Dianne Jacob, Author of “Will Write for Food”, On How to Write Your Cookbook or Food Blog

In this interview with veteran editor and award-wining writer Dianne Jacob, the author of “Will Write For Food”, you can hear her story and get a professional overview for how to come up with a unique cook book concept. You will learn how to research the market and write your book proposal, look at your publishing options, learn the value of working with an agent, and some valuable tips on how to promote your finished book.

She is respected for her opinion leadership as Dianne has also judged books for the James Beard Foundation and for the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual cookbook awards. She has also been a judge for the Bert Greene Award for Food Journalism.

She has been and entrepreneur since 1996 after a long executive career as a top editor and writer for many astute newspapers, international magazines, book publishers, and a public relations firm for print clients.Whether you’re an aspiring or accomplished food writer, you’ll find her advice for blogging, recipe writing, cookbooks, finding agents and publishers, writing trends, and interviews with food writing luminaries to be very helpful.

Time line

00:17 Introduction

01:05 How did you get into this business? How did you become a food writer?

02:38 What was one of the first things you ever got published?

04:00 Where did the idea for “Will Write for Food” come from?

06:00 Dianne talks about interviewing different people

07:00 What did you do next?

08:15 What are some of your biggest accomplishments?

09:15 What are some of the obstacles you have faced?

10:10 Where did your first clients come from?

11:50 What steps does someone take before they can write their own cook book?

16:05 How does someone write a proposal?

19:30 What’s next after writing a proposal?

22:00 Dianne explains print on demand

23:20 How do you help sell your book?

27:00 What else should authors consider?

28:00 What insight can you give to those writing a food blog?

31:20 How do you keep the conversation going on your blog?

32:30 What specific tools do you use for your blog?

33:00 What communities do you recommend?

34:05 Can you tell us more about the courses you provide?

35:00 How can people find you?