What if your cookbook idea doesn’t match your profession? And what if that’s exactly why it could work? In this episode, I’m talking about one of the most common and costly questions I hear from aspiring cookbook authors, especially experts like dietitians, chefs, and health professionals. Many people assume their cookbook needs to match their credentials. That it should sound serious, clinical, or highly technical to be taken seriously. But publishing doesn’t work that way.
Publishers are not buying credentials alone. They’re looking for ideas readers care about and that often comes from something much more personal. In this episode, I share my own experience navigating this tension as a trained dietitian who wanted to write about seasonal home cooking in Kentucky. I also walk you through how cookbook deals actually work, and why the most compelling books combine both authority and humanity.
If you’ve been holding back on a cookbook idea because it doesn’t feel “professional enough,” this episode will give you a new way to think about it. In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why do so many experts feel pressure to write the “right” kind of book
- What publishers are actually looking for when they acquire cookbooks
- The three common paths cookbook deals follow
- Why passion creates reader connection in a way credentials alone can’t
- How to combine your expertise with a story readers care about
Your credentials matter. But they’re not the whole story. The book you’re meant to write might be the one you’ve been telling yourself you shouldn’t.
If you want to get paid to write a cookbook, join our waitlist for the next cohort of Get Paid to Get Published
Listen to Episode 394 below:
Here’s How To Subscribe:
I’d love for you to be notified when I release new episodes so you don’t miss any new episodes. Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
How to Leave a Review:
And, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review. I want to know what you think of the podcast and how I can make this podcast one you love to listen to and share with your friends. Plus, iTunes tells me that podcast reviews are really important and the more reviews the podcast has the easier it will be to get the podcast in front of more people, which is the ultimate goal. You can leave a review for the podcast here.
Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…
Do you have an idea for a cookbook concept?
Would you like to know more about writing cookbooks?
Do you collect cookbooks and want to be interviewed on the show?