How to
Write a Best-Selling Cookbook
The
Questions You MUST Be Able to Answer to Give Your CookBook
Bestseller Potential
Publishing industry insiders know that best-selling cookbooks are
created through the continual asking and answering of specific
questions. You're about to discover what those questions are.
This process makes sure you don't sway off course and lose your
focus, the focus that is going to make your book marketable. You need
to make sure your book maintains appeal for publishers, for retail
merchandisers, for book reviewers and media, and of course, for the
book buying public.
There is an entire system of questions that you will need to be
asking yourself and answering throughout your cookbook project, but
it all starts with this one&ldots;.
Why Do You Want to Write a Cookbook?
How you answer this question is of major importance as you embark on
your cookbook project.
In fact, before you do anything else, you need to answer this one
question. Stop and reflect on this for a few moments right now, and
be honest. What is the real motivation behind your wanting to write a cookbook?
Some possible reasons are listed below. After giving this careful
thought, put a check-mark next to any that apply. In the space
provided further below, write your own reason if it is not listed.
"To compile family recipes for the sake of posterity or as a
family keepsake.
"To create a fundraising product for your group or organization.
"To achieve recognition and prestige
"To have the challenge of a fun little project
"To fill my need for creative expression
"To write a best selling book sold in nationwide bookstores and
featured on TV.
"To make money
"OR ...(Write down your own reason
Now What?
If you are writing a cookbook for personal or community reasons, you
won't need to concern yourself with the same considerations necessary
if you were doing this with the intention of achieving nation-wide
exposure and big dollar volumes. You can approach it more as a hobby
and less as a business. You won't need to understand the publishing
industry in-depth. Production will be more simple and straightforward.
If you are doing this with the goal in mind of mass-market
distribution, you are no longer just a cookbook author, but you are
now becoming a publisher.
If you are doing this as a business, you'll need to do what any smart
business person does when embarking on a new project. Establish a
budget for the project and come up with a marketing plan. We'll
discuss both a litter later on, but in the meantime&ldots;.
Additional
Questions that Must Be Answered to
Write a Cookbook With Bestseller Potential
In order to increase your chances of success, you need to give
yourself a clearly defined direction and determine your goals.
Where are you headed with all of this? You'll need to get a handle on
that because it will keep you on target and will be an invaluable
guide throughout the project.
Some questions you need to ask yourself:
"Is your aim to simply publish a single stand-alone book?
"Is your aim to ultimately create an entire series of books?
"Is your aim to publish a book that will help sell a specific product?
"Is your aim to publish a book that will help promote an
existing business?
"Is your aim to publish a book that you can market online?
"Do you have some other objective in mind?
What's the Concept For Your Book?
A family heirloom or keepsake
You're a domestic diva or terrific cook who has creativity and
talent to share
Ethnic
Type of Dish (main dish, desserts, appetizers salads)
Type of Food (chicken, pasta, pastries., etc)
Does it involve who you are?
A Chef (enhance your career and add additional revenue stream)
A restaurant (promote your business and add additional revenue stream)
A public personality
A "schtick" (granny's recipes; Fido's Favorite Dog
Biscuit Recipes)
Questions will keep you focused. You need to answer certain questions
as you are initially developing the concept, while you are writing,
and all the way through to promoting the book - in other words, at
every stage in the writing , publishing and marketing process.
Ask Yourself:
"Why am I writing this book
"Who am I writing it for
"What benefits does it offer
"What problems does it solve
"What need does it fill
"Why will people be interested
"What am I writing about
"What is the book's focus
"What is the book's angle
"What niche does it fit?
"Who would buy this book?
"Why will they buy it?
"Why would they buy it from YOU (credibility, experience, expertise)
"What makes this book different and better than other books in
the same category.
"What is your unique selling proposition?
"Are the ingredients easy to obtain?
"Does your writing style match your target audience?
"Are the instructions suitable for the audience (are they overly complicated)
"Is what I am doing consistent with the theme, focus, angle, or niche?
What qualified you to write the book? What edge do you have? Do
you have expertise? Do you have credibility? Do you have recognition.
If not, are you connected to someone who does. (David Letterman's
mother wrote a cookbook. Oprah's cook wrote a cookbook).
This is how a best selling book is created. Through the continual
asking and answering of these questions. This makes sure you don't
sway off course and lose your focus, the focus that is going to make
your book marketable. You need to make sure your book maintains
appeal for publishers, for retail merchandisers, for book reviewers
and media, and of course, for the book buying public.
Remember, choose a topic you are passionate about and very familiar
with. Then write about it with these questions and your target
audience in mind at all times.
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