How to Write a Cookbook
Decide why you are writing the cookbook., Select your best or favorite recipes., Prepare the recipes., Take photos., Bring the recipes together., Proofread., Seek publication.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Decide why you are writing the cookbook.
You need to make a decision about this in order to know how to approach your cookbook and to whom you will target it.
For example, if you simply wish to write a cookbook for your own personal use, creating it on your computer in a readable PDF format that can be printed and bound simply with staples and a little scrapbook artistry might be sufficient for you.
If it's for a family reunion, for local or national publication, or to commemorate an event, it's likely that you'll want to produce something more formal and you will probably need to consider photographs and decent printing services, including good binding.
If it's for professional publishing, you may wish to explore contacting the publisher before even embarking on the project, to garner potential interest and to get advice. -
Step 2: Select your best or favorite recipes.
A good cookbook is an assemblage of a well thought-out collection of recipes that reflect themes, such as starters, appetizers, entrées, desserts, baking, etc.
Generally you stick to one cooking style rather than being too eclectic, for example, raw, homestyle, old-fashioned, family friendly, easy cooking, fast cooking, dinner party cooking, fresh, seafood focused, etc.
You might also consider the recipes that are always a hit with family and friends and that are fairly fail-proof.
These virtues can be touted and will encourage readers to give such recipes a try. , If you have them in a variety of places such as your head, different pieces of paper, various cookbooks etc., it's time to draw together your collection.
Always use your own words when writing up the recipes.
While lists of ingredients are not covered by copyright and common ways of performing recipe actions are usually not copyright either, the words used to describe the methods in each step or as a whole are copyright, so you must use your own words where you are relying on your cookbook collection.
Acknowledge where possible.
If you know you've used a recipe from a favorite chef for the past few years, consider acknowledging the original source, even though you've long since deviated from the exact same ingredients.
It's a common courtesy and helps to maintain the sense of ongoing sharing and pride that is commonplace in the cooking community. , If you are adding photos to your cookbook, make up the meals or items and photograph them.
Contemporary readers tend to expect more images in cookbooks than was the case in cookbooks of the past.
Photos help the reader imagine the end result more concretely and give inspiration to try the dish out.
Take several photos from differing angles to get the best possible final shot of each recipe being photographed.
You don't need a photo for all recipes unless that's the sort of cookbook style you're after; just select the recipes that you'd most like featured as part of the photos.
Make any changes to photos using photo fixing software.
If you can't take photos or don't like doing it while juggling the cooking, find a friend or family member willing to help.
Some printing places will do this for you but it adds to the cost, so it's best to do it yourself if you're self-publishing. , Select the order in which you would like to place the recipes in the cookbook.
Write an overview and a table of contents to help guide your placement.
Look at existing cookbooks for ideas of the way that recipes are usually ordered.
While it's okay to be slightly quirky, remember that readers have fairly set-in-stone ideas of the usual direction of recipe books, which tends to be savory to sweet, starters to mains to dessert, and so forth, depending on what food selections you're bringing together. , Edit your work several times, and have others read through it as well.
Check for accuracy of ingredients, measurements, cooking times, etc.
Recipes are not something that leave a lot of room for error.
If you have willing cooks among your family or group of friends, consider dividing up different recipes in the book and asking them to road-test the recipes.
Twice- or triple-tested recipes are a value-added promise that you can include as part of the marketing pitch for encouraging readers to trust in your cookbook.
Promise your helpers a free copy of the final book as a thank-you for their help. , There are great self-publication possibilities, both in online version and in printed versions.
Check the prices set the amount of copies you want and be open to the possibility of making an ebook, printing a hard edition or perhaps a combination of both.
If hard printing, consider whether you want color printing, gloss or matte finishes, cover art, etc. as well, so that the total price includes everything.
Alternately, send your cookbook off to publishers to have them handle printing and sales.
This will result in numerous rejections but if you have done your job well, it's likely that someone will be interested if you are polite, persistent, available for discussion and give it a good sales pitch.
Even more helpful is to pitch the idea before writing it, and getting your publisher up-front.
Seek professional advice if you are looking for a professional publication of your work. -
Step 3: Prepare the recipes.
