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Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

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Should You Join a Mastermind Group?

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A guest post by Clotilde Dusoulier

Clotilde belongs to two mastermind groups: One online and one in person. She is the French food writer behind the blog Chocolate & Zucchini ( http://cnz.to ), which she has been writing for more than 13 years. Her focus is on fresh, seasonal, colorful foods with a French twist. She also enjoys sharing behind-the-scenes tips with fellow bloggers.  

To help you set up your own mastermind group, Clotilde put together a swipe file you can download for free, as a reader of this blog. It’s at http://cnz.to/mastermind-swipe-file. Thanks Clotilde! — DJ

I have been a full-time food writer for almost 12 years. And although I thrive in my solo bubble of words and ideas, I find it critical to connect with peers. For the past year and a half, I have been part of two mastermind groups that bring [Read more…] about Should You Join a Mastermind Group?

4 Ways to Increase Your Productivity in 2017

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A guest post by Alisa Fleming

Often a food blogger’s days are bogged down with to do’s, gadgets, commitments.With so many electronic conveniences at your fingertips, you expect an increase in productivity. But more is just more, sometimes.

Fortunately, I’ve taken my productivity back. I feel good about what I’ve [Read more…] about 4 Ways to Increase Your Productivity in 2017

How a Food Writer Loses Weight

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Amy Sherman before her diet began, at the end of 2015.

A guest post by Amy Sherman

It’s easy to gain weight, as a food writer and recipe developer. I often dine at restaurants, enjoying multi-course meals, sometimes several days in a row. I always try to taste as many dishes as I can. When I’m developing recipes for clients, it seems like I’m tasting all day long.

At the end of last year, I knew my consumption was up. I also had a sneaking suspicion that the more I ate, the more I wanted to eat.  Science is proving this to be true.

On December 30th, 2015 I stepped on a scale for the first time in [Read more…] about How a Food Writer Loses Weight

Do You Think of Food Writing As a Business?

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Andy Schloss makes a 6-figure income as food writer despite the fact that he spends no time on social media.

Andy Schloss does. His business income has stayed steady for the last 30 years, hovering around $100,000 annually. He also thinks of his career in business terms, not as someone who works for fun, where income is secondary.

The bottom line: Andy has stayed on top financially because he shifts his food writing work as the market changes.

I had the opportunity to learn from Andy as part of a podcast panel on food writing and money. Andy moderated the panel for the Symposium for Professional Food Writers (Listen to the free podcast here). A former chef and newspaper columnist, he is also the author of two dozen cookbooks. Plus he’s a [Read more…] about Do You Think of Food Writing As a Business?

What Can a Talent Agent Do For You?

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An interview with Jaimee Constantine,  talent agency for the Lisa Ekus Group.

Some cookbook authors and bloggers use a talent agent to help them find good-paying gigs and opportunities. This is a different service than using a literary agent, whose primary job is to land you a book deal.

Do you wonder if you should have a talent agent? To find out what they do, I interviewed Jaimee Constantine, Culinary Talent Agent with The Lisa Ekus Group.

A graduate of The University of Massachussetts’s Amherst’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program, Jaimee joined The Lisa Ekus Group in June 2010. She leads the Culinary Talent division and manages all incoming contracts.

Q. What can a talent agent do for bloggers or cookbook authors?

A. A talent agent’s goal is to make it easier for you to work with companies. Talent agents respond to queries coming in about our clients. We evaluate [Read more…] about What Can a Talent Agent Do For You?

5 Tips on Post-Conference Relationship Building

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Food blogger and cooking teacher Jordan Hamons dreaded networking but now thinks of it as valuable relationship building.

A guest post by Jordan Hamons

I don’t like the term “networking.” It makes me think of salesmen in cheap suits trying to shake hands and sell products. It feels disingenuous and a little slimy.

ButI know networking is important for my career and business, so I’ve reframed how I think about it.  Now I see networking as an opportunity to get to know new people and build relationships with them, rather than just connecting with contacts that can benefit me.

No matter what you call it, building relationships is a key part of doing business and advancing your career. Any relationship, be it personal or professional, takes some nurturing. You can’t meet someone once and expect it to [Read more…] about 5 Tips on Post-Conference Relationship Building