Food Blogging 101: More Computer Info for Food Writers

Published by Tuesday, June 2, 2015 Permalink 0

Food Blogging 101: Tips for Computer Software and Hardware for Food Bloggers and Writers

by Jonell Galloway

Most writers want and need to concentrate on the words, not the computer. Computers, by definition, require technical acumen, and many of us have neither the skills nor the desire to learn. The fact is, in today’s world, we must; it will make our lives easier if we do.

Food writers and bloggers do not need extremely powerful computer hardware if they are posting mainly text files. Working with images, however, requires more powerful equipment. Each publisher will require different software and applications.

Software and Applications

If you’re preparing a book in manuscript format, you don’t need a huge desktop publishing package, though that’s what most people seem to end up using. Many authors use Microsoft Word, others swear by a variety of less-common options.

For those writing for print, if at all affordable, I suggest buying Microsoft Word Professional or its equivalent. It offers stricter spelling and grammar checkers and has more complete dictionaries and thesauri for a long list of languages, if you indeed need the language option. Even if you’re doing content writing for online publications, this version of Word will give you a maximum of tools.

If you’re using Windows or another Microsoft operating system, I’d suggest taking a class in how to maneuver it and problem-solve. Whether you’re using Microsoft or Apple, a class in Word is a time-saver in the long run, and it will save you hours of frustration. Learn to use the Format, Insert, View and Tools options, and how to create and use a style sheet. I’ll be giving a summer class in Word for Writers. Fill in the form below to sign up for the class.

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Food Writing Competition

Published by Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Permalink 0

Food Writing Contest

We are seeking food-related fiction and non-fiction entries for our First Annual Food Writing Competition. We want to highlight what can be vividly done in very few words. You have wanted to try your hand at the greatest possible concision, have you not? This is your chance to be rewarded for that. Winners will be published on Mastering the Art of Food Writing, and qualify to compete for inclusion in the first annual Food Writers to Keep an Eye On 2015 eBook we plan to publish in 2016.

Entries should be a maximum of 500 words, and may treat any food-related subject. This covers the full spectrum of food and travel writing: memoirs; short stories; reviews; poems; travelogues; essays;  guidebooks entries; lifestyle; adventure; destination features; history; and, anthropology. Not sure that’s you? Write us to ask.

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About The Rambling Epicure

Published by Friday, August 1, 2014 Permalink 0

Founded by Jonell Galloway in 2009, The Rambling Epicure started out as a Geneva-based international food chronicle, the first online journal to follow global food trends and news. It gathered the voices of notable food writers and artists from around the world to treat various interests, including a mindful, responsible approach to real food shopping, cooking, and eating, as well as food politics, history, art, literature and philosophy.

Expanding on that work, in May of 2014, The Rambling Epicure joined forces with the Cambridge-based writer and teacher Elatia Harris, chef/owner of Lucy’s Mom’s Cuisine. Jonell and Elatia re-visioned The Rambling Epicure as a hub for food writing in all its forms, with offerings to writers at every level. If you are a professional writer, a student, or a food writer-in-waiting, join our community for the pleasure of it and for our menu of affordable and innovative services to writers.

Check out our food writing discussion board in our Facebook group, The Rambling Epicure, Mastering the Art of Food Writing.

Get access below to our monthly food-writing newsletter, and a quick but satisfying food quote every now and then.

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Writing Classes

Published by Friday, August 1, 2014 Permalink 0

Food Writing Classes

Classes Offered

The 16 classes below cover a lot of territory. Taught in one-hour units, they speed your path to mastering the most important and challenging aspects of food writing today. Matters of style, content, and being current. More intro coming…

Basics 101

Even though people say you’re a great storyteller, do you feel you let them down when you write rather than talk? It’s no secret — writing confidently and often is key to writing well. Using the grammar and punctuation that editors require for their publications is a supreme confidence builder. This is a “best foot forward” class for writers-in-training who want to arrive on the scene with all the specs.

Beginning Food Writer

Already writing about food, and searching for your truest direction? The scope of food writing is far bigger than it was a decade ago, and you may find what you’re looking for by considering how that expansion applies to you. This course shows you a systematic method for transitioning from general writing to food writing, and teaches you how to find both your voice and the best form for manifesting your gifts. Take this course and follow it up with “Essentials of Food Writing.”

Essentials of Food Writing

Have you decided that food writing is definitely for you? Worthy not only of all your skills, but of your learning some new ones too? This class is for you if you are a committed writer who wants to adapt your voice and style to food writing. There is a strong emphasis her on mapping out a body of work. Not quite ready? Take “Beginning Food Writer” first.

Editing and Revising Your Own Manuscript

As writers, we are often so close to our text that we can no longer see how to perfect it. This class focuses on achieving the crucial editorial distance that allows you to create your best work. You will learn to use technical tools to help you work faster, and to ensure that you send a perfect manuscript to potential editors and publishers. Recommended for writers who also take “Beginning Food Writer” and/or “Essentials of Food Writing.”

Word Processing 101

Word processing skills are essential for almost any profession, and in particular for writers. This class teaches all the basic skills you’ll require in the food writing profession. Recommended to writers who opt for “Editing and Revising Your Own Manuscript.”

How to Start a Food Blog

For food writing students and professional food writers alike, a food blog and online presence are difficult to make headway without. Both will help you build a readership and a platform, which is something publishers and editors take very seriously. It ensures them that you already have a following. This class will guide you through the entire process, from choosing a platform, setting up your blog, maintaining it, and getting the word out to the public through social media and effective search engine optimization.

