Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Determine the Purpose of Writing a Cookbook
• Method 2 of 3: Select and write down recipes
• Method 3 of 3: Publishing a cookbook
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Writing a cookbook is what the avid home chef dreams of so often. Why not? Recipes are a treasure trove of experience, story and love, three in one, and it's great to share the experience with others. Preserving your recipes for future generations, as well as for your contemporaries, is a worthy reason to write a cookbook. And who knows? You may even become famous as a result!

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Determine the Purpose of Writing a Cookbook

1. 1 Decide why you are writing a cookbook. You need to decide this in order to know how to approach writing a cookbook and who it is aimed at.
   • For example, if you just want to write a cookbook for your own use, create it on your computer in PDF format so it can be printed and stapled with a regular stapler, and all you need is a little bit of writing.
   • If you are writing for family gatherings, local or national publications, or for an occasion, then you are likely to want to write something more significant. Then you will most likely need photographs, quality prints, and good binding.
   • If you are writing for a professional publication, you may want to contact the publisher before you even get started to generate interest and advice from potential readers.

Method 2 of 3: Select and write down recipes

1. 1 Pick your best or favorite recipes. A good cookbook is a collection of well-thought-out recipe collections that reflect specific themes, such as appetizers, main courses, desserts, pastries, etc. Usually you stick to one cooking style instead of being eclectic, such as raw food, home cooking, old fashioned food, family food, light food, fast food, dinner party food, fresh food, seafood, etc.
   • You can also choose a recipe that has always enjoyed great success with your family and that always works flawlessly. When presented correctly, these achievements will make the reader want to try these recipes.
2. 2 Prepare recipes. If all of your recipes are in different places, for example, in your head, on different pieces of paper, in all kinds of cookbooks, etc., then it's time to put them together.
   • When writing down recipes, always write them in your own words.Although the lists of ingredients are not copyrighted, as are the conventional step-by-step recipes, the words used to describe the cooking methods are proprietary. Therefore, you should use your own words when relying on your collection of recipes.
   • Please cite the original source where possible. If you know you've been using your favorite chef's recipes for the past few years, please quote the source, even if you don't already use the same ingredients. This is common courtesy, and it helps maintain a sense of constant sharing and pride, which is common in cooking.
3. 3 Take photos. If you're adding photographs to your cookbook, compose dishes or items and photograph them. Modern readers expect to see photographs in a cookbook that are unlike those in recipe books of yesteryear. Photos help the reader to imagine the final result more specifically and inspire the preparation of the dish.
   • Take multiple photos from different angles to get the best shot of each dish.
   • You don't need photos of all the recipes if you don't want to create just such a cookbook; just select the recipes that you would like to see the most in the photos.
   • Edit photos with photo capturing software.
   • If you can't take pictures or don't want to take them while juggling the foods you cook with, find friends or family members who will be willing to help you with this. Some printers will happily do this for you, but it will add value to your book, so it's best to do it yourself if you're publishing the book yourself.
4. 4 Collect the recipes together. Decide what order the recipes will be in your cookbook. Write a synopsis and table of contents to help you choose the right recipe placement.
   • For ideas on how to organize your recipes, see other previously released cookbooks. It's good to be creative, but it's worth remembering that readers have an established understanding of the structure of a cookbook. That is, from pickles to sweets, from appetizers to main dishes and desserts, etc., depending on which cuisine you are putting together.

Method 3 of 3: Publishing a cookbook

1. 1 Proofreading. Edit your book several times and also let others read it. Check the accuracy of ingredients, measurements, cooking times, etc. Recipes don't tolerate mistakes.
   • If there are chefs among your friends or family who are willing to help, separate the different recipes from the book and ask for a “sea trial”. Recipes that have been double or triple tested add value to your cookbook - they can be used as an additional marketing ploy to get readers to believe your cookbook. Promise your assistants a free final copy of the book as a thank you for their help.
2. 2 Look for a way to get your book published. There is tremendous scope for self-publishing, both online and in print. Check the prices, decide on the number of copies you want to print, and be open to the possibility of making an e-book, a hardcover book, or perhaps both.
   • If you choose hardcover, decide for yourself whether you want color printing, glossy or matte page finishes, covers, etc., all of which will be included in the final cost.
   • Alternatively, send your cookbook to a publisher to print and sell. This will lead to numerous rejections, but if you've done your job well, it's likely that someone will be interested in it if you are polite, persistent, open to discussion, and give the publisher a good sales pitch.It would be even more beneficial to sell the idea before the book is written, and then you get the publisher up front.
   • Seek professional advice if you want your work to be published professionally.

Tips

• The cookbook market is saturated, but the cookbook is still one of the best selling because people love the food, they like to look at the picture of it and imagine that they cooked it themselves, even if they never had time for it! To help your cookbook stand out from thousands of others, you need to be as original as possible, while at the same time focusing on what's hot and fashionable right now. For example, if small stick cakes are popular, what new ideas can you suggest? Perhaps making them in the shape of a cat or in a garden style will be enough to make your book stand out from the variety of other books with similar cake recipes. Use a mixture of your personality, current fashions and originality to draw attention to your cookbook, rather than many other books that want to achieve the same goal. Enjoy this creative duel!
• Consider asking family members to contribute to your recipe book. This can be all the more useful if you decide to create a cookbook for special occasions like family reunions or celebrating a decade of friendship, etc.
• Explain clearly and clearly how to prepare the ingredients. In some cases, diagrams and illustrations can be useful as well as photographs; if you can't draw, try to find someone who wants to help you.

Warnings

• Check each of your recipes two or three times. Mistakes will cause people to lose confidence in the content, and you won't be able to get customers for your next cookbook later. Accurate measurements, cooking times and results are all part of your reputation as a good chef or baker.
• Don't quit your main job. Few people make a living enough with cookbooks. If this is what you are striving for, you may be able to work well to pursue a related diploma or degree and work in the food industry, and perhaps take communication training in order to be able to promote your skills in a way that attracts the interest of TV viewers. Internet users or radio listeners.
• Grammatical and spelling mistakes suggest an unprofessional approach to work, which can also affect the way people feel about your kitchen (this is not, however, correlated). If this is your weak point, find a good editor to help your work shine in every facet.

What do you need

• Recipes
• Digital camera (high quality resolution)
• Photo processing software
• Book creation software, or even Word, etc.