Are you a chef? Even if you aren’t one, you can still create and publish a cookbook – but – the exception is that you have great recipes to share with your ideal reader. The best part about making a cookbook and getting it published is that it is fun and nothing less than a lifetime achievement.
Here are the much-needed steps that can help you make a cookbook from scratch and also get it published.
Read on to learn more.
What to Consider Before the Process
When it comes to creating a cookbook, there are several things you should consider before you actually initiate this work-intensive project.
Audience
Who are you creating the cookbook for? Are you planning to create a family cookbook with the intention of preserving your favorite ingredients.? Or – do you want to publish a cookbook with the intention of selling it nationwide?
Your ideal audience will determine the style and flow of your cookbook. Is your cookbook for college students who have to prepare meals on a budget or for campers? Your cookbook might as well be for vegetarians or for people who are watching their weight but want to enjoy delicious meals.
Only you can decide the audience for your cookbook and then decide on how to craft one to meet the expectations of your ideal readers.
Visual Materials
For instance, you should know that a cookbook cannot exist with visual materials, such as photographs.
You must ensure that your cookbook is visually appealing to the readers, which is why you might have to work with a blogger or a photographer to get the photos on your cookbook. Now, your cookbook doesn’t necessarily need to have photos – a few amazing illustrations can also work to accompany the words.
So, you should consider – before crafting the cookbook – whether or not you will need visuals in your cookbook.
Finances
Your finances or your budget also play an important role when it comes to creating a cookbook. Once you know who your ideal reader is and the kind of cookbook you want to create and publish, it is time to check out your finances. You need to get a clear picture of your budget. But – budget isn’t the only thing. You will also have to plan the time and energy that you will be able to spend on creating a cookbook.
Creating and publishing a cookbook can seem super-easy on the surface, but you will need your own team who understands your vision before getting involved. For instance, you will need someone for the illustration, and you will need one of the best cookbook editors to polish your manuscript and ensure it is free of errors before sending it off for publication.
You get the point –there is a lot going on behind the scenes of publishing your cookbook, which is why you have to get the basics straight before you get to the actual work.
Steps to Follow When Making a Cookbook
Now that you have your basics right, you should follow the below-given steps to make a cookbook from scratch.
Get the Concept Straight
Determine the type of cookbook that you want to publish. For instance, you have the liberty of producing a cookbook that revolves around a simple ingredient, but it can also focus on a region or a specific cuisine. You might want to publish your family’s best recipes. Whatever you want to do – write it down as a starting point for your cookbook publication journey.
Make a List of Recipes
Now, the next step is to make a list of recipes that you want to include in your book. You might have a hundred recipes at your disposal – but – understandably, you will have to be mindful of the recipes that will make perfect sense to include in your cookbook.
You can include this aspect in your brainstorming process where you make points on which recipes you want to include in which section of your book. If you are creating a cookbook for your community, it might be a good idea to reach out to your community and ask them about their preferred order for the recipes.
Always Outline
It doesn’t matter whether you are writing a novel, an essay, or a cookbook; you should always start with an outline before you actually get down to writing. The underlying reason is that the outline will serve as a guide as you will know what comes after what. You don’t necessarily have to be meticulous with the outline – even a rough table of contents will do the job.
It might be a good idea to divide your cookbook into sections, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, appetizers, and beverages. However, this isn’t the only way to divide your cookbook – you can also divide the content based on ingredients and seasons.
Focus on Recipes
Now that you have outlined your cookbook, the next step is to get the recipes right. You might have used the same recipes for years, but when writing out the recipes for your ideal readers, you cannot ignore the importance of fine-tuning your recipes a bit.
This is also the fun part of your cookbook, where you invite people over – even – hire professional testers to taste your recipes. They can either come to your place or prepare the recipes at their homes and give you honest feedback. Speaking of feedback – believe us when we tell you that you cannot succeed without constructive feedback and criticism.
Don’t feel insulted when someone tells you that they didn’t enjoy a recipe – instead – ask them about what you could do better. You will want to know what works and what doesn’t to come up with a cookbook that actually sells.
Edit the Cookbook
Once you have the draft of your cookbook ready, you can focus on including illustrations or photographs. If you are opting for the traditional publication route, the publisher is more likely to hire a photographer who can do this task for you. Nonetheless, never send your book for publication without a final round of editing and proofreading.
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
