The Food Writers Business Lab is available through the paid subscription tier of Mastermind for Food Writers. An annual membership costs $150 and includes:

• Unlimited access to every Part One instructional workshop throughout the year

• Access to recordings of every instructional session

• The opportunity to register for optional Part Two working sessions for $50 each

• A growing library of practical education created specifically for food writers, by food writers

The Food Writers Business Lab is self-funded. This means that the income generated through paid subscriptions directly supports the instructors who teach the classes. So, the number of classes scheduled are dependent on the number of paid subscriptions generated. New classes are added as funding is made available.

It’s just one more way we can support one another.

Join The Food Writers Business Lab

DIY Cookbook Proposals

Writing a cookbook proposal is different from writing a cookbook. It requires a different set of skills. But, they’re skills anyone can learn. Whether you’re a chef, recipe developer, food writer, content creator, or culinary professional, you can write a compelling cookbook proposal yourself. You just need to know what agents and editors are looking for and have a roadmap for getting there.

Instructor:

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: Friday, August 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: Friday, August 28, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

More Information + Register

The Heart of Your Brand

Your business grows when your work becomes more honest, not more polished.

Every successful creator has a central idea that runs through everything they create. It’s there for you too, even if you haven’t found the words for it yet.

It’s the quality you bring to every word you write, recipe you develop, photograph you take, and story you tell. It’s present in every situation and relationship in your life, including the one you have with your readers. It’s so deeply woven into who you are that you couldn’t separate it from your work if you tried.

Whether your audience is thousands of people or five, this is what readers are responding to. The world doesn’t need another recipe or another food writer. Readers come back because of the way your work makes them feel.

They come back because they’ve connected with you. Once you understand what they’re responding to, and learn to communicate it clearly and consistently, you give the right readers a reason to recognize themselves in your work.

Your loyal readers aren’t there because of what you write. They are loyal because of how your recipes, stories, and words make them feel.

In this workshop, we’ll uncover the central idea that gives your work meaning and makes readers feel connected to it. You’ll learn how to identify the feeling that people return for, articulate why readers are naturally drawn to it, and create a strategy for clearly communicating that message across your entire brand.

Instructor: Rebecca Blackwell

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: August 13, 5:00pm - 6:30pm EST

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: August 20, 5:00pm - 6:30pm EST

More information + Register

How To Build A Platform That Will Sell Your Book

You can be posting, showing up, and creating content consistently and still feel like your audience isn’t growing the way you expected. In many cases, the problem isn’t that you’re not doing enough. It’s that you’re focusing on only one piece of the puzzle.

In this class, Stephanie Moon will show you how readers move from discovering your work to trusting you to buying your book. You’ll learn the three essential stages of author platform growth: visibility, nurture, and conversion. You’ll learn why social media alone isn’t a full audience-building strategy, what it really takes to create lasting reader relationships, and how to spot the stage that’s missing in your own platform.

Instructor:

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: Thursday, September 17, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: Thursday, September 24, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

More Information + Register

SEO for Food Writers

In this hands-on workshop, food writers will learn to think about SEO not as a technical burden, but as a way of building bridges from their work to their readers. Because that’s exactly what good SEO is: paths that meet readers where they are and lead them back to you.

Instructor:

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: October 15, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: October 22, 12pm-1:30pm CST

More Information + Register

Instructor:

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: August 13, 5:00pm - 6:30pm EST

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: August 20, 5:00pm - 6:30pm EST

Food writers (you and me) spend an enormous amount of time thinking about food, ingredients, recipes, the culture, photography, SEO, social media, newsletters, and audience growth. All of these things are important, but not as important as knowing the answer to this one question:

Why are people drawn to your work in the first place?

Every successful creator has a central idea that runs through everything they create. It’s there for you too, even if you haven’t found the words for it yet.

It’s the quality you bring to every word you write, recipe you develop, photograph you take, and story you tell. It’s present in every situation and relationship in your life, including the one you have with your readers. It’s so deeply woven into who you are that you couldn’t separate it from your work if you tried.

Whether your audience is thousands of people or five, this is what readers are responding to. The world doesn’t need another recipe or another food writer. Readers come back because of the way your work makes them feel.

They come back because they’ve connected with you. Once you understand what they’re responding to, and learn to communicate it clearly and consistently, you give the right readers a reason to recognize themselves in your work.

Your loyal readers aren’t there because of what you write. They are loyal because of how your recipes, stories, and words make them feel.

In this workshop, we’ll uncover the central idea that gives your work meaning and makes readers feel connected to it. You’ll learn how to identify the feeling that people return for, articulate why readers are naturally drawn to it, and create a strategy for clearly communicating that message across your entire brand.

I could tell you this workshop will help you build a stronger brand. And it will. But, more than that, it’s about finding the language that makes every piece of your business feel unmistakably, authentically yours.

To state it even more directly:

You don’t have to create it. It’s already there.

You just have to see it.

And then, you have to know how to communicate it.

Once you see it, writing becomes clearer. Bios become more authentic. Newsletters become more cohesive. Pitches become more compelling. Collaborations become more aligned. Products become more intentional. Social media becomes more natural.

Most importantly, your readers understand not only what you create but why it matters.

Your business grows when your work becomes more honest, not more polished.

Register for The Heart of Your Brand

*Part 1 of this and every class in The Food Writers Business Lab will be recorded and accessible to every paid subscriber.

About Rebecca Blackwell

Food Writer, Recipe Developer, & Founder of Mastermind for Food Writers and The Food Writers Business Lab

Rebecca Blackwell has spent nearly 30 years cooking and baking professionally and has published thousands of recipes. She is the creator of the recipe websites Of Batter and Dough and A Little and A Lot, and the author of the Let’s Get Lost newsletter.

In addition to her work as a writer and creator, Rebecca is the founder of Mastermind for Food Writers, and an Advisor in Residence for Write Up. Through the Food Writers Business Lab, she brings together experienced industry professionals to share practical, actionable education designed specifically for food writers.

Rebecca currently travels full-time by RV and sailboat with her husband, creating recipes, telling stories, and helping other writers navigate the evolving world of food media.

Questions?

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Send a direct message to Rebecca Blackwell, or leave a comment on this post.

Last week I had a conversation with during which I made a seemingly innocuous statement: “Most people with a substantial number of paid subscribers are solving a very specific problem. That’s not what my newsletter does, so it makes sense for me to focus on growing my free subscribers and then monetizing with paid sponsorships and things of that nature.”

Betty responded with a simple idea that changed my mind on the spot AND has completely reshaped my strategy. Betty’s idea was simple and embarrassingly obvious. And that’s the problem, isn’t it? We often can’t see the solutions that are right in front of us until someone else points them out.

That is the most powerful part of this community: Consistent opportunities to give and receive the kind of feedback, solutions, and ideas that actually move our businesses forward in real and tangible ways.

That conversation made me realize something else: One of the greatest advantages of belonging to a community like this isn’t access to information. We all have access to information. It’s access to a room full of experienced food writers who are willing to think through your business with you.

I want to create more opportunities for those conversations to happen. And, that’s what this new Business Strategy Meeting is about.

Once a month, paid members will have the opportunity to gather to tackle real business and marketing challenges together. We’ll share ideas, troubleshoot roadblocks, test strategies, and help each other make better decisions about where to invest our time and energy.

