For example, you might want to write a dessert cookbook or a party food and appetizer cookbook.
For example, your dessert cookbook could contain recipes on how to make sophisticated s’mores. Or the party and appetizer cookbook could focus on foods that are paleo-diet friendly.
To make a personal cookbook, you can write it up on your computer in a readable PDF file. Print the file and have it bound at a copy or printing place.
Remember that you’ll want your cookbook to stand out, so you might even want to combine a few popular combinations (like how to ferment spiralized foods or make gluten-free cake pops).
For example, if you’re writing about cooking for a family, you can add interest about writing about what makes your family unique. For example, tell stories about cooking for your large family, your family with several dietary restrictions, or cooking a specific style of food for your family on a budget.
For example, your dessert cookbook might have 4 chapters: one on classic cake pops, one on gluten-free cake pops, one on shaped cake pops, and one on savory cake pops. While it’s okay to be slightly quirky, remember that readers usually expect standard cookbooks to be arranged from savory to sweet, starters to mains to dessert, or from inexperienced cook to skilled in the kitchen.
Think about the recipes that you’ve made for other people. If any of them were a big hit, include them in the cookbook.
For example, instead of saying, “Cream the butter and sugar,” instruct your readers to, “Beat room temperature butter with the sugar on medium speed until it’s light and fluffy. " Ask other people to test your recipes. This way you can get feedback about how clear your instructions were, how the food tasted, and where you need to improve the recipe.
Diagrams and illustrations may be as helpful as photos in some cases. If you can’t draw, find someone who is willing to help out.
You can also hire a photographer to photograph your food, but this will add to the cost of making your cookbook.
For example, if you’ve made a few small changes to someone’s recipe, note that your recipe was adapted from this person’s recipe. If you’ve made larger changes to the recipe, you could say that your recipe was inspired by this person’s. Never use someone else’s photography or illustrations since these are protected by copyright.
Send inquiries to a few agents since many will be busy or might have cookbook projects that are similar to your own.
Don’t be surprised if publishing houses will ask you to make changes to the structure or content of your cookbook. This may be because they want your cookbook to really stand out or be easier to market.
If you want to offer a cookbook to readers on your blog, you may want to publish an ebook. These are simply files that your readers can pay to download. You won’t need to publish an actual hard copy of your cookbook if you do an ebook.
