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Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

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

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Writing

Don’t Give Up on Your Writing

September 26, 2017 by diannejacob 26 Comments

Are you tempted to leave your blog behind, or move that book idea to the round file? Or maybe you’ve already given up.

I’m here to tell you: Don’t give up on your writing.

It takes a long time to become a good writer. I’m determined to get there. What about you?

Ira Glass understands how long it takes. As the executive producer of This American Life, he helps other writers become [Read more…] about Don’t Give Up on Your Writing

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: becoming a better writer, food blogger, food writer

Let’s Take “Perfect” Out of Cooking

September 5, 2017 by diannejacob 37 Comments

Look at these two current covers from Saveur and Fine Cooking. Shame on them. The editors imply that only perfect food is worthwhile, and that anything else you make is — well, sub par.

And who makes food that is less than perfect? Me. Most of us. Like you, I [Read more…] about Let’s Take “Perfect” Out of Cooking

Filed Under: Recipe Writing, Writing Tagged With: Food blogging, food writing, Recipe Writing

8 Ways to Recycle, Repurpose and Aggregate Your Content

August 29, 2017 by diannejacob 25 Comments

Recycle, Repurpose and Aggregate ContentLast week Amy Sherman of Cooking With Amy and I did a session at TechMunch San Francisco on “How to Recycle, Repurpose and Aggregate Existing Content.” Amy is a longtime colleague and friend who started her food blog in 2003.

When I tweeted about the session, Shauna James Ahern of Gluten-Free Girl replied, “I’d love to see your write-up of this afterward!” So I knew I had to [Read more…] about 8 Ways to Recycle, Repurpose and Aggregate Your Content

Filed Under: Food Blogging, Writing Tagged With: aggregating content, repurposing content, reusing content

3 Reasons Food Writing Doesn’t Pay

August 22, 2017 by diannejacob 18 Comments

Actually there’s only one reason food writing doesn’t pay: Mostly women do it, and most do it as a hobby or on the side. As a result, they are amateurs or consider themselves as such, even after years of work or accomplishments.

Most of us don’t ask to be paid what we’re worth. So publications and websites can get away with paying very little, compared to [Read more…] about 3 Reasons Food Writing Doesn’t Pay

Filed Under: Career, Writing Tagged With: does writing pay, food writing, low pay for food writers, writing for free, writing for fun vs. money

The Power of Peg Bracken’s Voice in “The Compleat I Hate to Cook Book”

August 15, 2017 by diannejacob 14 Comments

We’ve forgotten about the 1960s cookbook The Compleat I Hate to Cook Book and Peg Bracken’s voice,  which is a shame. This book sold more than 3 million copies, and now you can now buy it used for as little as $2.50.

And I recommend you do so, immediately.

If you wonder what differentiates you from every other food writer or blogger in the universe, the answer is waiting for you in this cheeky, chatty cookbook that women bought in droves. It’s Peg Bracken’s voice.

[Read more…] about The Power of Peg Bracken’s Voice in “The Compleat I Hate to Cook Book”

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: cookbook writing, Peg Bracken, The Compleat I Hate to Cook Cookbook, voice in writing, writing cookbooks

Activist Sandra Gutierrez: On Speaking Out Through Writing

July 5, 2017 by diannejacob 4 Comments

Q&A with activist Sandra Gutierrez on speaking out through writingWriter and activist Sandra Gutierrez knows what it feels like to be a stereotype, and to break through barriers. She is speaking out through writing — first about food, and now about stereotypes. She did it slowly, but with a belief that her story as a Latina, and the story of Southern Latino food could be told.

Now she’s a nationally recognized food personality, cookbook author, freelance food writer, and cooking instructor. Her articles and recipes have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world.

The Smithsonian Institution recognized Sandra’s contribution to American culture through an example of community change. Sandra defined the New Southern-Latino culinary movement more than 20 years ago, after she convinced [Read more…] about Activist Sandra Gutierrez: On Speaking Out Through Writing

Filed Under: Career, Writing Tagged With: activism in food writing, Nuevo Latino cuisine, Sandra Gutierrez, Smithsonian Instititute

Q&A: How Pie Guru Kate McDermott Found her Voice

May 9, 2017 by diannejacob 33 Comments

Andrew Scrivani took all the tempting photos in Art of the Pie. This shot is for Apricot Raspberry Pie.

I fell for “Piechiatrist” Kate McDermott recently, even though I had known her casually for years. I had never thought about how she found her voice. Then, while reading the introduction to her gorgeous cookbook, Art of the Pie, I read that  [Read more…] about Q&A: How Pie Guru Kate McDermott Found her Voice

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Writing Tagged With: cookbook writing, finding your voice, food writing, writing from the heart

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Archives

Popular Posts

  • So Many Ways to Organize A Cookbook 7 views | posted on November 22, 2016
  • An Interview With Anthony Bourdain: “Absolute Fearlessness is Essential” 7 views | posted on June 11, 2018
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  • How to Write a Great Recipe Headnote 4 views | posted on August 31, 2021
  • Update: Yes, You Can Still Write Off Business Meals 3 views | posted on January 29, 2019
  • Frustrated by Smaller Can Sizes for Recipes? I Am. 3 views | posted on January 6, 2015
  • Recipes for Subversion: Women’s Suffrage Cookbooks Turn 100 3 views | posted on September 1, 2020
  • Who Buys Cookbooks and Why? 2 views | posted on April 8, 2014
  • 8 Best Practices for Food and Travel Writing 2 views | posted on May 11, 2021
  • 5 Reasons to Write for Trade Food Magazines 2 views | posted on January 17, 2017

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