So far, a small group of you have become paid members and are helping support The Food Writers Business Lab. Thank you! If you’re one of them, you will have already received an email about the date and time that works best for you.

If you’re serious about creating a serious business as a food writer, we’d love to have you. Paid subscriptions directly fund new classes, instructors, and resources for the entire community. Here’s where to find out more about how The Food Writers Business Lab works.

Start Here.

Class Calendar

DIY Cookbook Proposals

Instructor: Kelsey Erin Shipman

When: Friday, August 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

Writing a cookbook proposal is different from writing a cookbook. It requires a different set of skills. But, they’re skills anyone can learn. Whether you’re a chef, recipe developer, food writer, content creator, or culinary professional, you can write a compelling cookbook proposal yourself. You just need to know what agents and editors are looking for and have a roadmap for getting there.

More Information + Register

How To Build A Platform That Will Sell Your Book

Instructor: Stephanie Moon

When: Thursday, September 17, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

In this class, Stephanie Moon will show you how readers move from discovering your work to trusting you to buying your book. You’ll learn the three essential stages of author platform growth: visibility, nurture, and conversion. You’ll learn why social media alone isn’t a full audience-building strategy, what it really takes to create lasting reader relationships, and how to spot the stage that’s missing in your own platform.

More Information + Register

SEO for Food Writers

Instructor: Rebecca Blackwell

When: October 15, 12pm-1:30pm CST

In this hands-on workshop, food writers will learn to think about SEO not as a technical burden, but as a way of building bridges from their work to their readers. Because that’s exactly what good SEO is: paths that meet readers where they are and lead them back to you.

More Information + Register

Coming soon!

Income generated through paid subscriptions directly supports the instructors who teach the classes. So, the number of classes we can offer depends on the number of paid subscriptions. New classes are added as our paid membership grows.

Here are the classes that are ready and waiting in the wings!

• Organizational Strategies for Food Writers. , the organizational queen herself, will share the tools and strategies she uses to find order in creative chaos and build systems that increase productivity while giving you more time and mental space for creative work.

• Food Photography. , Shelly Waldman and I are teaching this class right now and I CAN’T WAIT to teach it again. We have eight students in this round and we are having the best time. Check out Mira Dessy’s recent post about her experience in the class so far!

• How To Create A New Revenue Stream Through Cooking Classes. Is there anyone who knows this subject better than ? I don’t think so, which is why I was absolutely thrilled when she agreed to teach it. If you’re looking for a new way to share your expertise, deepen your connection with your audience, and grow your business, teaching cooking classes can be both creatively and financially rewarding.

Education, Connection, and Resources for Food Writers by Food Writers

Welcome! If you’re a food writer who wants to build a sustainable business, grow your audience, and connect with other, like-minded food writers, you’re in the right place.

Hello. I’m a food writer with two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. I started this group in January of 2025, and The Food Writers Business Lab in May of 2026 as a way to link arms with fellow food writers and deepen the community of support.

Information is everywhere. Collaboration is rare.

There is no shortage of information about food writing and growing a business. What is much harder to find is a group of experienced people who are willing to share what they’ve learned, offer thoughtful feedback, celebrate your wins, and help you solve the problems that are baked into building a creative business.

That’s what this group is about.

Here’s how to get involved:

1. Monthly Mastermind Meetings: Join fellow food writers every month for a free 90-minute mastermind meeting held over zoom. Meetings are free to attend, but registration is required. Here’s where you’ll find information about this month’s meeting.

2. Recordings from previous meetings. All of the free mastermind meetings are recorded so if you can’t join us live, you can watch the replay later. Here’s where you’ll find all the meeting recordings.

3. The Food Writers Business Lab (Paid Members). Hands-on workshops taught by experienced food writers covering food photography, cookbook proposals, organizational strategies, platform building, SEO, products, cooking classes, and more.

4. Business Strategy Meetings (Paid Members). A once a month mastermind meeting for paid members who are focused on building a sustainable business as a food writer

5. The Food Readers Book Club! A fun opportunity to connect with other food writers over books!

The goal of Mastermind for Food Writers and The Food Writers Business Lab isn’t simply to learn more. It’s to build a better business alongside people who genuinely want to see each other succeed.

Questions?

Send a direct message to Rebecca Blackwell, or leave a comment on this post.

If you’re new here, there are two meetings every month to accommodate the fact that we are scattered all over the world. Find the date and time that works best for you or join them both!

• Meetings are usually on Wednesdays and last 90 minutes. The North America/ Europe meeting is at 11am EST. The Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting is at 8am GMT.

• North America/ Europe meeting is usually recorded. You’ll find many of those recordings below.

All meetings are free to attend but require registration. Here’s where to find information on this month’s meeting.

Recording and Notes From The July Meeting

Changes to the Food Writers Business Lab, Substack Recipe Cards, the new Audience Specific Content Block, and more!

June Mastermind Meeting with guest speaker Felicity Spector

June 17, 2026

Creative Recipe Writing

May 13, 2026

In this meeting Betty Williams, Kelsey Erin Shipman and discuss:

• How being yourself is your unfair advantage

• Creative recipe writing is: your point of view, your values, your expertise, your experience, your personality

• Experience, opinions, and personal insight makes your work harder to replicate

• How recipes can be genre mashups

• How to harness your voice to write recipes that are distinctly YOU

More on this topic: Eat Your Feelings (Recipes are more about how we feel than what we make)

Bonus! Creating a Values Led Brand for Food Writers

This is a free class that taught for The food Writers Business Lab.

What if building your brand didn’t begin with strategy, visibility, or keeping up with everyone else, but with a clearer understanding of who you are and what actually matters to you?

For many food writers, branding can start to feel external and performative: the right bio, the right niche, the right content pillars, the right way to show up online. But the strongest brands are not built from the outside in. They are rooted in something deeper: your values, your strengths, your voice, your boundaries, and the kind of work you want to create over time.

More on this topic: In this LIVE discussion, and discuss how values influence your voice, your messaging, your boundaries, and the kinds of opportunities you choose to pursue.

We also talk about the importance of being able to communicate your values to your audience, the difference between your values, strengths and talents, how to know when to push through and when to re-evaluate and pivot, how discomfort and fear can be indicators that you’re on the right track and why building your brand around who you are and what you really care about takes courage.

Bonus! Introduction to SEO For Food Writers

This is a free class that taught for The food Writers Business Lab.

Your audience is everywhere. They are scattered around the world and across the internet. You know they’re out there, but finding them can feel overwhelming. You feel like you’re publishing into the void, pouring your heart and soul into your work and then hoping the right people will discover it. And, sometimes they do! But, our job as food writers isn’t just to create good work. It’s also to help people find it.

More on this topic: How To Build a Bridge From Your Work To Your Readers

All about Substack Recipe Cards and creating a strategy that goes beyond Substack

April 1, 2026

We talked Substack’s new recipe card functionality and its benefits for food writers. A few of the topics we covered:

• How to use recipe cards to create a dedicated, reader friendly recipe section.

• How using the recipe cards can improve SEO and make content more discoverable on platforms like Pinterest and Google.

• The process of extracting existing recipes from newsletters to create standalone recipe posts.

• Challenges with the recipe card feature including limited print functionality in the app

We also talked about our individual reasons for being on Substack and our desire to build something real in an increasingly AI driven world.

