Aspiring cookbook authors have a dual-focus for tasks they need to complete, especially if they desire a traditional publishing contract. First, they need to build their platform and second, they need to write a proposal. One doesn’t necessairly come before the other, but both are important to focus on as you prepare to approach an agent or editor. If you are building your platform with a website as the hub and if you plan to blog, you may feel concerned that you have to always blog about recipes. That’s not true. What you need to do is create regular content that your audience is interested in. By regular I mean at least once a week. This is important. And for as long as your blog continues, commit to regular content. Topics for your blog post and content can vary. Your audience is interested in answers to their questions, your help solving a problem they have, and connecting with you. Here are some ideas for blog posts that aren’t directly related to recipes, but that you can easily write to create and update content and inspire and educate your audience. You might even consider batch creating of blog posts. For the next 30 days, schedule time to write 12 blog posts. Then you get to take the next two months “off” of writing blog posts and focus on other projects. It’s nice to get ahead and not have any writing emergencies. Here are numerous idea for blog posts topics.
1. Review a book from a competitor
2. Write a list of things that made you happy this month
3. Describe a day in the life of you
4. Review your favorite cooking or baking products
6. Provide advice on a topic related to your area of expertise
7. List what’s in your junk drawer
8. Explain things that inspire you
9. Give away your seasonal bucket list or bucket list for the next year
10. Describe what’s on your desk
11. Share one of your secrets related to cooking, baking, or your area of expertise
12. Describe your favorite ways to unwind after a productive day
13. List facts about you that you’re willing to share
14. Provide tips on how to stay organized
15. List your favorite posts from other blogs
16. Give your opinion on a topic of interest to your audience
17. List quotes you live by
18. Describe how you spend your time alone
19. Give advice for your audience
20. State the top 10 reasons you blog
21. Write a series: 7 days of the life of someone who wants to write a cookbook
22. Write an open letter
23. List 30 things to do before you’re 30, 40 things to do before you’re 40, 50 before 50, 60 before 60, etc.
24. Describe your perfect day
25. Expand on your most important life lesson
26. Write an A to Z post
27. Tell about things you don’t regret
28. Describe what apps you use every day or week
29. List and describe your favorite podcasts
30. List habits that make you successful in creating weekly blog post content
31. Describe your hometown
32. Write about the highs and lows of the year so far
33. Answer questions you get asked a lot
34. List what you would take if you got stranded on a desert island
35. Write your favorite power quotes
36. List what you ate or cooked yesterday
37. Describe your favorite office supplies
38. List what’s in your refrigerator
39. Describe what you like about the season you’re in Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
40. Describe what design features you love in cookbooks
Cookbook author and culinary dietitian Maggie Green coaches aspiring cookbook authors in the process of writing cookbooks, cookbook proposals, and building their author platform. Download her checklist “Am I Ready to Write A Cookbook?”