December Meeting Information!
Dates and other important info
Hello everyone!
November was such a great month! Thanks to Liza Debevec, we launched a second meeting in a different time zone that’s more convenient for those in Europe, Asia, and Australia. And thanks to Chef Carla Contreras, we held our first Office Hours meeting.
I also asked for volunteers to teach mini-master class sessions at the start of the mastermind meetings and we have some incredibly inspiring topics coming up as a result. If you would like to sign up to teach a mini-masterclass, here’s the sign up sheet: Volunteer to Teach a Mini Masterclass
*We are especially looking for people to teach a mini masterclass session for Liza’s meeting, which takes place at 8am London time. If you reside in Europe, Africa, or Asia Pacific, or know a food writer who does, please consider signing up to teach or sharing the opportunity with someone you know! This is a new meeting, and we appreciate your help spreading the word about it!
Here’s what’s coming up in December
There are two 90-minute Mastermind Meetings this month in different time zones + a 60-minute Office Hours meeting. All meetings are held on Zoom.
Wednesday, December 10th: 11am, New York (EST) Hosted by
Wednesday, December 17th: 8am, London (BST) Hosted by
Office Hours, December 3rd: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, New York (EST) Hosted by Chef Carla Contreras
The December 10th Mastermind Meeting Topic
Kelsey Erin Shipman will be teaching a masterclass for the December 10th meeting about writing a cookbook proposal. This past summer, I took an intensive 8-week book proposal workshop, called Dream to Deal, that Kelsey co-teaches with Hannah Howard.
The class was fantastic and I learned so much, but the best part was the level of support that Kelsey and her co-teacher Hannah Howard offer throughout the class. Kelsey has written, co-written, and consulted on dozens of book proposals. She knows her stuff and is incredibly generous with the insights and expertise she’s gained from years of experience as a writer.
So, when Kelsey volunteered to teach a 30-minute masterclass for the December meeting, I asked her if she would be willing to teach a 90-minute class instead. Having gone through the 8-week class, I know how much there is to say on the subject and how much Kelsey has to offer.
Happily, she agreed. So, unlike most meetings, where we have a 30 minute masterclass, then divide into breakout rooms, this month’s class will focus on one single subject: Writing a cookbook proposal.
Obviously, 90 minutes is not enough time to cover such a huge topic, but Kelsey has generously agreed to share as much as she can and answer as many questions as we have time for.
If you are curious about what it takes to write a cookbook proposal, you won’t want to miss this meeting.
If you have specific questions that you’d like answered during this meeting, please leave those questions in the comments below. Having some of your more pressing questions in advance will help us be as efficient with the time as possible.
—> Read more about Kelsey here.
Here’s how to join the December 10th meeting:
Wednesday, December 10th: 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/1hzCV9K1RG-LpqTNt95ZJQ
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 December 17th Mastermind Meeting
Main topic, TBD (more information coming later)
Wednesday, December 17th: 8am, London (British Standard Time)
Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec
Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7UPV5mPxRKu57dNXrndc3w#/registration
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.
Office Hours
Join us Wednesday, December 3, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time for Office Hours. Come as you are, bring what you’re working on, and choose your own adventure for how you want to show up that day.
What is Office Hours: It’s a way to get feedback, work through blocks, and spend time with people who get what you’re creating. Whether you’re refining your Substack, working on something specific, or need a focused window to work, this space is for you!
Who Office Hours is for: People actively building or working on something for your Substack: Writing, recipe development, or perhaps, something in the backend of your publication like your welcome emails, about page or starting Notes.
December Office Hours Date: Wednesday, December 3, at 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. New York (Eastern Standard Time)
Sign up with this link to register for this month’s office hours. Bonus: There is no recording to catch up on, this meeting is held live.
Note: You must be a registered Zoom user to sign up for this meeting. After you register for office hours, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone. Need support? DM Chef Carla Contreras
Upcoming Mastermind Meeting Dates
For those of you who like to plan ahead, here are some upcoming dates:
January
Wednesday, January 7: Office Hours 12pm, New York (Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday, January 14: 8am, London (British Standard Time)
Wednesday, January 21: 11am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)
February
Wednesday, February 4: Office Hours 12pm, New York (Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday, February 11: 8am, London (British Standard Time)
Wednesday, February 18: 11am, New York (Eastern Standard Time)
Upcoming Mastermind Meeting Topics
The 5-Minute Magazine Pitch Makeover: Fixing Common Mistakes That Cost You Assignments
How to find a writing schedule that works for you
Building community beyond the platform
Creating a newsletter template, including useful tools, to make writing & sharing less stressful
Booking Food TV Lifestyle Segments; how to book, how to prepare and why you should promote your food content via this medium
How to bring your readers on a journey from finding you to buying your book/monetizing your content
If you would like to sign up to teach a mini-masterclass, here’s the sign up sheet: Volunteer to Teach a Mini Masterclass
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 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.
Chef Carla Contreras is a food creative, content strategist, and the host of the Nourishing Creativity podcast. When she is not working 1:1 with her clients, recording an episode of the podcast, or food styling, you can catch her going to the farmer’s market with her family, doing Pilates, or sipping ceremonial cacao.
As always, please let me know if you have questions or suggestions!
Excellent planning for the proposal workshop, thanks Rebecca. I’ll be sure to watch the replay.
I can't wait to see everyone in Office Hours! We had such a great time last month, I am so grateful for the conversations and connections 🙏🏼