How to Write a Cookbook

If you’re like a lot of homemakers, you probably have a file or drawer full of cookbook recipes collected from family members and friends over the years. You’ve likely tried most of them and know which ones you like best. They’re probably the ones you find at the front of the file or top of the pile in your drawer.

Have you ever considered taking all of those great recipes and putting them into a book? If not, maybe you should. You just might have a goldmine sitting right there and don’t even realize it. Maybe Aunt Millie gave you an unusual but sensational recipe for strudel or your mother parted with her secret recipe for spicy homemade chili. Maybe you’ve also done a little experimenting in the kitchen yourself and cooked up some tasty meals.

The wonderful thing about recipes is that there is no copyright, so you won’t have to worry about whether someone else discovered the same secrets. What you will have to do, however, is decide on an overall theme for your cookbook. Would it be geared toward big families, singles, diabetics, organic eaters, etc.? Once you determine your theme, it will be easier to realize your target market. Although this may not seem important in the beginning, it becomes vital later on when you need to market the cookbook to a particular niche audience.

Once you’ve decided which recipes you plan to include (there should be 250-500) in your cookbook, think about how your cookbook will look inside. How many chapters will it have and which recipes will go into each chapter? The best cookbooks on the market are the ones that offer well laid out recipes that are easy to follow. Make sure your instructions (like chop, dice or mince) are easily understandable, and all measurements and baking times are accurate. A trick to making a cookbook more interesting is to include some snappy quotes or jokes, or even better - a few of your own comical experiences in the kitchen. You might also want to include such nutritional information as how many calories are in a typical serving.

Next, you need to consider pictures. Most people are very visual and just looking at certain foods make them want to eat it. With the advent of digital cameras, this should be pretty easy. Make the dishes you want to feature, prepare them artfully on a plate and take some pictures. If you’re not sure how to do this successfully do some research by looking at recipe books at the library or bookstore. Bear in mind that you will also need either a photo or graphic for the cover. You might want to consider having a professional photographer do this for you.

Once you have your cookbook ready for printing, you should have a professional editor review it to ensure there are no errors. You will then need to find a suitable publisher or have it done by a printer in your area. If you choose the latter, you might be able to find a local community group that might be willing to help you pay the printing costs in exchange for some copies they could sell for profit.

Once arrangements are made don’t think your work is done. You will still have to come up with a suitable price, and a solid marketing and advertising plan. This part of the process is vital to the success of your cookbook.