Happy Monday everyone! Here’s what’s coming up in Mastermind For Food Writers and The Food Writers Business Lab.

Two weeks at a glance:

Coffee Break Chat with Rose Huxford: Substack LIVE, Tuesday, August 25 at 5:00pm EST
Coffee Break Chat with Rachel Ciordas: Substack LIVE, Thursday, August 27 at 1:00pm EST
DIY Cookbook Proposal, Session 2 with : Friday, August 28 at 1pm EST

I’m headed off for a 2 week sailing vacation the first week of September so the start to the month will be a bit quiet. But when I return, look for coffee break chats with , , , , and

September Mastermind For Food Writers Meeting, North America and Europe

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, September 9 at 8am BST
North American and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, September 23 at 11am EST

More information + Register

The September Business Strategy Meeting

A once a month mastermind meeting for paid members who are focused on building a sustainable business as a food writer.

The September Business Strategy Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16 at 1pm EST.

This is a working meeting for food writers who are focused on building a sustainable business. It’s an opportunity to share ideas, troubleshoot roadblocks, test strategies, and help each other make better decisions about where to invest our time and energy. Thanks to those of you who were able to join the August meeting! If you missed it, here’s where you can watch the recording and register for the meeting in September.

Replay + Register

Recording from the August Mastermind Meeting

If you missed this month’s meeting, here’s where you’ll find the recording. We discussed a lot of topics, including Audience Specific Content Blocks, the many considerations when turning on paid, how we are thinking about our work right now, the pitfalls of app subscriptions, how to schedule notes.

August Mastermind Meeting Recording

Coffee Break Chat with Linda Naylor!

I’m not sure it’s possible to come away from a conversation with Linda and not feel enriched and uplifted. She is the kind of person who makes you feel safe and heard and seen. What a gift. I also learn something new every time Linda opens her mouth. She is a wealth of knowledge and information about a wide range of topics, as you will hear in this recording!

Coffee Break Chat with Betty Williams!

Not 5 minutes into this conversation with Betty Williams we were already talking about tacos. 😂 We also talked about how Betty came to Substack, the roll that community plays in her work, what some of her biggest challenges and opportunities are right now, and how trying different things is often the only way to find what works. Betty was one of the first food writers I met when I first came to Substack and talking with her is always such a treat.

What’s Happening in The Food Writers Business Lab

The Food Writers Business Lab is 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.

Find out more about how the Food Writers Business Lab works
View the Class Calendar
Workshops are recorded and added to the Library, available to watch whenever you like

Workshop Topics that are in the queue but not yet scheduled: Organizational strategies and tools for food writers, Cookbook self-publishing, How to create an additional income stream with cooking classes, and How to use video to reach new readers and build engagement)

Why Building Your Platform Feels So Hard

and I had a conversation over on Write Up last week about some of the biggest challenges and frustrations authors encounter when trying to build their platform. Here’s the recording of that conversation. Most importantly, Stephanie reminds us that platform building is relationship building and it can actually be fun.

If you found this conversation as interesting and valuable as I did, join me in ’s upcoming class, How To Build A Platform That Sells Your Book!

More information + Register

Recording: The Heart of Your Brand

I’ve never seen even one episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but I know who Guy Ferrari is and can tell you something about what he’s about. Isn’t that remarkable? He’s leaned so hard into his unique contribution to the food space that even someone who’s never watched his show knows what he’s about.

And that’s why the class I taught last week might be the most important class I’ll ever teach because it dives into work that only a few people take the time to do: get to the heart of your brand, articulate your distinctive point of view, and figure out where you fit in the marketplace.

Not many people do it because it’s hard. It’s really, really hard. And often, we think we’ve gotten there, when in truth, we’ve stopped too soon. I have been guilty of this many times, but I’m over it. I’m ready to do the hard work. I have something to say, and I’m ready to say it. You too?

Your brand is not your colors, your fonts, your logo, or the way your website looks. Those are the clothes your brand wears.

Your brand is the idea underneath the work. It’s the thing your audience connects with that keeps them coming back to you when they have nearly endless choices about where to spend their time and attention.

This class will help you see it, articulate it, own it, defend it, and know how to use it to move your business forward.

The Heart of Your Brand

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!

-Rebecca Blackwell

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.

What's Happening This Week