Besides the recording, I assembled my notes and some additional thoughts into this article: Using Substack Recipe Cards to Organize Recipes, Improve Discoverability, and Build a Long-Term Strategy

Editorial Planning for your Substack

March 4, 2026

In this month’s meeting, Mira Dessy shared her process for editorial planning and scheduling, and the tools she uses to significantly cut the amount of time she spends on administrative and repetitive tasks. It was incredibly valuable.

We also talked about scheduling, the pros and cons of sending newsletters on a set day and time, finding a rhythm between scheduled writing and inspired flexibility, the significance and insignificance of open rates, Substack’s new recipe card feature, how to embed one post within a different post, and more!

Building Community Beyond the Platform

Building your community and brand platform across different technology platforms without burning out!

February 18, 2026

In this month’s meeting, Barbara at Projectkin and Stephanie Moon taught us about building our audience across platforms and doing it without burning out.

If you weren’t able to join us, you’ll find the recording below. It’s packed with ideas, inspiration, and valuable information! Here are just a few highlights from my notes:

• Be yourself. Be yourself. Be yourself.

• Do what works for you, not the platform.

• It’s important to own your content, your domain, and your list. Export your list and your content on a regular basis and keep it somewhere safe.

• Substack is an email distribution platform for your work. Substack is not your work.

• If you are attracting readers off-Substack, it’s important to teach those readers how to use and navigate Substack.

• Sometimes it feels like we are putting stuff out there into the void, but it’s important to remember that we don’t know who it’s reaching and we often don’t know who they are sharing it with.

• Platforms aren’t about numbers, they are about trust. A small, highly engaged audience is more valuable than a huge audience with low engagement.

• Consistency beats perfection.

On that last point, Stephanie wrote a great post last December about just getting started: Start Now.

Pitching to Magazines + Organizing a Writing Schedule + Collaboration Opportunities

January 21, 2026

A HUGE thank you to this month’s mini-masterclass teachers and Amie McGraham, and to Mira Dessy and Elizabeth Pizzinato who are working to create collaboration opportunities for interested members of this group!

If you weren’t able to join us this week, you’ll find the recording below and it’s packed with great information!

Halona started us off with a meaty class about what it takes to successfully pitch articles to magazines and other publications. Then Amie showed us how she organizes her schedule to write TWO substacks, a book, freelance projects, and still take time off every week.

How to Write a Cookbook Proposal

December 10, 2025

A HUGE thanks to Kelsey Erin Shipman who somehow managed to teach us an incredible amount about how to write a cookbook proposal in under 90 minutes.

• The Dream to Deal: Book Proposal Intensive: I () took this workshop and it was incredible. If you’re interested in hearing more about my experience, feel free to reach out.

• If you’re not subscribed to Kelsey’s substack, Cheese Toast with White People, it’s truly one of the best things I’ve read all year.

What Is The Core Value Of Your Brand?

This week’s mini-masterclass was all about clarity. We set out to answer questions such as… What am I about? What is my message? Is my message reflected in my bio? Who is my message for? What do they feel and what do they want?

Here is the slide show from ’s presentation:

What Are We Doing Here (2)

660KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

How To Get Published with Dianne Jacob

This month’s meeting was so, so good, thanks to our special guest, Dianne Jacob!

Dianne spent the entire 90 minutes with us, answering questions about how to get published in major publications outside of Substack, what it takes to publish a cookbook, the importance of author platforms, the future of food writing, and finding your voice, audience, and niche.

If you are not already subscribed to Dianne’s Substack, where she shares trends, best practices, advice and more about food writing, here’s where to do that: Dianne Jacob’s Newsletter

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. Her and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca write recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

This month will be an open-forum-style meeting. Bring your questions, challenges, roadblocks, and requests for feedback. This is your chance to take full advantage of all the brain power and expertise in the room!

Here are the details for the August meeting:

*Meetings are free to join but registration is required.

Wednesday, August 12: 11:00am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/o9ceFG9dSUCkkPKOWWMRTg

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

*Liza Debevec, the facilitator for the Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting, is taking a much deserved break in August, so there will only be one meeting in August.

Hello everyone,

In last week’s Mastermind Meeting, I announced that I was restructuring The Food Writers Business Lab as a paid subscription tier for Mastermind For Food Writers. I feel really good about this change because it makes the classes more accessible while ensuring fair compensation for the instructors.

We also talked about a bunch of other interesting things including the best strategies for using Substack Recipe Cards, the new Audience Specific Content Block, and more. As usual, it was an interesting discussion with lots of shared ideas. The replay is available here…

Recording From The July Meeting

Monthly Mastermind Meetings are free for all to join and will continue to be free for all to join.

, the facilitator for the Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting, is taking a much deserved break in August, so there will only be one meeting next month.

Here are the details for the August meeting:

*Meetings are free to join but registration is required.

Wednesday, August 12: 11:00am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/o9ceFG9dSUCkkPKOWWMRTg

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Big changes for the Food Writers Business Lab

I launched the Food Writers Business Lab earlier this year in partnership with Write Up. If you’re not familiar with Write Up, it’s a community of writers, authors, and industry professionals offering support in navigating the world of traditional publishing. I LOVE the Write Up community. I am a member and one of their Advisors in Residence. Partnering with them to launch The Food Writers Business Lab made a lot of sense.

The idea behind The Food Writers Business Lab is simple: Practical, hands-on workshops designed to help you make meaningful progress in your business. Workshops are for food writers and taught by fellow food writers.

The problem with housing the workshops within the Write Up community is that they weren’t as accessible as I wanted them to be and I couldn’t guarantee fair compensation for the instructors.

The mismatch was that I was trying to build a co-op within a membership community. Both excellent models, but not the same thing.

Once I realized my mistake, I moved quickly to move The Food Writers Business Lab here and establish it as a self-funded co-op. This means that the income generated through paid subscriptions directly supports the instructors who teach the classes. So, the number of classes we can offer depends on the number of paid subscriptions. New classes are added as our paid membership grows.

I’ve created a section within Mastermind For Food Writers that’s dedicated to The Food Writers Business Lab. Here’s where you’ll find it:

The Food Writers Business Lab

The Food Writers Business Lab is built on collaboration and full transparency. I’ve included a FAQ section in the Start Here page with a complete breakdown of how paid subscription dollars are put to work funding new classes.

Many of you have already stepped up and upgraded to a paid subscription. You have successfully funded the first three classes under this new model. Thank you. ❤️

Class Calendar

Substack LIVE Cookbook Proposal Q&A

Watch the replay from this LIVE Q&A whereI asked about the most important considerations when writing a cookbook proposal. A few of the things we talked about:

• The most important things to consider when deciding to write a cookbook proposal.

• The importance of having a clear concept, and what “clear concept” even means.

• What it means to build a platform and how to think about building your platform as a passion project not a chore.

• Realistic timelines for writing a cookbook proposal.

• When is the right time to reach out to an agent?

• And, most importantly, where to start if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Having worked on dozens of proposals in her career, Kelsey is one of the most insightful and knowledgeable people you’ll meet on this topic, and in this LIVE Q&A she offers the kind of inside information that can be difficult to find.

DIY Cookbook Proposals

Starts on August 7!