-
Step 4: Take photos.
-
Step 5: Bring the recipes together.
-
Step 6: Proofread.
-
Step 7: Seek publication.
Detailed Guide
You need to make a decision about this in order to know how to approach your cookbook and to whom you will target it.
For example, if you simply wish to write a cookbook for your own personal use, creating it on your computer in a readable PDF format that can be printed and bound simply with staples and a little scrapbook artistry might be sufficient for you.
If it's for a family reunion, for local or national publication, or to commemorate an event, it's likely that you'll want to produce something more formal and you will probably need to consider photographs and decent printing services, including good binding.
If it's for professional publishing, you may wish to explore contacting the publisher before even embarking on the project, to garner potential interest and to get advice.
A good cookbook is an assemblage of a well thought-out collection of recipes that reflect themes, such as starters, appetizers, entrées, desserts, baking, etc.
Generally you stick to one cooking style rather than being too eclectic, for example, raw, homestyle, old-fashioned, family friendly, easy cooking, fast cooking, dinner party cooking, fresh, seafood focused, etc.
You might also consider the recipes that are always a hit with family and friends and that are fairly fail-proof.
These virtues can be touted and will encourage readers to give such recipes a try. , If you have them in a variety of places such as your head, different pieces of paper, various cookbooks etc., it's time to draw together your collection.
Always use your own words when writing up the recipes.
While lists of ingredients are not covered by copyright and common ways of performing recipe actions are usually not copyright either, the words used to describe the methods in each step or as a whole are copyright, so you must use your own words where you are relying on your cookbook collection.
Acknowledge where possible.
If you know you've used a recipe from a favorite chef for the past few years, consider acknowledging the original source, even though you've long since deviated from the exact same ingredients.
It's a common courtesy and helps to maintain the sense of ongoing sharing and pride that is commonplace in the cooking community. , If you are adding photos to your cookbook, make up the meals or items and photograph them.
Contemporary readers tend to expect more images in cookbooks than was the case in cookbooks of the past.
Photos help the reader imagine the end result more concretely and give inspiration to try the dish out.
Take several photos from differing angles to get the best possible final shot of each recipe being photographed.
You don't need a photo for all recipes unless that's the sort of cookbook style you're after; just select the recipes that you'd most like featured as part of the photos.
Make any changes to photos using photo fixing software.
If you can't take photos or don't like doing it while juggling the cooking, find a friend or family member willing to help.
Some printing places will do this for you but it adds to the cost, so it's best to do it yourself if you're self-publishing. , Select the order in which you would like to place the recipes in the cookbook.
Write an overview and a table of contents to help guide your placement.
Look at existing cookbooks for ideas of the way that recipes are usually ordered.
While it's okay to be slightly quirky, remember that readers have fairly set-in-stone ideas of the usual direction of recipe books, which tends to be savory to sweet, starters to mains to dessert, and so forth, depending on what food selections you're bringing together. , Edit your work several times, and have others read through it as well.
Check for accuracy of ingredients, measurements, cooking times, etc.
Recipes are not something that leave a lot of room for error.
If you have willing cooks among your family or group of friends, consider dividing up different recipes in the book and asking them to road-test the recipes.
Twice- or triple-tested recipes are a value-added promise that you can include as part of the marketing pitch for encouraging readers to trust in your cookbook.
Promise your helpers a free copy of the final book as a thank-you for their help. , There are great self-publication possibilities, both in online version and in printed versions.
Check the prices set the amount of copies you want and be open to the possibility of making an ebook, printing a hard edition or perhaps a combination of both.
If hard printing, consider whether you want color printing, gloss or matte finishes, cover art, etc. as well, so that the total price includes everything.
Alternately, send your cookbook off to publishers to have them handle printing and sales.
This will result in numerous rejections but if you have done your job well, it's likely that someone will be interested if you are polite, persistent, available for discussion and give it a good sales pitch.
Even more helpful is to pitch the idea before writing it, and getting your publisher up-front.
Seek professional advice if you are looking for a professional publication of your work.
About the Author
Natalie Sanchez
Enthusiastic about teaching creative arts techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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