Before you write a cookbook, you need to enjoy the act of cooking. If you want to share what you know about cooking with the world, there will be other steps you will need to take, but if you don’t enjoy cooking in general, then writing a cookbook might not be the best idea. But if you do enjoy cooking and have plenty of original recipes to share, then you should write a cookbook and below, we have gathered several tips which will help you do that.

1. Read a lot of cooking books

Before you embark upon the journey of writing a cooking book, you should read other cooking books, especially those of your own cooking specialty. This is the best way to learn how cooking books are written, experience the style of different writers and understand the general outline of what your book is supposed to look and read like. Supposed is the key word here – because the goal is to experience the books and decide on how you will make yours. You shouldn’t copy another writer’s style or recipes; instead use other cookbooks to help you find your own voice and your own style.

2. Don’t look for a void

Just because no one has written a book about a specific cuisine, it doesn’t mean you should fill it. You’re just starting in the cooking book niche, and you need your work to be the best it can be. You need to offer quality and entertainment. So don’t look for a void you can fill – make your own place instead. Your idea is your own, even if other chefs have worked on it. Other chefs will not have your knowledge and your skills, and when you present them in a cooking book, the knowledge you offer will be different and unique. Additionally, if you haven’t tried writing before, there are books about writing you can use to improve upon your writing skills and add a bit of flair to your cooking book.

3. Be precise and truthful

There are two things you need to be careful about when writing cooking books. The first is that you must always be precise with the recipe. The best way to ensure this is to cook every recipe you’re going to put in the book and record each step. The second is that you need to be truthful about where you got the recipe from. Of course, the best option is to write about your own recipes. But, if you are going to use someone else’s recipe then you should point that out in your book. Today, information travels fast with blogs and social media, and you don’t want to be labeled as a thief or a fraud. It will never go away and the world will know it.

4. Find your original spin

As we mentioned before, don’t try to fill a void in the cooking world, but share your own knowledge. Now, we will take it a little further – and this is where your creativity comes in. If there are plenty of other books in your niche, then you will need to come up with your own, and an original spin of the idea or the cuisine. Maybe your recipes will be told in a way that’s new, original and creative. Or maybe you will focus on how you came up with them. Whatever you choose, one thing is certain: you will be providing the readers with new recipes and ideas presented in a creative way.

5. Include photographs

It is a very good idea to include photographs in your cooking book. From the ingredients to photos of the cooking process to the finished meal, your readers will love to see how everything is supposed to look. However, you will need skills in photography in order to make the photographs look professional. There is the option of hiring someone to take photographs which will go in your book – if you can afford it, of course. But, don’t fret if you’re unable to include pictures. Your cooking skills, your recipes and stories are much more important in the context of your book.

Image credit: Pixabay

Georgina Roy wants to live in a world filled with magic. As an art student, she’s moonlighting as a writer and is content to fill notebooks and sketchbooks with magical creatures and amazing new worlds. When she is not at school, or scribbling away in a notebook, you can usually find her curled up, reading a good urban fantasy novel, or writing on her laptop, trying to create her own.