What? You don’t have a signed copy of the new edition of Will Write for Food?
No problem. To celebrate its one-year anniversary, I am giving away two free copies, signed and mailed.
Will Write for Food is all about food writing, natch. In fact its subtitle captures some of what that entails: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Blogs, Memoir, Recipes and More.
I never get bored with the subject of food writing, because there’s so much to learn. And it’s always changing, in ways both exciting and overwhelming.
When you read this signed copy, you’ll see that you might need to be a:
- Technical genius
- Gorgeous photographer
- Beautiful writer
- Reporter
- Interviewer
- Researcher
- Marketer
- Discriminating eater
- Videographer
- Social media maven.
Huh. Did you sign up for all that? Well yes, sort of, but preferably not all at the same time, right?
This edition features a new chapter on making money. Some hobbyists decide, after a while, to make some extra cash, and a few decide to blog full time. There’s lots of new content on how it’s done. I’ve also found some successful food writers earning a six-figure income. (Also check out this radio show interview I did on making money as a food writer, and about the art of writing. It’s short, about 11 minutes. So yes, you have time. You have to scroll down to find it.)
And if you’d like to keep food writing just as a hobby, great. You’ll be in the majority. As in prior editions, there’s lots to read about how to write well, create a loyal readership, and stay motivated.
I’ve also expanded the chapter on writing a cookbook. Even if you’ve written one before, it’s a good idea to brush up on what constitutes a killer concept, and how to write an irresistable book proposal.
Like the two previous editions, Will Write for Food won an international award. I think you’ll like it, because there’s lots to learn about and ponder. It’s more than 100,000 words, in fact, so don’t try to power through it over a weekend. Here’s what people I respect have said about my book.
If you already own the third edition, you can still enter this contest. Just give the signed copy as a gift. I’ll autograph it to whomever you specify.
To enter to win a copy of Will Write for Food, leave a comment below by August 31, 2016. Please answer, in one sentence or more: What’s your biggest challenge, as a food writer?
(Sorry, you must live in the US or Canada to apply, because otherwise postage is insane. I will choose the winner at random.)
NOTE: AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2016, THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED.
Making myself write every day.
Getting started.
Biggest challenge, hmm, staying focused long enough to make it a habit.
Absolutely, getting started and getting out of my own way.
Staying focused enough to just do it vs. overthinking it.
Setting priorities. Maintaining social media platforms is a time drain that can easily overtake quality content writing time.
definitely getting started!
scheduling time to work on writing, photographing, testing new recipes and then putting it all together. I don’t think people realize how much time is involved in the whole process.
Becoming more confident in my writing ability and overcome my fear of being criticized.
Time managment. Feeling behind and getting overwhelmed. *sigh*
My biggest challenge as a writer is attempting to coerce editors to return my emails. How does one solicit a job without nagging one’s potential employer?
For me, it’s impostor syndrome. I feel like no one should, or would care about what I write.
My biggest challenge is finding the time to write when I feel pulled in a million different directions!
As a previous grant writer, I struggle with narrative writing when it comes to food writing.
My biggest challenge is definitely prioritizing my time. I have a million things I want to do but limited time available to do them.
Definitely the photography that goes with it!
I have so many ideas for foods and memories I’d like to write about, it’s challenging to pick just one.
Thanks Dianne! I’m helping a friend with her blog and future cookbook, and she attended one of your seminars earlier this year. Great stuff!
My biggest challenge is definitely finding the time to craft an awesome post! Oh…. and finding different works that mean awesome, delicious or yummy:)
Thanks Dianne for this opportunity!
Finding the time to photograph! Naptime on the weekends… that’s the only time!
A lifelong dream!
My greatest challenge is prioritizing what feels like a million+ things I need to do/would like to do with my blog!
Making it work financially.
Writing. I hate to write but love having written. Even writing a comment on a blog can induce painful anxiety. Hehehe.
Telling a story to make the dish I’m writing about sound enticing.