Writing a cookbook proposal is different from writing a cookbook. It requires a different set of skills. But, they’re skills anyone can learn. Whether you’re a chef, recipe developer, food writer, content creator, or culinary professional, you can write a compelling cookbook proposal yourself. You just need to know what agents and editors are looking for and have a roadmap for getting there.

In this two-part Food Writers Business Lab workshop, cookbook collaborator and book proposal consultant Kelsey Erin Shipman will walk you through every section of a cookbook proposal, using a her proprietary Book Proposal Checklist, developed after years of writing and consulting on dozens of book proposals. Together, we’ll cover everything from your hook and audience to recipe organization, competitive titles, marketing strategy, and visual direction, with a focus on what makes cookbook proposals different from other nonfiction proposals.

Find Out More + Register

The Food Readers Book Club!

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other members over good books!

Personally, I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to spend my time than with fellow food writers talking about books about food. The Food Readers Book Club is organized by and , who have volunteered their time to make this book club happen. ❤️

The first book we read was Around the Table by Diana Henry.

Now we are reading Apricots on the Nile by Collete Rossant.

The next meeting will be on September 30, 4:00pm UK, 8:00am PST.

Mark your calendars and watch for registration information in early August.

Remember that the Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to ask questions, get feedback, share ideas, and connect with other food writers on Substack.

Have a wonderful week!

-

As always, thank you so much to those of you who were able to attend today’s Mastermind meeting. I learn something new in every single meeting and always love to see your faces on my screen.

At the start of today’s meeting, I made a very important and exciting announcement:

I’ve decided to move The Food Writers Business Lab here as a paid subscription tier to Mastermind for Food Writers.

I explained my reasons for making that decision in the meeting, which you can watch below. But the bottom line is this:

My goal for The Food Writers Business Lab is to create a robust program of hands-on workshops for food writers taught by food writers. I want the classes to be as accessible as possible (read: affordable), and I want the instructors who teach the classes to be compensated for their time and energy.

Figuring out how to do that has been a challenge. But I think I’ve come up with a good solution.

Think of it as a co-op model. The income generated through paid subscriptions directly supports the instructors who teach the classes. So, the number of classes we can offer is dependent on the number of paid subscriptions. Every new paid subscription directly supports a new class. New classes are added as funding is made available. All classes are taught by fellow food writers.

Learning from each other and supporting each other. That’s what this is about.

Very important: Mastermind meetings are free and always will be. A paid subscription gives you access to all the classes offered through The Food Writers Business Lab. Everyone is welcome to join the Mastermind meetings.

There are three classes on the schedule right now!

• DIY Cookbook Proposals

• How to Build A Platform That Will Sell Your Book

• SEO For Food Writers

Upcoming classes that will be added as funding is made available:

• Food Photography

• Brand Management and Business Strategy for Food Writers

• Cookbook Marketing

• Organizational Strategies for Food Writers

• Creative Recipe Writing

• Self-publishing

• Video for Food Writers

• Creating Products & eBooks

• Teaching Paid Cooking Classes

For $150 a year, which is the cost of an annual subscription, you can attend as many live classes as you’d like, or watch the recordings later if you can’t make it in real time.

Here’s where you can find out more and check out the class schedule:

Start Here

We talked about a bunch of other interesting things in the meeting today including the best strategies for using Substack Recipe Cards, the new Audience Specific Content Block, and more. It was a really interesting discussion with a host of good ideas. If you missed it, it’s worth watching!

Here’s where you can watch the recording:

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: Friday, August 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: Friday, August 28, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

DIY Cookbook Proposals

Writing a cookbook proposal is different from writing a cookbook. It requires a different set of skills. But, they’re skills anyone can learn. Whether you’re a chef, recipe developer, food writer, content creator, or culinary professional, you can write a compelling cookbook proposal yourself. You just need to know what agents and editors are looking for and have a roadmap for getting there.

In this two-part Food Writers Business Lab workshop, cookbook collaborator and book proposal consultant will walk you through every section of a cookbook proposal, using a her proprietary Book Proposal Checklist, developed after years of writing and consulting on dozens of book proposals. Together, we’ll cover everything from your hook and audience to recipe organization, competitive titles, marketing strategy, and visual direction, with a focus on what makes cookbook proposals different from other nonfiction proposals.

This workshop is designed for writers who want to build their own proposal from the ground up. You’ll leave understanding not only what belongs in each section, but why publishers ask for it and how to write it in a way that strengthens your overall project.

You will come away from this lab with:

• A clear understanding of every section of a cookbook proposal targeted towards traditional publishing

• A cookbook-specific version of Kelsey’s Book Proposal Checklist to guide your writing long after class ends

• A stronger cookbook concept and positioning in today’s publishing market

• Strategies for organizing recipes, chapters, and the overall structure of your book

• Practical guidance for writing your overview, author bio, audience, competitive titles, marketing plan, and sample material

• A realistic roadmap for completing your proposal on your own

Whether you’re starting with a notebook full of recipe ideas or a rough draft of a proposal, this workshop will give you the tools, structure, and confidence to create a cookbook proposal ready for agents and publishers.

Participants will receive an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

Substack LIVE Cookbook Proposal Q&A

Watch the replay from this LIVE Q&A where and discuss some of the most important considerations when writing a cookbook proposal.

Here are just a few of the things we talked about:

• The most important things to consider when deciding to write a cookbook proposal.

• The importance of having a clear concept, and what “clear concept” even means.

• What it means to build a platform and how to think about building your platform as a passion project not a chore.

• Realistic timelines for writing a cookbook proposal.

• Understanding when and how to reach out to an agent.

• And, most importantly, where to start if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Having worked on dozens of proposals in her career, Kelsey is one of the most insightful and knowledgeable people you’ll meet on this topic, and in this LIVE Q&A she offers the kind of honest, inside information that can be difficult to find.

About Kelsey Shipman

Writer, Educator, Creative Partner

Kelsey Shipman is a cookbook collaborator and ghostwriter who has spent years helping chefs, recipe developers, and food writers shape cookbook ideas into proposals for traditional publishers. She is represented by Transatlantic Agency and specializes in cookbook and memoir collaborations. Kelsey is the co-founder of Write Up where she co-teaches an annual 12-week Book Proposal Intensive alongside food writer and author Hannah Howard.

Her food and travel writing has appeared in The Rumpus, The Chocolate Professor, ParentCo, Off Assignment, HuffPost, USA Today, and The Austin Chronicle. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing, has worked as an educator for more than seventeen years, and writes the Substack newsletter Cheese Toast with White People, which explores food, family, and the strange inheritance of Southern white culture.

Questions?

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Send a direct message to Rebecca Blackwell, or leave a comment on this post.

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: Thursday, September 17, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: Thursday, September 24, 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

You can be posting, showing up, and creating content consistently and still feel like your audience isn’t growing the way you expected. In many cases, the problem isn’t that you’re not doing enough. It’s that you’re focusing on only one piece of the puzzle.

In this class, Stephanie Moon will show you how readers move from discovering your work to trusting you to buying your book. You’ll learn the three essential stages of author platform growth: visibility, nurture, and conversion. You’ll learn why social media alone isn’t a full audience-building strategy, what it really takes to create lasting reader relationships, and how to spot the stage that’s missing in your own platform.

