Proposals

What I Learned Writing a Cookbook as a Late Bloomer

October 30, 2018 by diannejacob 13 Comments

A guest post by Sara Bir

My whole life I’ve dreamed of writing a cookbook. But even with formal culinary chops and years of experience as a writer, it seemed like no one in the publishing industry took me seriously. So I guess you could say I’m a late bloomer.

It probably didn’t help that my two previous book proposals were hardly mainstream. There was my idea for The Great Big Book of Hot Dogs, which I envisioned as a lavish cultural history of hot dogs; and The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, a book with nothing but pawpaw recipes. Do you even know what pawpaws are? Most people don’t. [Read more…] about What I Learned Writing a Cookbook as a Late Bloomer

5 Rookie Mistakes in Cookbook Proposals

May 23, 2017 by diannejacob 13 Comments

When there’s a one percent acceptance rate, it’s kind of important not to make mistakes in cookbook proposals. But if you’ve never written one before, how would you know what’s right?

Sure, you can read books on writing proposals and use them as a guide. But somehow, errors in judgement creep in.

Having read dozens of cookbook proposals, I can spot where [Read more…] about 5 Rookie Mistakes in Cookbook Proposals

Rejection Made Two Big Authors Stronger

May 17, 2016 by diannejacob 5 Comments

How did two prolific food writers start their book writing careers? By enduring rejection and persevering anyway.

Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, authors of several books, and best known for The Flavor Bible, shared some of their early rejection letters for their book first book, Becoming a Chef.

Here’s what rejection looked like from cookbook editors:

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If You Can’t Write Truly Great Recipes, be Honest, says Veteran Editor

September 9, 2014 by diannejacob 19 Comments

Rux Martin in her kitchen with some of the books she’s edited. (Photo by Barry Estabrook.)

I met cookbook editor Rux Martin years ago, before she got an imprint in her own name. Now she is Editorial Director of Rux Martin Books at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

She specializes in cookbooks, narrative nonfiction on food, and diet books. She has worked with Dorie Greenspan, Mollie Katzen, Jacques Pépin, and Ruth Reichl, to name just a few, and has edited New York Times bestsellers including The Gourmet Cookbook; Hello, Cupcake!; [Read more…] about If You Can’t Write Truly Great Recipes, be Honest, says Veteran Editor

A Book Proposal You’ll be Proud to Present

September 2, 2014 by diannejacob 13 Comments

Looks boring, right? But this is what you might see on the desk of an agent or book editor: a stack of book proposals.

Most people don’t think much about the appearance of a book proposal. They think that what’s important is the content.

Well yes, but believe it or not, agents and editors want your non-fiction book proposal to look a certain way. If you present something else, you run the risk of appearing unprofessional. Folders, binders, ribbons, and [Read more…] about A Book Proposal You’ll be Proud to Present

3 Keys to a Killer Query Letter

September 11, 2012 by diannejacob 21 Comments

Want to interest a literary agent in your book idea?

Often, agents want a query letter first. The query sells them on the book idea and introduces you. It’s your chance to make an indelible impression.

Queries have to be short. Here’s the formula for this three-paragraph letter:

Paragraph 1: You need an evocative opening that intrigues the agent enough to keep reading. It includes the book’s hook: a concise sentence meant to pique interest about why the book is needed now and how it’s different. Include the book’s working title and subtitle.

To create a connection, the paragraph should also include why you chose this agent, based on the agent’s website, books represented, or a [Read more…] about 3 Keys to a Killer Query Letter

Crafting A Book Title That Rocks

March 29, 2011 by diannejacob

Culinary mysteries sport some of my favorite food-based titles of all time, full of puns and double entendres.

Yesterday my agent said she’d just told someone how my book, Will Will Write for Food, got its title. She suggested I tell you as well.

I hadn’t thought about that story for a while, and it’s a good one. Should you be faced with coming up with a witty book title one day, you might be able to use it. And I give a few suggestions for coming up with good titles at the end of this post.

(Isn’t it ironic? As a freelance editor, I can come up with great titles for others, but I had so much trouble with my own.)

Back when I turned in my manuscript for the first edition, I had a loser working title. My agent (who does not like to be named), my publisher (who no longer works at the publishing house and the publishing house no longer exists) and I went around and around for two months, trying to find a better one.

Ready to know the name of the working [Read more…] about Crafting A Book Title That Rocks

Proposals

Here’s what rejection looked like from cookbook editors:

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