My biggest challenge as a food writer is getting my story/message across in a fresh way with a unique voice.
Illustrating the food to accompany the writing, and my newest challenge… after spending the summer with me and watching a lot of food and cooking shows on TV together, my 8yo granddaughter wants us to produce a cooking show … along with a website. Going to be such a HOOOOOT!!!!
Hi Dianne,
After five(!) years of a food blog, my challenge at the moment is how to keep my creativity going. I seem to be in a slump and am reviving old recipes instead of creating new ones!
Finding my voice as a writer. . .it’s taken awhile, but I see it/feel it more and more.
My biggest challenge is staying motivated to write good content and continuing to take good quality photographs for my food blog, when I feel discouraged by the low traffic and daily visitors it gets!
Mentally being able to get in the zone and set aside a specific amount of time each day (or a few times a week) to work on travel & food blogging after a long day at the office!
Finding out the “hows” to get it done, then getting started!
Keeping my food blog insightful, inquisitive and influential enough to serve as a catalyst for my freelancing career.
Jump starting myself to write book #2. I start and stop in fits and spurts.
… recognizing that I can do what I love as a job.
My biggest challenge is finding my voice, and not getting caught up trying to be someone I’m not. =)
The cooking/baking is the easy part of food blogging. I stumble through the words. Weaving a story and food description around the recipe and photos challenges me. Am I saying too much, or not enough?
Looking forward to the new edition, especially the expanded Cookbook chapter
My biggest challenge is getting past my fear of not being good enough! There is so much competition these days and it often comes down to who has the largest following, especially for paid assignments and book deals.
I am challenged the most by coming up with article ideas and pitching them.
Biggest challenges? Sticking to it, and also finding my voice.
Biggest challenge is getting over fear of not having an interesting enough topic to grab readers, which is stopping me from starting.
I think my biggest challenge is narrowing down what to write about and then staying on topic. So much to say, so little space…
My biggest challenge is getting great images!
Using the same tired old set of adjectives and phrases for sensory descriptors. Sometimes I get into lazy ruts that can be difficult to break out of. Crisp and refreshing, buttery and flaky, balanced and fruity–reads like broken record after a while. Thesaurus and more coffee, please.
Doing my prep and cooking and after shots before I lose natural light. Getting better at my photography helps. Writing with interesting and enticing adjectives.
My biggest challenge is pitching stories. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Always be camera ready while standing in line at book signings of your favorite chef. Mine is Jacques Pepin. I attended both book signings in San Francisco for Jacques Pepin’s newest book. I took three Muni buses that day. I also learned that it is very important to thank people who are working book signing events and to be calm over the phone (even when the website may be difficult to navigate and you may be confused with incorrect information). We were both on a mission to make sure she got to one of the events that day. I just kept imagining us getting there on-time. And we did. We ended up getting great seats and she got a to see Jacques Pepin cook in front of us. She dreamed of this moment for several years. I was so happy that we could experience this together. Thank you Dianne for inspiring me to keep going. And to never give up.
I will be volunteering at KQED (PBS) in San Francisco because of Jacques Pepin’s generosity. All of Jacques Pepin’s shows are filmed at this studio! Thank you Dianne for your kindness and encouragement.
My biggest challenge as a food writer is staying motivated when I don’t see it paying off… I need to make it help pay the bills now that we are on a fixed income. I am really interested in seeing the new edition! Fingers crossed I win! If not I guess I will buy it for myself for my September birthday. 62. ick.
I read the earlier edition of Will Write For Food and absolutely loved it. Would love to win the new one! My current biggest challenge is having literary agents to get back to me about my cookbook query. Not receiving any answer for weeks on (although I understand they are very busy) is very discouraging. But it’s ok as giving up is not in my plans:)
I’ve been in Corporate roles so long it’s challenging to adjust and find my own fresh voice as a writer. I know I just need to jump in and do it – and your great book will help.
My biggest challenges are prioritizing and maintaining focus. This combined with having accountability only to myself can sometimes bring things to a halt. I have plenty of great ideas–just need to follow through!
