (23)
  • Writing (139)
    • Memoir (15)
  • Writing Apps (3)

Archives

Most Popular Posts

  • Adapting a Recipe Doesn’t Make it Yours 267 comments
  • New FTC Rules on Writing Reviews, Affiliations, and Sponsored Posts 266 comments
  • Is Food Blogging Too Much Work? 237 comments
  • Are You Making These 3 Mistakes on Your About Page? 206 comments
  • 5 Notes to Self for Coping with Conference Anxiety 203 comments
  • Food Bloggers Fight Firestorm of Abusive Facebook Pages 200 comments
  • Should Bloggers be Praised for Recipes They Don't Write? 198 comments

Copyright © 2023 · Dianne Jacob      Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Sample Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Get Dianne’s free newsletter on food writing and blogging delivered to your inbox!

Subscribe