Monday, November 9, 2026. Here’s what’s coming up in Mastermind For Food Writers and The Food Writers Business Lab.
Join us on Wednesday for the November Mastermind Meeting
This month, the main topic will be about defining the questions for which your work is the answer.
What are the questions for which you want your work to be the answer? And are you stating the questions explicitly?
The way we describe our work, the questions we define and answer, and the connections we make between ideas matter more than ever. In the November meeting, we’ll talk about why.
In addition to the main topic, Jenn Sharp will join us to talk about plans for the 2027 Food Writers Retreat!
We’ll reserve the last 15 minutes of the meeting for Offer and Ask, an idea I stole from the incomparable Sally Ekus. Sally offers Ask Me Anything sessions to her paid subscribers, and at the end of each session, participants are invited to Ask for something they need or Offer a resource that others in the group might find useful.
For example: If you are looking for someone to collaborate with on a project, this is your chance to tell the group what you’re working on and Ask if anyone is interested in working with you. Maybe you’re looking for a virtual assistant and would like recommendations. Or perhaps you’re struggling to implement a new Substack feature and would love some input from someone who’s already figured it out.
Or perhaps you have a resource to Offer to the group. Are you a ghostwriter, recipe tester, or food photographer who is taking new clients? Offer your services to the group and tell us how to get in touch with you. Are you putting together a roundup recipe post that others in the group can participate in? Did you just discover a fantastic book, or course, or expert that others in the group might benefit from? Offer it up!
Here are the details for the November 11 meeting:
*Meetings are free to join, but registration is required.
Wednesday, November 11, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell
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.
Business Strategy Meeting
In addition to the mastermind meeting, paid subscribers are invited to attend the monthly Business Strategy Meeting. The November meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18 at 3pm EST. Find out more and register here.
Notes Boost Tuesday!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the new Notes Boost Tuesday! A new Notes Boost will begin tomorrow.
Participating is easy
Every Tuesday morning you’ll receive an email about that week’s Notes Boost.
Follow the instructions in the email to participate.
Each boost will run from Tuesday to Tuesday.
The goal is to connect with other food writers in meaningful ways, increasing engagement and expanding everyone’s reach!
That’s it! Send me a message if you have any questions!
The Art of Writing Recipe Headnotes
Kelsey Erin Shipman and I had such a fun conversation last week about recipe headnotes. We dove into the most important aspects of recipe headnotes, what to include, how to think creatively about writing them, and what their real purpose is. We shared examples from some of our favorite cookbooks and recipes published online. If you’re a recipe writer, we hope this conversation sparks some inspiration and gives you fresh ideas for your next recipe!
The Food Writers Business Lab
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.
There are four on-demand classes available now in the Class Library.
Coming soon: workshops on organizational tools and strategies, cookbook self-publishing, creating income through cooking classes, and using video to reach new readers.
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!
The goal of Mastermind for Food Writers and The Food Writers Business Lab isn’t simply to gather more information. 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.
Thanks for the credit! Excited to hear this inspired you