The One Thing You Didn't Know Your Writing Needed: A Cookbook Coach

Photo by @brookecagle at Unsplash

You have the photography locked down and even a Pinterest board for “Book Design”. The recipes are still in progress, but you’re moving in the right direction. Marketing and publicity will come later, and the asks you’ve put out already are going to make an enormous difference for your promotional plan. The last piece (or so you think) is writing the book. 

Or wait — should you write a book proposal and then write the book? Or do you write the book and then the proposal? 

There are pages and pages of notes and ideas you’ve already written, but now, you’re spinning because you don’t know where to start.

Friends give you 10 pieces of advice, and everyone seems to have a conflicting method, so you’re not sure which way you should go.

The truth is, your process will probably be entirely different from your friends or the other food bloggers you love. 

Great, so I’m just out of luck?

Nope, but here’s a little secret. You don’t need to come up with the perfect writing plan or even know what your exact story is yet. 

And you can give yourself a break because you don’t know what you don’t know, which is: The one thing you didn’t know your writing needed is a cookbook coach.

So, let’s dig into what that is and how it’s going to change everything about your writing process. (For real.)

What Is a Cookbook Coach?

Everywhere you look, coaches are the popular new thing to be. You’ve got your life coaches, health coaches, business coaches and media coaches mixed in with seventy thousand other coaches. Some boast certifications, while others lean into their work experience. 

So, how in the world is someone a cookbook coach?

Well, a cookbook coach guides you through the book writing process. Some will help you with book proposals or give you a full manuscript evaluation. Most cookbook coaches have worked in food writing, whether as writers themselves or as editors. Some have even written their own books.

Gotcha. I should definitely get a cookbook coach who has written a cookbook themselves, right?

Not necessarily. 

Just because someone has written a cookbook or has a bestselling book doesn’t mean they can teach you to write a book. 

There are a ton of professional athletes with MVP and championship titles who’d make lousy coaches. It’s a gift to meet someone where they are and work together to get them to the next level. 

Your cookbook coach will manage your project, reassessing what’s working and what isn’t in your process (or they should) and will give you clarity on where to go next. 

Better yet: Research shows the benefits of coaching include improved relationships, communication skills and overall confidence.

And who couldn’t use more of that?

What to Look for in a Cookbook Coach

Much like what you should look for in a book coach, finding the right cookbook partner ultimately comes down to alignment. Something people don’t ask enough is: Do I like this person?

When you hire a cookbook coach, you’ll have hours of emails and calls (if they offer them) between the two of you, and if you think they’re brilliant but awful, you won’t get much out of your experience. You’re putting yourself out there with your ideas and vision, so you should feel comfortable with the person you’re sharing your ideas with. Yes, it’s great if someone is an accomplished coach (lots of culinary awards and client success stories), but you deserve someone who gets what you’re doing and wants to lift your story up. 

Look for a cookbook coach whose process aligns with yours. Are they able to provide guardrails, but adapt to your specific needs? What’s their availability like? Can they provide the administrative support you need or are you waiting for days to get a reply? Are they respectful of your time and energy?

Working with a cookbook coach is a two-way street, and you should only work with someone who shines a new light on your process.

Finding the Right Cookbook Coach for You

So now you know what’s missing from your writing process and what to look for in a cookbook coach, but how do you find one? 

Besides just trusting Google, ask folks in your network if they’ve worked with or know a cookbook coach who might be right for you. If you’re a member of a culinary organization, there may be a directory or bulletin board with a list of cookbook coaches. You may also find suggestions in the back of your favorite cookbook where the author has given a shout out to the folks who helped them along the way.

And if you’ve gotten to the end of this post and feel you’d want to chat with me personally and see if we’re a good fit, get on my coaching list here. When the doors open again, you’ll be the first to know, and you can tell me what your big dreams with your project are and where you need the most help. 

Let’s take one thing off of your mental to-do list and make room for those creative juices to flow like they should.