What's Happening This Week
Monday, May 18, 2026
Hello everyone!
Here’s what’s happening in Mastermind For Food Writers this week!
In last week’s Mastermind Meeting, Betty Williams, Kelsey Erin Shipman and I, talked about Creative Recipe Writing! If you weren’t able to join us, here’s where you can watch the recording.
OR, even better, join us this Thursday for a FREE class in the Food Writers Business Lab on the same topic!
We’ll talk about how to use the techniques of creative writing to infuse recipes with personality, point of view and humor. We’ll 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 examples from cookbooks, newsletters, and food media, this class will offer practical ideas for bringing more of your humanity to the page and writing recipes that readers remember.
🌶️ This class is part of our free introductory series for the Food Writers’ Business Lab. These sessions are designed to give you a useful introduction to the topic, a feel for the teachers, and a taste of the kind of practical, food-writer-specific support we offer inside the Lab. If you enjoy this class and want to go deeper, we hope you’ll join us for the full two-part paid lab, Creative Recipe Writing: How To Write Recipes with Voice, Humor, and Story where we’ll spend more time on hands-on strategy, examples, discussion, and personalized guidance.
Creating a Values Led Brand Replay
Last week I taught a free class over in The Food Writers Business Lab about what it means to create a values led brand. The class was an introduction to a comprehensive 2-part workshop Liza Debevec and I are teaching in June.
If you missed it, here’s the replay. And, if this topic resonates with you and you want to dive in and get to work creating a values led brand for YOUR business, join Liza and I for this hands-on workshop in June: Creating a Values Led Brand.
Have you registered for the first Food Readers Book Club Meeting?
I started reading the first selection for the book club this week, Around the Table by Diana Henry, and it’s so good! I can’t wait to hear all of YOUR thoughts about the book in the first book club meeting on June 3rd. If you’ve not yet registered, here’s where you’ll find all the information…
Mark your calendars for the June Mastermind meetings
Two different meetings in two different time zones every month.
North American and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, June 10 at 11am EST. This month’s topic will be all about Food Photography. Jessie-Sierra; The Last Bite, Shelly Waldman, and I will explore how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.
Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting: Wednesday, June 17 at 8am GMT
Registration links coming soon!
Available now in the Food Writers Business Lab
SEO: How To Build a Bridge From Your Work To Your Readers
This week will wrap up the first SEO workshop offered in The Food Writers Business Lab. The workshop dives some of the most important concepts including how to think about SEO as a layered approach and how to create an SEO strategy that works for you!
Participants received a 28 page workbook and clear, step-by-step instructions for how to build their own personal SEO strategy - a strategy that is practical and connects directly to their business goals and their bottom line.
If you weren’t able to join us for the live workshop, the recording is now available to purchase at half price the LIVE workshop! You’ll receive the entire two-hour class + the full 28-page workbook!
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.
I’m so excited to team up with you and Shelly Waldman, to explore more about food photography and styling!
Thank you Rebecca for all you do to support the community.