Rather than treating audience growth as a vague or frustrating process, this class will help you see it as a relationship-building system. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what each stage requires, how they work together, and what to focus on next to build a stronger path from stranger to reader.

In this class, you’ll walk away with:

• A clear understanding of the three stages that drive book sales: visibility, nurture, and conversion

• A framework for identifying which stage is missing or underdeveloped in your current platform

• A broader view of what visibility can look like beyond social media alone

• A better understanding of how newsletters, long-form content, and other assets help build trust over time

• A more confident sense of how and when to make an ask without feeling overly salesy

• A homework assignment to help you audit your platform and determine what to strengthen next

This class is for authors at any stage who want a more strategic, sustainable way to grow an audience and build genuine reader relationships that lead to book sales. We’ll look at the many forms visibility can take, what nurture looks like after someone finds you, and how to make a clear, confident ask without feeling salesy. By the end, you’ll know where your gaps are, what to build next, and how these pieces work together to support book sales over time.

Each participant will receive a guided homework assignment designed to help you apply what you’ve learned in this class to your own business.

About Stephanie Moon

Brand + Book Marketing Strategist

Stephanie Moon has spent over 15 years in book marketing and publicity, leading campaigns for New York Times bestsellers and working with publishers including Chronicle Books, HarperCollins, Scholastic, and Hardie Grant. She teaches authors how to sell more books by building real relationships and communities. In addition, Stephanie is and an Advisor in Residence for Write Up.

Follow her on Instagram or read The FAQs on her Substack where she answers the most frequently asked questions she gets from authors and shares insights, and truths about book marketing, and publishing.

Questions?

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Send a direct message to Rebecca Blackwell, or leave a comment on this post.

The Food Writers Business Lab is an online community for food writers who want practical, affordable guidance for growing their businesses, expanding their audience, and building sustainable careers.

Here you’ll find classes and workshops taught by experienced food writers who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of this industry. It’s education for food writers taught by food writers.

Subscribe now

How the Food Writers Business Lab Works

The idea is simple: practical, hands-on workshops designed to help you make meaningful progress in your business.

Throughout the year, experienced food writers lead workshops on topics like SEO, food photography, cookbook publishing, platform building, creative recipe writing, video, organizational strategies, creating digital products, and other skills essential to building a sustainable food writing business.

Each workshop is divided into two parts.

Part One: Learn

The first session is a 90-minute live Zoom class focused on teaching practical strategies you can put to work immediately. You’ll leave with clear instruction, real-world examples, and homework designed to help you apply what you’ve learned to your own business.

Every Part One session is included with your Food Writers Business Lab membership. For $150 a year you can attend as many live classes as you’d like, or watch the recordings later if you can’t make it in real time.

Part Two: Working Session

One to two weeks later, participants have the opportunity to join a small-group working session.

This is my favorite part.

Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, and exchange ideas. You’ll receive hands-on guidance from the instructor and benefit from the experience of the other food writers in the room.

Rather than simply learning new concepts, you’ll leave with real progress already underway.

Participation in the hands-on working session is optional and costs $50. Every dollar from these sessions goes directly to the instructor leading the workshop as compensation for their time and energy.

View The Class Calendar

Business Strategy Meetings

Once a month, paid members have the opportunity to gather to tackle real business and marketing challenges together. We share ideas, troubleshoot roadblocks, test strategies, and help each other make better decisions about where to invest our time and energy.

Upgrade to paid

Membership

The Food Writers Business Lab is available through the paid subscription tier of Mastermind for Food Writers.

An annual membership costs $150 and includes:

• Unlimited access to every Part One instructional workshop throughout the year

• Access to recordings of every instructional session

• The opportunity to register for optional Part Two working sessions for $50 each

• Access to monthly Business Strategy Meetings

In addition, once a week, I host a 30-minute coffee chat with one paid subscriber over Substack LIVE where we talk about who they are, what their work is about, and their thoughts about what it means to be a food writer today.

Paid subscribers are also featured, in revolving groups of 4-5, as recommended publications to new subscribers.

Whether you’re building your audience, improving your photography, writing a cookbook proposal, strengthening your SEO, or creating new income streams, the Food Writers Business Lab is designed to give you practical education you can use immediately and a community of people who understand exactly what you’re building and why you’re building it.

Join The Food Writers Business Lab

Upcoming Class Topics

The Food Writers Business Lab is self-funded. This means that the income generated through paid subscriptions directly supports the instructors who teach the classes. So, the number of classes scheduled are dependent on the number of paid subscriptions generated. New classes are added as our paid membership grows.

It’s just one more way we can support one another.

Upcoming topics include:

• SEO for Food Writers

• Food Photography

• Brand & Platform Building

• Writing a Cookbook Proposal

• Cookbook Marketing

• Organizational Strategies for Food Writers

• Creative Recipe Writing

• Self-publishing

• Video for Food Writers

• Creating Products & eBooks

• Teaching Paid Cooking Classes

Check out the class calendar for all scheduled classes. Classes are free for paid subscribers, but registration is required.

Join The Food Writers Business Lab

FAQs

Q: What does it mean that the Food Writers Business Lab is self-funded?

A: This means that the income generated through paid subscriptions directly supports the instructors who teach the classes. So, the number of classes we can offer depends on the number of paid subscriptions. New classes are added as our paid membership grows.

• 50% of paid subscription revenue, after Substack and Stripe fees, goes to running the program. This includes compensation for Rebecca’s time.

• Instructors are paid $300 to teach Part One of every class.

A new class is added with every 5 new paid subscriptions. Here’s the breakdown:

• 5 new paid subscriptions at $150 each = $750

• Substack’s 10% + Stripe fees = $105 (*This is approximate. Stripe fees vary slightly and include an additional $.30 for recurring transactions.)

• Revenue from 5 new paid subscriptions = $645

• 50% goes to program costs and Rebecca’s compensation = $322.50

• The remaining 50% ($322.50) funds a new class. Instructors are paid $300 and the remaining $22.50 is reserved for another future class.

Q: How are class instructors chosen?

A: Instructors are chosen based on their level of demonstrated expertise in topics of interest to members of Mastermind For Food Writers.

For example, I know that food photography, writing a cookbook proposal, building your platform, and growing your readership are all subjects our members want to learn more about. To create classes on these topics, I look for instructors with demonstrated expertise in these areas. Most instructors are already members of Mastermind For Food Writers.

If you are interested in teaching a class, please reach out to me directly. You can send me a direct message through Substack, or send an email to rebecca.blackwell5@gmail.com.

Q: Can I access recordings even if I can’t attend a live class?

A: Yes! All Part One sessions are recorded and made available to everyone who has upgraded to a paid subscription. As classes are added, this library will continue to grow and become an invaluable resource for all of us!

Additionally, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to participate in a live class you can watch the recording and still participate in the second part if you choose. Recordings are generally available for members to watch within a day or two of the live class.

Q: Why does the second part of every class cost an additional $50?

A: After teaching several Food Writers Business Lab classes, I’ve found that the two-part workshop structure works exceptionally well for everyone who wants to not only learn something new but begin applying it within their business right away.

We retain new information by applying it. So Part One of every class ends with a homework assignment that is designed to help you apply what you’ve learned to your own business. The second part is a working session, and it’s honestly my favorite part.

