Why Your Cookbook Writing is Chaotic and Stressing You Out

Photo by Elevae

If there’s one bad thing about going to a small women’s college, it’s that you know your professors. I’m talking about walking to class together, seeing each other at off-campus mixers, and building genuine relationships. Which is as lovely as it sounds, but they also knew when something was off, especially with my writing.

My Journalism professor would often add notes of “Feels like you lost interest halfway through” or “Not sure what’s happening here. You can do better”. 

And I cringed every time, but only because she was 100% correct with her feedback. Sometimes, it was that I had skipped over details, didn’t really love a particular section, or was really just rushing to the end because I wanted to be done. I just thought I was doing a decent job of covering up my lameness. 

Now, it’s the same with my clients. I can sense pretty quickly when things aren’t quite right, and most of the time, it’s around their schedule. Other things have been creeping in on their writing time, so pages are shoved together for deadlines with the sense that this is “good enough”. And I’m all for showing up consistently and putting hot garbage on the page because you don’t what could come out of it. 

What I don’t believe in though is constantly moving from one fire to the next and feeling like you’re letting yourself down. So, let’s slow things down and walk through exactly why your cookbook writing is chaotic and stressing you out.

Not Scheduling Your Writing Like You Do Everything Else

You add dinners with friends and dentist appointments to your calendar, so why would you think you wouldn’t need to add your writing time too? 

“I don’t need to add it because I’ll just remember.”

But if you’re a food creative who also schedules time for creating social media content, calls with clients or brands, and writing emails to your list, you really don’t have an excuse. The actual test is to ask yourself: How is the “just remembering it” going for you?

Block out 30 minutes to an hour at least five days a week. Or if you prefer to chunk it out over a few days a week, that also works. Adding it to your calendar makes it official, which will also change how you show up. 

Writing When You Feel Like It

Emotions are a tricky thing, especially when you’re a writer. You’re pumped in the beginning but as time goes on, you’re less excited because it’s actually work. There’s been a lot happening, and you’ve pushed writing off for more important (or fun) stuff. But you imagine that “all you need” is a weekend writing retreat or something, so you can really focus and get a ton done. 

Only when you finally have that writing retreat you don’t feel like writing there either. And so, the cycle continues.

Creativity isn’t something you can turn on or off. It’s always flowing. Some days are better than others, but if you don’t show up consistently, you’ll never get very far with your cookbook writing. And you won’t always have a writing coach or an editor to hold you accountable. There’s a point where you have to decide if you want to be mediocre, or if you’re ready for the next level.

Steven Pressfield said it best: Turning pro is a mindset. If we are struggling with fear, self-sabotage, procrastination, self-doubt, etc., the problem is, we're thinking like amateurs. Amateurs don't show up. Amateurs crap out. Amateurs let adversity defeat them. The pro thinks differently. He shows up, he does his work, he keeps on truckin', no matter what.

Relying on Random Advice from the Internet to Hold You Accountable

So much of writing is a solo act. It feels like you have to figure it out on your own, so you search the internet for “writing tips” and “hacks for being more productive”. Maybe some of those tips work for a while, but there’s only so much you can do by yourself. And you can stick as many quotes and mottos on your walls, but it doesn’t mean you have a sustainable strategy for your life.

Clients have told me about Toni Morrison’s habit of getting up at 4 a.m. to write before work, and how that’s what they think they should do. 

Um. Maybe? Maybe not?

For me, it goes back to something I hear a lot of physical trainers say, and that’s you have to choose a routine you’ll want to do. If I absolutely hate running, I probably shouldn’t train for a 5k. Instead, I should stick with the times and exercise routines that light me up. 

And you should only create a writing schedule that works for you in whatever season you’re in.

How to Own Your Cookbook Writing in the Future

Once you’re able to schedule your writing, show up even when you don’t feel like it, and put together a plan that works for you, your cookbook writing should see drastic changes. You may have to come back and tweak things from time to time. So when things start to feel a little wild, walk through these three steps and create a new plan.

And if you need some extra support through the process, let’s work together. You can add your name to my coaching waitlist here, and when the doors open up, you’ll be the first to know. Let’s get you back on track and feeling good again.