How to Become a Food Writer

Have you ever considered becoming a food writer? If you enjoy writing and consider yourself a bit of a foodie, then the world of gastronomy could be an exciting freelance niche for you to explore.

In this post we’ll explain:

• What food writing is
• What a food writer does
• How to become a food writer

Let’s look at the ingredients for success in this exciting freelance writing niche!

What Is Food Writing?

Food writing is any type of writing that discusses what we eat.

Food is on most people’s minds every day, making it a popular topic for articles, blogs, books, and more. Cooking and food, much like travel, are considered to be some of the most desirable blogging niches for freelance writers.

Discussions about what we eat can be controversial, challenging, emotional, comforting, and inspiring. Reading about food can be as tantalizing to the senses as the actual experience of eating something scrumptious.

Types of Food Writing

Nutrition, regional identity, dietary needs, the business world, and individual artistry can all factor into conversations about food. For this reason, food writing comes in many forms. Here are some examples of writing that falls under this topic:

• Blogs. Food blogs can cover all manner of food and cooking-related topics, from restaurant reviews to recipes and cooking tips. They might be very broad, or focus on a particular cuisine or type of diet. For example, this blog is dedicated to sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes.
• Interviews. Cooks, restaurant owners, connoisseurs, and other experts offer unique personal and industry insights, making their thoughts and experiences fascinating additions to culinary conversations. Take a look at this interview, in which a chef talks about the importance of authenticity in the food he prepares.
• Restaurant Reviews. Many people love to know where they should (or should not) go to eat. Here’s a stellar review of Indigenous, a place known as “one of America’s top restaurants.”
• Opinion Pieces. Almost anything can be critically discussed when it comes to food – just like this analysis on the rise (and potential fall) of the imitation meat industry.
• Columns. Many recurring publications, such as The Daily Orange, like to have a regular section dedicated just to food.
• History. Humans have always needed nourishment, and some writers delve into the cultural, economic, environmental, and sociological impacts of food throughout history. This type of writing can be educational and sometimes humorous, like this list of strange food facts.
• Cookbooks. No discussion on writing about food would be complete without mentioning the books that are solely dedicated to cooking. There’s even a cookbook all about food from the fantasy world of Lord of the Rings.

What Does a Food Writer Do?

It’s probably clear that a food writer writes about food. But there is more to the job than that. A lot of food writers work freelance for the food sections of magazines, newspapers, or digital media outlets. They can even create their own content, e.g. for independent blogs or podcasts.

Some of their typical duties include:

• Attending food-related events. Competitions, restaurant openings, and festivals are just a few of the occasions that writers could cover.
• Reviewing critically. A lot of food writers work predominantly as food critics. This can involve traveling around and judging food quality, dining experience, price, etc.
• Staying up to date. A leader in any writing niche must be knowledgeable on the latest advancements, fads, and creations in their area of interest – food writers are no different.
• Creating recipes. Readers often want to know how to make delicious food. To help them, many food writers sample various dishes from around the world and document how they are made.
• Writing. Obviously, one of the main responsibilities of a food writer will be to observe and record their experiences, opinions, and knowledge so they can write about food in a way that is suitable to the type of content they are trying to produce.

How to Become a Food Writer

First and foremost, to become a food writer you should be passionate about both food and writing. Luckily, neither of these qualifications requires a university degree or previous work experience. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain things you can do to better prepare yourself for a career as a freelance food writer.

These simple steps are a great recipe for increasing your likelihood of success.

1. Educate Yourself

Food writing might not be as technical as some other niches, but education in journalism, writing, communications, or English can help you create polished pieces. If you would like to improve your skills in this area, consider taking an online writing course.

You don’t need to go to culinary school to be a food writer, but you should have some sort of knowledge about cooking techniques, regionally specific cuisine, nutrition, food fads, or restaurant operations. Experience in a kitchen, or just a love for cooking and eating, can help develop this knowledge.

2. Start Writing

One of the best ways to become a better writer is to practice. Start by reading other people’s food writing to find out what you do or don’t like. Then, do some writing of your own.

Creating a personal blog, writing for local publications, or even just crafting short articles or recipes to share with friends and family are all wonderful ways to develop your unique style and tone.

3. Pick a Specialty

When you are just starting out, you can write about anything food related. As you gain experience, it is often wise to pick what subset of food writing you want to specialize in.

Think about what other interests you have and then choose one that intersects with food. Perhaps you like to travel, create new things, learn about nutrition, study history, or assess businesses. Picking a specialty can help showcase your expertise for specific writing projects and jobs.

4. Build a Portfolio

This can happen naturally. Once you have done some food writing, start to build your freelance writing portfolio. This doesn’t need to be composed of paid work. Anything related to food can be included, but it should highlight your unique talents and, if you’ve chosen any, your specialties.

If you’re having trouble adding to your portfolio, internships and volunteer opportunities can give you chances to create work you are proud to show off.

5. Network

This is valuable for any writer, especially if you want to be a freelance food writer. Networking with other people who share your love for cuisine can be a great way to find writing opportunities. Fortunately, social events are the perfect place for sharing and talking about food, so making connections about your niche could happen naturally.

However, networking doesn’t have to happen face-to-face. You can follow and interact with food-related social media accounts or join an online group.

6. Apply for Jobs

If you’ve followed the five steps mentioned above, then you should be ready to get a food writing job. Contact people in your network and proudly show off your portfolio to find opportunities. If you’re still stuck, employment websites such as Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and SimplyHired offer listings for hundreds of freelance food writing jobs.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

A valuable step in becoming a freelance food writer is to make sure you have the right skills. Thankfully, we have a course that can teach you everything you need to know!

Becoming A Freelance Writer is created by professional content writers. It is beginner-friendly and offers expert tutor support. On top of all that, if you achieve 80% or more in the final assignment, you’ll have the opportunity to write three pieces of content for our blog.

Why not try some free lessons right now?