March 22, 2021

Want to be a food writer?

Writing food articles is an exquisite art that calls not just for an exceptional taste in the food but also for flawless writing proficiency. Owing to the current digital market and social media market, the scope to become an appreciable food writer has further widened. In earlier times, there were restrictions on entry into this particular field. Before, prospective food writers had to fulfil a journalism course requirement to become eligible to become a successful food writer.

Thankfully, today, we have social media platforms where aspiring food writer can take his or her initial steps towards the food writing industry by posting their reviews in respect of the dishes tried at any particular eatery, restaurant, or cafe, or even reviewing certain dishes cooked by him or her. Several reputed content agencies in India, including SEO Content India, facilitate food and beverage content writing solutions. It thus leaves ample scope for both the writers and the restaurant owners to avail of an opportunity. We have covered everything you need to know about becoming a food writer.

Food Writing is an Art of Expression

These days’ publishers focus more on the cognizance and unblemished grammar of prospective writers than on their fancy degrees in journalism. Consequently, to become a successful food writer, you should remain abreast of the notable food writing tips from experts. You should possess an unimpaired writing competency in conjunction with a diversified and sensitive palette, enabling you as a writer to form a reasonable judgement about the food. It is a must to appeal to the readers.

A Guide to Becoming a Food Writer:

1. Think like an explorer: To become a renowned food writer, it becomes quintessential to experiment across a wide range of dishes and cuisines to explore and know them all deeply. Sticking to one type of cuisine will not add to the diverse requirements of a food writer’s success.

2. A Food Blogger or a Food Critic: While talking about food writers, it becomes paramount to distinguish between two kinds: a food blogger and a Food Critic. In common practice, a non-specialist would consider both of these to be the same, but, in the actual sense, these professions are entirely different with only certain similarities.

a. First, let us discuss what a food critic does. Generally, a food critic visits eateries and restaurants to taste their dishes and various cuisines, which would enable them to form an independent judgement concerning the food tasted. This is the basis upon which they write an objective report about that particular place and its food. This report is a critique article that would be published in any culinary magazine or any webpage.

The salary is based upon the critique prepared by him or her and its utility in general terms. A food critique freshmen earns a handsome salary in common parlance depending on the expertise and quality work. However, this might increase to more after gaining an experience of say 2-3 years, and that can go further higher after one attains a handful of experience in the field.

Therefore, to become a successful food critic, the prospective writer must adhere to certain prerequisites. They are as follows:

Click majestic pictures of the dish and the ambience;
Write a review about the dish with intricate details;
Comment about the ambience and services offered;
Name the particular staff members who served your attendance and their service quality;
Outline the dish details in terms of taste and feel;
Lastly, tag the official social media page of the concerned eatery in your post.

To become a food critic in India, the following degrees shall prove effective:

Bachelor/Diploma of Hotel Management;
Bachelor of Catering Technology and Culinary Arts;
BA in Culinary Arts;
Bachelor of Journalism or Journalism and Mass Communication.

b. Next, a food blogger is a food writer who generally does not write for any publisher or webpage. They self-publish their culinary reviews. Currently, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have provided a great stage for aspiring writers to freelance as food bloggers. Yes, a food writer with the requisite expertise can easily freelance by writing reviews and blogs on their social media platforms concerning any particular cuisine cooked or tasted by them at a particular eatery.

The eatery management might be interested in further reviews to be posted by that particular blogger and might get ahead of a deal for the same with the concerned blogger. Therefore, to become a freelance food writer, one need not follow the traditional rules towards food writing, yet the prospective blogger must adhere to certain prerequisites. They include:

Write interesting content concerning any dish or cuisine that you prefer to research.
Make sure that your blog remains as enticing as possible so that readers would want to visit your page more often to read your content;
Promote your blog across various social media platforms to attract as many readers as possible.

The above steps comprise the initial process that an aspiring social media food blogger must adhere to. Talking about the payment of the social media food bloggers, the usual arrangement followed by most eatery management is that the payment would be as per the number of likes and comments on the blogger’s post. Generally, it could range across some small amounts per like, or it could be some other sort of arrangement as well.

Entry-level food bloggers follow this system. Their pay could also increase further, depending on enhancing their writing skills and encapsulating the blogger’s dexterity. There are no qualifications laid out to become a food blogger, unlike the ones stated for an intending food critic. Do you want to know how to become a food writer?

Generally, a food blogger’s job is more of a work-from-home compared to that of a food critic, as the latter’s work profile consists mostly of visiting eateries and dining outlets to collect data for the critique article. In contrast, the former has mostly done Internet-based research to gain knowledge and skills for blogging instead of some blogs. Consequently, a food blogger could be a freelance food writer. The Muse describes in one of its highly enriched articles about food content writing. Even a social media food blogger or work-from-home food writer can solve the purpose.

During the initial days, when food writers start with their work in the industry, it becomes advisable for them to read and refer to the numerous articles and interviews of the existing food writers and chefs to brush up their knowledge and competence. Keep searching How to become a food writer with no experience?

Some of the famous food writers across the world include:

The list is too big, yet the most hand-picked of them have been listed above.

Listed below are some of the well-known food writers in India:

Sanjeev Kapoor – celebrity chef and cookbook writer
Vikas Khanna – celebrity chef, cookbook writer
Uma Raghuraman, a food blogger
Nandita Iyer, a food blogger
Richa Hingle, a food blogger
Ruchira Ramanujam, a food blogger
Ranjini Rao, a food blogger
Kankena Saxena – food blogger

This actual list, again, is too long to mention them all.

Summing up the aforementioned content, the food writing industry is still in its growing phase. That is why aspiring and talented writers can exploit the most available opportunities via their applied skills. This post has everything you need to know about becoming a food writer.

Some more resources:

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