As in every single Mastermind Meeting, I learn something new every time another food writer generously shares their own perspective, ideas, or suggestions. The second session is a chance to ask questions, get feedback, and work through the challenges that inevitably arise as you put new ideas into practice. You’ll receive hands-on guidance from the instructor and benefit from the experience of the other food writers in the room.

However, not everyone wants to participate in the second part. And sometimes their schedules simply won’t allow it. By separating the two parts of the class, I am able to keep the cost of your annual subscription as low as possible and give you the choice of participating in the second part or not. If you choose to participate in the second part of a class, know that every single dollar goes straight to the instructor.

It’s the best way I’ve found to keep the cost of a paid subscription low while fairly compensating instructors for their time and expertise.

Part 1: Learn. The first session will be a recorded instructional workshop with an in-depth homework assignment to help you put the material into practice.

When: October 15, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Part 2: Implement. Bring your homework, your questions, your roadblocks, and your challenges. Together, we’ll review what you’ve implemented, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and get thoughtful feedback from both the instructor and other food writers working toward similar goals.

When: October 22, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Your audience is everywhere. They are scattered around the world and across the internet. You know they’re out there, but finding them can feel overwhelming. You feel like you’re publishing into the void, pouring your heart and soul into your work and then hoping the right people will discover it. And, sometimes they do! But, our job as food writers isn’t just to create good work. It’s also to help people find it.

In this hands-on workshop, food writers will learn to think about SEO not as a technical burden, but as a way of building bridges from their work to their readers. Because that’s exactly what good SEO is: paths that meet readers where they are and lead them back to you.

Better still, those bridges keep working over time, helping your recipes and stories reach new readers again and again for months and years to come.

This is a two-part workshop. The first session will be instructional and will include homework. The second session is an optional hands-on workshop where we will roll up our sleeves and get to work. You will come away from this lab with:

• A deeper understanding of what SEO means today and what it might mean in the future

• How AI is changing discoverability and how everyone creating something real has an unfair advantage (Hint: It’s harder to game the system and this is GOOD NEWS for everyone creating something real.)

• How to create a sustainable strategy for long term growth

• How to build bridges between your work and your readers

That last point is important: It’s not only your job to create the work, it’s your job to build the bridge TO your work. And the bridge must meet readers where they are. That’s what good SEO really means and that’s what you’ll learn in this class.

Participants will receive a comprehensive workbook that will help you put the material into practice.

About Rebecca Blackwell

Food Writer, Recipe Developer, & Founder of Mastermind for Food Writers and The Food Writers Business Lab

Rebecca Blackwell has spent nearly 30 years cooking and baking professionally and has published thousands of recipes. She is the creator of the recipe websites Of Batter and Dough and A Little and A Lot, and the author of the Let’s Get Lost newsletter.

In addition to her work as a writer and creator, Rebecca is the founder of Mastermind for Food Writers, and an Advisor in Residence for Write Up. Through the Food Writers Business Lab, she brings together experienced industry professionals to share practical, actionable education designed specifically for food writers.

Rebecca currently travels full-time by RV and sailboat with her husband, creating recipes, telling stories, and helping other writers navigate the evolving world of food media.

Questions?

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Send a direct message to , or leave a comment on this post.

I hope you’ll join me on Wednesday for the July Mastermind meeting!

This month will be an open-forum-style meeting. Bring your questions, challenges, roadblocks, and requests for feedback. This is your chance to take full advantage of all the brain power and expertise in the room!

A few things that have come up recently that I want to talk about:

• Substack recipe strategy: how to decide whether to use the Substack recipe card, which recipes are free and which are behind a paywall, how to use recipes to attract people to your Substack, etc.

• Substack notes: What’s working and what’s not… and what “working” even means. :-)

• Ideas for generating income through your free subscriber list.

• How to promote your work on Substack without being too salesy. This is tricky: I don’t think outright selling works very well in notes, but I do see people having success promoting their work and asking people to subscribe. I’d like to talk about the difference and hear what’s working for you!

• The brand new Audience Specific Content block.

• What else??? Bring your questions, ideas, challenges and anything you’d like feedback on.

DATE: Wednesday, July 22, 11 a.m. New York time (Eastern Daylight Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LVFFa9MfTGOdgNb8LFtaeA

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone. Pre-registration is required.

LIVE: Cookbook Proposal Q&A

Join and on Thursday, July 23rd for a 30-minute live Q&A on cookbook proposals: what they are, what they need to include, and how to start turning a cookbook idea into something agents and publishers can understand. We’ll talk through the major pieces of a strong cookbook proposal, including concept, audience, comp titles, sample recipes, author platform, visual direction, and why your book belongs in the market now.

Cookbook Q&A

The most valuable skill I’ve learned as a recipe developer and food writer

“In all my years as a recipe developer, nothing has done more to draw people to my work and inspire them to actually make the recipes than my photographs. Without a doubt, nothing has moved my business forward more than learning to take stronger, better, more intentional photographs.” - Rebecca Blackwell

A couple of weeks ago, and I taught a free class about food photography. We dove into the visual language of food photography and how the choices we make behind the camera shape the way our photographs look and feel. You can watch the recording of that class below, and you’ll see that we covered a lot of ground. But we also only scratched the surface.

If photographs of food are a central part of your work, I invite you to go deeper and learn how to make more intentional choices that help your photographs tell the story you want them to tell.

Join me next week for The Visual Language of Food Photography on Write Up.

We’ll talk about how to make intentional creative choices before you pick up the camera: what mood you want to create, what story the recipe is telling, where the photo will live, and how you want the reader to feel. Then we’ll show you what to do with whatever camera you have to create that mood and tell that story.

You’ll learn:

• How to plan a shoot around the story you want your photographs to tell

• How to use color to convey mood and emotion

• How to incorporate texture to transform a mediocre photograph into a stellar one

• How to use lighting as both a styling and technical element

• The best strategies for incorporating the human element into your photographs

If you’ve ever looked at one of your photographs and thought, This is fine, but it doesn’t quite feel like me. Or, This is fine, but I KNOW it could be better. This class is for you.

Your $99 registration includes TWO 90-minute live sessions: Friday, July 24, and Wednesday, August 5, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET.

Register Here

The Three Stages Of An Author Platform That Leads To Book Sales

In this free class, will break down why author platform-building is so challenging, why so many writers stay stuck, and what’s actually happening behind the scenes when your efforts don’t seem to lead anywhere. She’ll show you why audience growth is not just about posting more, but about understanding the stages readers move through before they ever buy a book.

If you’ve been feeling frustrated, confused, or discouraged by platform-building advice, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of why this work matters, why it often feels harder than expected, and what needs to shift.

Build Your Author Platform

Links and Resources

• If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!

• Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers

• Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with

• The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. She and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca writes recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

“In all my years as a recipe developer, nothing has done more to draw people to my work and inspire them to actually make the recipes than my photographs. Without a doubt, nothing has moved my business forward more than learning to take stronger, better, more intentional photographs.” -

Some food photos do more than make a dish look good. They create a feeling. They make us want to pull up a chair, reach for a fork, linger at the table, or imagine the story behind the recipe. Food photography is never just about the food.

A strong food photo has to be clear, useful, and appetizing. It needs to show the reader what they are making and help them understand the dish. But in a crowded world of food blogs, newsletters, cookbooks, social media, and brand partnerships, beautiful food photography is also one of the most powerful ways to communicate your voice and the emotional world of your work.