Social Media without Blogging

Some writers don’t want the mammoth technical difficulties that food blogging entails. This class teaches you how to build a social media presence and a brand, without keeping up a blog. You will be surprised to see yourself commanding an increasingly large following. If you know for a certainty that you don’t want to blog, take this course to find out how not to miss out on that account.

For Experienced Writers — Crafting an Online Presence

Research Methods for Non-academics

How to Conduct an Excellent Interview

How to Write About Food for Kids

When Food Writing Overlaps with Ag Writing

Problems in Wine Writing and How to Avoid Them

Bioscience for Food Writers

Culinary Literacy for Food Writers

Sustainability for Food Writers

Ebook Overview

Now that indie publishing is an unlimited new world, you may not be looking for an agent or a publisher. You may be looking for a profitable niche, or a route to paper publishing that involves building an online platform first. You hold more of the fate of your work in your hands than ever before, and you may want to find out whether the driver’s seat, in e-publishing, is where you want to be. Join this class for an overview of up-to-the-minute realities that will be decisive for you.

To contact us or request a subscription to our weekly newsletter, click here:

 

The Rambling Epicure is a food writing community full of resources. Many are free. Join us, and explore them. Through our classes, programs, and one-on-one work with clients, we are a full-service network of support for food writers. Would you like to talk with us about what we could do for you? Say hi, with a brief intro, using the form above, and email us LINK an sample of your work so that we can give you our best estimate.

And, for a good time in good company, join our food writing forum on Facebook at The Rambling Epicure, Mastering the Art of Food Writing. You will make some excellent connections there.

 

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Eat Drink Blog 2012 – Australia’s National Food Blogging Conference

Published by Monday, August 20, 2012 Permalink 0

By Amanda McInerney

Here in Australia we sometimes feel a little left out of things. As I check out conferences and happenings in the world of food writing, blogging and photography, I frequently envy the short travel distances that those in the Northern hemisphere enjoy to get to any number of exciting events. Here we have three options – we can ‘grow our own’, pay thousands of dollars in airfares & spend many, many hours traveling to get to international events, or simply miss out.

In 2010, a group of passionate Melbourne food bloggers got together and produced Australia’s first-ever national food blogging conference — Eat Drink Blog. It was much appreciated  by those who attended and declared a success. Last year I attended – and hugely enjoyed – the second national Australian food bloggers conference. I travelled to Sydney for the event and took the chance to put faces to some of the names whose writing, recipes and photos I had been enjoying, and to meet plenty whom I had yet to come across in the ether. We spent a terrifically informative day picking up writing, photography and SEO tips, networking and, of course, eating, and I came away vowing to make every effort to get to the next one. Apparently the gods agreed with me on that as, while I was on my recent holiday in Italy, an email from the organisers of last  year’s event winged its way into my inbox asking me to be involved in putting this year’s event together in Adelaide, South Australia.

Last year’s event was extraordinarily well planned and coordinated, completely sponsored, and a unanimous hit with the attendees so we knew we had a pretty tough act to follow. However, we South Australian food types pride ourselves on our food and wine credentials. We have a remarkable array of both commercial and artisan food producers and are not called the wine state for nothing, so we were sure we could put on a pretty special event.

A couple of weeks ago we very proudly announced the program for Eat Drink Blog 2012 and I think we’ve managed to pull together a remarkable array of local, national and international talent to share their knowledge and skills with bloggers from all over Australia. With confirmed speakers including a nationally award-winning photographer, internationally recognised Australian food bloggers and, the icing on our cake, Dianne Jacob — author of “Will Write for Food” — our conference will comprehensively cover food writing, social media, career opportunities, restaurant reviewing, SEO, ethics, blog design, photography, photo editing, food styling, and legal matters. In addition, the delegates will have the opportunity to visit some of South Australia’s premium wine and food regions, sampling the specialties of the regions, spend some time touring the iconic Adelaide Central Market and enjoy a gourmet dinner featuring the very best of our local produce and beverages.

Oh, and it’s all still fully sponsored, so all the delegates have to pay for is their travel and accommodation!

So maybe it’s time for the rest of the world to be just a little envious of us?

For full details of Eat Drink Blog 2012 check our website here.

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Food Art: Rustic Food Composition, food photography by Simone van den Berg

Published by Monday, March 19, 2012 Permalink 0

Simone van den Berg is a food photographer in the Netherlands. She runs a professional photography studio, Junglefrog Images, as well as a personal food photography site, Fresh Food Photos. She also gives photography workshops for food bloggers and beginners, teaching them to use the photo gear they have to the best of its advantage. She also runs the culinary magazine De Glazen Vork in Dutch.

 

 

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Thoughts on Jamie Schler’s latest HuffPost article: You are What You Eat: a Food Blogger’s Dilemma

Published by Friday, March 16, 2012 Permalink 0

by Jonell Galloway

Jamie Schler‘s latest article on the The Huffington Post, “You are What You Eat: a Food Blogger’s Dilemma,” is a must-read for any serious food blogger.

You might ask, “what is a serious food blogger?” One who has 2 million followers, one who gets a zillion hits a month, one with a goal in mind, such as a book or television show, or is it someone one who encourages healthy eating, who is interested in educating the public and sees it as almost a civic duty? That is a really good question in today’s topsy-turvy world, where famous is not necessarily good or good for you, and on the Internet, anything goes.

Image courtesy of CoffeeMuffins.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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