How to Write a Cookbook

Video Transcript

"Hi! I'm Laura from Youngwritersworkshops.com. I'm going to talk about how to write a cook book. I think, it's really important. Especially, if you're a cook, you might be tempted to include a lot of different kinds of food. But I think, it's really important if you're going to write a cook book to narrow it a little bit. Focus on a food that you think is going to be appealing. To an audience. For example, Salsas or thirty minute meals. As opposed to just a bunch of good food. So pick your topic and then really focus in a little bit. And really create a range of recipes that fit within that topic. Now as far as writing a cook book. I think it's really important to cook a lot. You might need to cook, each of your recipes, five, six, seven times. To make sure that they turn out the same, each time. And that you've got all of the ingredient measurements, exactly right. When it come to the writing, once you have your recipes. Remember that, it's pretty easy to find a recipe on the Internet. Or you know, on the back of a box, somewhere. So really what makes someone reach for a cook book. As opposed to just printing something out, is the description. And some of the experience and detail that you bring to it. So when you write your descriptions that go with the recipes. Try and be personal, be expressive. Bring your own voice into it. That's what's going to make a difference. For someone to really want to purchase or read your cook book. A photograph is maybe not necessary for every recipe. But I would use photographs. Because they really entice the cook, the potential cook to try your recipe. And really also serves as a guide for what they're striving to achieve. In making this dish. So it's always good to have pictures. So here's a little summary of what you need to do, to write a cook book. Start with a manageable topic, that's going to be appealing to an audience. So that you'll be able to create recipes that fit within that topic. Test them, field test them. Have people try them and get them till their accurate. Then write an interesting detailed or personal description. To go with each recipe. Include photographs and then you've got your cook book. Pretty much, ready to go. So those are some ideas about how to write a cook book."