In this two-part workshop, , and and Shelly Waldman will help food writers and recipe developers understand the visual language of food photography. Together, we’ll explore how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.

We’ll talk about how to make intentional creative choices before you pick up the camera: what mood you want to create, what story the recipe is telling, where the photo will live, and how you want the reader to feel. Then we’ll show you what to do with whatever camera you have to create that mood and tell that story.

Registration for this class is now closed. Subscribe to Mastermind For Food Writers and keep an eye on the calendar for the next time this class is offered!

This is a two-part workshop. The first session will be instructional and will include homework. The second session will be a hands-on workshop where we will roll up our sleeves and get to work. You will come away from this lab with:

• How to plan a shoot around the story you want your photographs to tell

• How to use color to convey mood and emotion

• How to incorporate texture to transform a mediocre photograph into a stellar one

• How to use lighting as both a styling and technical element

• The best strategies for incorporating the human element into your photographs

If you’ve ever looked at one of your photographs and thought, This is fine, but it doesn’t quite feel like me. Or, This is fine, but I KNOW it could be better. This class is for you.

Registration for this class is now closed. Subscribe to Mastermind For Food Writers and keep an eye on the calendar for the next time this class is offered!

—> More about The Food Writers Business Lab.

Questions? Send a direct message!

There are two different meetings in two different time zones this month. Both meetings are free to join.

• Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting: Wednesday, July 15 at 8am BST

• North America and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 at 11am EST

Registration is required and you’ll find all the information below.

LIVE: Cookbook Proposal Q&A

Join and on Thursday, July 23rd for a 30-minute live Q&A on cookbook proposals: what they are, what they need to include, and how to start turning a cookbook idea into something agents and publishers can understand. We’ll talk through the major pieces of a strong cookbook proposal, including concept, audience, comp titles, sample recipes, author platform, visual direction, and why your book belongs in the market now.

Cookbook Q&A

This Week: Mastermind for Food Writers in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific

Meeting topic: TBD

DATE: July 15, 8 a.m. BST / 9 a.m. CET

Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec

Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rMuX8Kx6RU2BhiT1aEcQXQ

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Please register a day in advance if possible, to make sure you get the meeting link on time and to avoid ‘waiting at the door’.

Next week: Mastermind for Food Writers: North America & Europe

Meeting Topic: This month will be an open-forum-style meeting. Bring your questions, challenges, roadblocks, and requests for feedback. This is your chance to take full advantage of all the brain power and expertise in the room!

DATE: Wednesday, July 22, 11 a.m. New York time (Eastern Daylight Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LVFFa9MfTGOdgNb8LFtaeA

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Food Photography Class Recording!

In the June Mastermind Meeting, Shelly Waldman, Jessie-Sierra; The Last Bite and I taught a mini-masterclass about Food Photography. Due to a technical glitch, the class was not recorded and I KNOW a lot of you who couldn’t attend live were disappointed by that.

Well, good news because last week we taught the class again and you can watch the recording right here!

If this free class sparks ideas for how you might improve your own photography skills, we’d love to invite you to join us for the next Food Writers Business Lab: The Visual Language of Food Photography where we will dive deep into how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.

We’ll talk about how to make intentional creative choices before you pick up the camera: what mood you want to create, what story the recipe is telling, where the photo will live, and how you want the reader to feel.

Your $99 registration includes TWO live sessions: Friday, July 24 and Wednesday, August 5, from 12:00-1:30 PM EST. You can learn more and register here:

The Visual Language of Food Photography

The Three Stages Of An Author Platform That Leads To Book Sales

In this free class, will break down why author platform-building is so challenging, why so many writers stay stuck, and what’s actually happening behind the scenes when your efforts don’t seem to lead anywhere. She’ll show you why audience growth is not just about posting more, but about understanding the stages readers move through before they ever buy a book.

If you’ve been feeling frustrated, confused, or discouraged by platform-building advice, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of why this work matters, why it often feels harder than expected, and what needs to shift.

Build Your Author Platform

Links and Resources

• If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!

• Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers

• Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with

• The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. She and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca writes recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

There are two different meetings in two different time zones this month. Both meetings are free to join.

• Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting: Wednesday, July 15 at 8am BST

• North American and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 at 11am EST

Registration is required! You’ll find the registration links below!

Free Food Photography Class Recording!

In the June Mastermind Meeting, Shelly Waldman, Jessie-Sierra; The Last Bite and I taught a mini-masterclass about Food Photography. Due to a technical glitch, the class was not recorded and I KNOW a lot of you who couldn’t attend live were disappointed by that.

Well, good news because last week we taught the class again and you can watch the recording right here!

If this free class sparks ideas for how you might improve your own photography skills, we’d love to invite you to join us for the next Food Writers Business Lab: The Visual Language of Food Photography where we will dive deep into how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.

We’ll talk about how to make intentional creative choices before you pick up the camera: what mood you want to create, what story the recipe is telling, where the photo will live, and how you want the reader to feel.

Your $99 registration includes TWO live sessions: Friday, July 24 and Wednesday, August 5, from 12:00-1:30 PM EST. You can learn more and register here:

The Visual Language of Food Photography

Mastermind for Food Writers: Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific

Meeting topic: TBD

DATE: July 15: 8am BST / 9 am CET

Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec

Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rMuX8Kx6RU2BhiT1aEcQXQ

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Please register a day in advance if possible, to make sure you get the meeting link on time and to avoid ‘waiting at the door’.

Mastermind for Food Writers: North America & Europe

Meeting Topic: This month will be an open forum style meeting. Bring your questions, challenges, roadblocks, and requests for feedback. This is your chance to take full advantage of all the brain power in the room!

Wednesday, July 22: 11am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LVFFa9MfTGOdgNb8LFtaeA

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Links and Resources

• If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!

• Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers

• Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with

• The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. Her and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca write recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

Hello everyone!

There are two different meetings in two different time zones this month. Both meetings are free to join. Here’s how to register!

• Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting: Wednesday, July 15 at 8am BST

• North American and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 at 11am EST

Mastermind for Food Writers: Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific

Meeting topic: TBD

DATE: July 15: 8am BST / 9 am CET

Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec

Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rMuX8Kx6RU2BhiT1aEcQXQ

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Please register a day in advance if possible, to make sure you get the meeting link on time and to avoid ‘waiting at the door’.

Mastermind for Food Writers: North America & Europe

Meeting Topic: TBD

Wednesday, July 22: 11am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LVFFa9MfTGOdgNb8LFtaeA

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Links and Resources

• If you’d like to volunteer to teach a mini-masterclass at an upcoming Mastermind Meeting, please sign up here!

• If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!

• Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers

• Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with

• The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. Her and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca write recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

Here’s what’s happening in Mastermind For Food Writers this week!

Recording and Notes from Last Week’s Mastermind Meeting with Felicity Spector

We had a wonderful call this morning for the Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific group. It was extra special as this was the first call for this group that featured a special guest speaker. And what a fabulous guest we had: Felicity Spector, who is the author of the book Bread and War, a journalist with over 30 years of experience and a Substack writer who writes Flour Power: by Felicity Spector.

Here’s where to watch the recording:

July Meeting Dates!