My biggest challenge as a food writer is getting started. My head is overflowing with book concepts and ideas, but I have yet to put a substantial amount of that information down on paper.
Oh, I face a few challenges, but the biggest one is overcoming my own fear and just going for it, without worrying about what other people may say or think about my work.
I’m only an aspiring food writer, former chef and baker, so my biggest challenge is getting up the courage and discipline to get started! I’m sure your book would be a big help! Thanks for the opportunity!
My greatest challenge as a food writer is having enough self- confidence. Confidence to learn social media so that more than 15 people read my posts; confidence to put together a cookbook proposal; confidence to find the time to believe that I have something to say that someone else wants to read.
i stick to taking pictures of food!!
I started writing about food when I was in high school. I was new to the school and discovered this basement cafeteria served hamburgers and hot dogs. Transferring from a much smaller school I was moved to write a critique about the cafeteria. I’ll never forget the sign over the door:
PRACTICE SAFE LUNCH: USE CONDIMENTS!
Now I am ready to write a blog and I need all the help I can get. Please send me your new book!!
Getting over imposter syndrome and getting the very first article published.
My biggest challenge is not the writing but the worrying about my SEOs and lack of social media posting discipline.
How to create a style that is fun and honest – that shines a light on food and cooking that is so colourful and upbeat that it inspires even those who are too curmudgeonly cook!
I also now eat so much for my writing that fitting in exercise is a whole new challenge.
Remembering to take careful notes when I’m putting together a new recipe – half the time it’s the dish I just threw together without thinking that’s the most popular, and the one I took all the careful notes on comes in second place.
Staying fresh, and knowing when I’m in my zone. Recently I wrote an essay to qualify for something, but forgot I had already written it. The first one was ten times better written, so for me, it’s knowing when to write and when to step back.
My biggest challenge is balancing making money with being authentic.
I am about to write about food as a functional nutritionist, making sure it is both healthy and tasty.
My biggest challenge is being overwhelmed with where to start.
As an aspiring food writer I would like to find the right words to express what I smell, taste, feel certain dish that bring me memories. I thing the most challenging part of food writing is to get that skills, to interpret those sensations into words that can cause the same effect in the readers.
Making the jump from writing fiction and poetry to food writing as creative nonfiction, and figuring out how to keep the music of poetry and the witticism of fiction in all of it.
My biggest challenge? Choosing a topic to focus on!
Sign me up. Fingers crossed that I win! 🙂 my biggest challenge is the amount of time it takes per recipe. ..to get the recipe just right, taste testers giving the green light, and then making it and getting all the photos needed to go along with the post. I don’t think the average person realizes the time and effort.
Believing that I have something unique and wonderful to share with others that has been my culinary journey.
Trying to figure out what to charge small companies vs big companies for an IG post, for a blog post, for a recipe — I think I need your book!
Dee xx.
Like others, getting started is a challenge. I have a long list of topics I want to write about but I get stalled when I allow the fear that “no one will care” seep in. You would think that would be freeing but it isn’t. My biggest challenge is having the confidence to focus my writing on what I want to say and not worry about what others may think.
The presumptuousness of writing stops me. Writing indicates I think I can write and I that I have something to say.
My biggest challenge is setting aside the time to write!
Confidence: believing that I belong at the table.
Being organized to actually write down the practice recipes, do more research if necessary, change, and redo, repeatedly.
My biggest challenge as a food writer is working every day while researching new leads.
My biggest challenge is sit down and start writing. Every time after I started, I found it less daunting.
Hope I can win! I’ve got two e-copies now but I’d love to keep a paperback edition 🙂
Finding something to write about that hasn’t been said!
Oh no!I just found this post and I see that I’ve just missed the deadline:( I’d love to still enter if you’d allow it. My biggest challenge is just getting started!I just purchased a domain a couple of days ago to begin food blogging. I got your book from the library last month and have to keep rechecking it out:)