| You don't need to be a top chef to write | | | | information to pass on and although this |
| and publish a cookbook on the internet. | | | | has been done already, there is still |
| You just need the will, some great | | | | room for improvement. |
| recipes and the occasional helping hand. | | | | One idea that springs to mind is a |
| Writing a cookbook is no different to | | | | cookbook on using the leftover coals of |
| producing any other kind of | | | | a charcoal barbecue. It has always |
| do-it-yourself manual, because in the | | | | struck me they could be used to slow |
| end that's really all it is. | | | | bake some pies, or bread or whatever and |
| No matter how many recipes it contains, | | | | a recipe book based on that would, I am |
| or cooking lessons, or simply cooking | | | | sure, get read. |
| hints and tips, in the end it's pretty | | | | Cookbooks don't have to be based on the |
| much a formula that you can easily | | | | latest trend in food preparation, far |
| follow. | | | | from it. Collections of recipes from |
| What you do need to do is write | | | | previous generations, World War 2 |
| something that is original in content | | | | cookbooks and even books on old kitchen |
| and will grab the imagination. | | | | methods, especially if they can be made |
| The last thing the world needs is just | | | | to seem relevant to today's modern cook, |
| another recipe book. If that's all it is | | | | all find a ready audience. |
| people won't buy it. It has to have | | | | You don't even need to have all this |
| something extra, such as an interesting | | | | information at your fingertips. There is |
| and original niche. | | | | a vast amount of it freely available on |
| As an example, a couple of years or so | | | | the internet and in your local library's |
| ago Southern cooking was all the rage | | | | reference section. What you do not |
| and people were buying up ebooks about | | | | already know you can learn, compile into |
| cathead biscuits and collard greens. But | | | | a comprehensive whole and publish. |
| that's over now and the internet's cooks | | | | Just be sure to do a little research to |
| have moved on. The trick is not to | | | | see what your competition may be. You |
| follow them, but to lead them to | | | | could be in for a surprise. Your family |
| something fresh. | | | | recipes might be not only unique, but an |
| As a cook yourself you probably have an | | | | excellent way of filling a gap in the |
| area of cooking that you particularly | | | | market. Some of the most sought after |
| enjoy, or which may be an extension of | | | | cooking articles are on diabetes, picky |
| something else. For example, if you are | | | | eaters, budget cooking, nutrition, |
| a trout fisherman you might be able to | | | | cooking for the sick and elderly and so |
| combine a book on how to cook trout with | | | | on. |
| hints on trout fishing. | | | | If you have any expertise at all in any |
| Someone who does a lot of outdoor | | | | one of these niches you will find a |
| cooking must have a wealth of | | | | ready market for your book. |