Two different meetings in two different time zones every month.

• Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting: Wednesday, July 15 at 8am BST

• North American and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 at 11am EST

Mastermind for Food Writers: Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific

DATE: July 15: 8am BST / 9 am CET

Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec

Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rMuX8Kx6RU2BhiT1aEcQXQ

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Please register a day in advance if possible, to make sure you get the meeting link on time and to avoid ‘waiting at the door’.

Mastermind for Food Writers: North America & Europe

Wednesday, July 22: 11am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)

Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell

Follow this link to register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LVFFa9MfTGOdgNb8LFtaeA

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

The Visual Language of Food Photography

Join , Shelly Waldman, and I on June 30 for a free class about how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.

FREE: Intro to the Visual Language of Food Photography

This session is designed for food writers and recipe developers who want a deeper understanding about how to control the look and feel of their photos. You’ll learn how elements like lighting direction, styling, perspective, and the human element can influence the feeling of a photo and help communicate your brand, your recipe, and your story.

Visual Language of Food Photography

Two Class Recordings Available Now

SEO: Build a Bridge From Your Work To Your Readers

This recording includes the first 90-minute teaching session of our two-session course, SEO: Build a Bridge From Your Work to Your Readers. In this class, Rebecca Blackwell helps food writers understand SEO not as a technical burden or a game to be won, but as a practical way to help the right readers find your recipes, stories, newsletters, and posts. You’ll learn what SEO means now, how AI is changing discoverability, why human-centered content matters more than ever, and how to make small, strategic choices that help your work travel farther and keep working for you over time.

*The recording comes with a 28 page workbook to guide you through creating your personalized SEO strategy.

SEO for Food Writers

Creative Recipe Writing: How to Write Recipes with Voice, Humor, and Story

This recording includes the first 90-minute teaching session of our two-session course. In this class, we teach the techniques of creative writing that can infuse recipes with personality, point of view, humor, and story. We talk about why creative recipe writing matters more than ever in a crowded publishing landscape, how storytelling can deepen a reader’s connection to your work, and what it looks like to bend the traditional recipe form without losing clarity or usefulness.

Through specific examples from cookbooks, newsletters, and food media, this session offers practical ideas for bringing more of your humanity to the page and writing recipes that readers remember.

Creative Recipe Writing

Links and Resources

• If you’d like to volunteer to teach a mini-masterclass at an upcoming Mastermind Meeting, please sign up here!

• If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!

• Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers

• Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with

• The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. Her and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca write recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

Felicity talked to us about how she keeps sane and positive in the context of writing about a war zone, about how she went about writing her book (she also wrote about this in a post here), her admiration for Ukrainian people’s ability to withstand the hardship and their dislike for the word resilience. We talked about some of this after ending the recording part, but basically the conclusion was that Ukrainians are just like the rest of us and the risk of calling people who keep fighting in the context of dire circumstances — may it be war or chronic/terminal illness — resilient, is that we feel like it gets us off the hook. By saying things like you are so resilient, you are so strong, are we being selfish, since it means we don’t need to make space for them to share their pain and struggle with us.

Felicity also shared her love for Ukrainian food (and sirniki in particular, that get lots of great publicity on her Instagram account) and told us she could never be a recipe writer, what with all the shopping for ingredients and testing the dishes. She recommended a cook book Cuisines of Odessa by Maria Kalenska, for which she wrote a foreword.

She also recommended a Ukrainian food writer and another Ukrainian Substacker .

You can support Felicity by becoming a paid subscriber to her Substack here:

Flour Power: by Felicity Spector

Telling stories of food and resistance in wartime Ukraine - and other scenes from an accidental baking life.

Her Substack income supports the charity Bake for Ukraine, which you can donate to directly as well, using this link: https://bakeforukraine.org/

You can order her book Bread and War here if you are in the US, here if you are in the UK and here is you are Europe.

And you can watch the recording — where you may hear some things I forgot to mention in this post — here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/nxSriHKyjvKg_DxE4Q0D40TdG-ukUdvtBAeHwV896QZVtsIkEr0qY9ZqqL7bI9Ud.BZYMb4-T00eSkFV9?startTime=1781679819000

Passcode: !Q?0ecw9

Thank you, for starting our ‘guest speaker’ series in such a spectacular way.

I hope many of you will watch the recording, subscribe to Felicity, buy her book and be inspired to support the bakers of Ukraine.

About your meeting hosts

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. She and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca writes recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Here’s what’s happening in Mastermind For Food Writers this week!

Mastermind for Food Writers: Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific

We have our first guest speaker for our Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacfic monthly meeting.

I am delighted to announce that Felicity Spector, a British journalist, author of the book Bread and War and writer of a Substack publication Flour Power, will be joining us to talk about her book and about other things related to food in Ukraine.

DATE: June 17: 8am BST / 9 am CET

Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec

Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6dkmrvP4RFeYBZzv3q9loA

After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.

Please register a day in advance if possible, to make sure you get the meeting link on time and to avoid ‘waiting at the door’.

I hope to see many of you in the meeting and if you can’t attend due to the time zone or other commitments, I will do my best to record the meeting and share the recording in a follow up post.

—

The Visual Language of Food Photography

In last week’s mastermind meeting, , Shelly Waldman, and I talked about how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.

Unfortunately, there was a technical glitch that prevented the meeting from being recorded.

The good news is that the three of us are teaching this same class for the Write Up Community later this month. So, if you missed the meeting today, I hope you’ll join us for this FREE class on June 30.

FREE: Intro to the Visual Language of Food Photography

This session is designed for food writers and recipe developers who want a deeper understanding about how to control the look and feel of their photos. You’ll learn how elements like lighting direction, styling, perspective, and the human element can influence the feeling of a photo and help communicate your brand, your recipe, and your story.

Visual Language of Food Photography

Two Class Recordings Available Now

SEO: Build a Bridge From Your Work To Your Readers

This recording includes the first 90-minute teaching session of our two-session course, SEO: Build a Bridge From Your Work to Your Readers. In this class, Rebecca Blackwell helps food writers understand SEO not as a technical burden or a game to be won, but as a practical way to help the right readers find your recipes, stories, newsletters, and posts. You’ll learn what SEO means now, how AI is changing discoverability, why human-centered content matters more than ever, and how to make small, strategic choices that help your work travel farther and keep working for you over time.

*The recording comes with a 28 page workbook to guide you through creating your personalized SEO strategy.

SEO for Food Writers

Creative Recipe Writing: How to Write Recipes with Voice, Humor, and Story

This recording includes the first 90-minute teaching session of our two-session course. In this class, we teach the techniques of creative writing that can infuse recipes with personality, point of view, humor, and story. We talk about why creative recipe writing matters more than ever in a crowded publishing landscape, how storytelling can deepen a reader’s connection to your work, and what it looks like to bend the traditional recipe form without losing clarity or usefulness.

Through specific examples from cookbooks, newsletters, and food media, this session offers practical ideas for bringing more of your humanity to the page and writing recipes that readers remember.

Creative Recipe Writing

Links and Resources

• If you’d like to volunteer to teach a mini-masterclass at an upcoming Mastermind Meeting, please sign up here!

• If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!

• Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers

• Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with

• The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.

About your meeting hosts

Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. Her and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca write recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.

Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.