| If you love food and have the ability to add | | | | Occasionally, you'll find ads for freelance food |
| creative flair to your writing, you could look | | | | writers on the Internet. Approach with caution; |
| forward to a career in freelance food writing. | | | | usually these jobs pay very little. |
| Technically, freelance food writing means tasting | | | | What skills do I need to be a freelance food |
| food and then describing it. Practically, it's a much | | | | writer? |
| more involved process. Food critics often absorb | | | | Besides creativity and keen eye, it's helpful if you |
| the entire dining experience of the restaurant | | | | have a passion for food. That may sound |
| they're in. How does the atmosphere contribute | | | | obvious, but it's worth mentioning - the more you |
| to the quality of the food? What was the service | | | | love what you're writing about, the more likely |
| like? What did the food taste like? | | | | you'll be able to convey that passion to your |
| The latter can be a fun question to answer | | | | readers. |
| because it's your opportunity to let your creativity | | | | In food writing, that passion is critical because it's |
| shine through. Don't shy away from elaborate | | | | the only way to engage your readers. If you're |
| adjectives and metaphors. Think along the lines of: | | | | just saying, "My pasta primavera was exceptional |
| "The arugula and baby spinach medley, coupled | | | | and so was the service," you're not going to hold |
| with bursts of cilantro and cranberry, was bliss to | | | | your readers' attention for long. Instead, you need |
| the palate." | | | | to say something like, "The just-picked |
| Who offers freelance food writing jobs? | | | | pan-seared veggies over homemade al dente |
| Food writing is one of the more prolific freelancing | | | | linguini made the meal feel light and refreshing, |
| jobs. Almost every major newspaper in the | | | | even for pasta." |
| country has a food section. There are also dozens | | | | Besides passion, you need education. Read food |
| of magazines you could write for, depending on | | | | magazines, check out the food section in the |
| your food or beverage preference. | | | | newspaper, eat out a lot, attend wine and |
| As mentioned earlier, people looking for freelance | | | | cheeses, and learn the food trends that are |
| food writers may really be looking for restaurant | | | | happening in cities like New York and Los Angeles. |
| reviewers. Be prepared to do either one or both, | | | | The more you know, the better you'll write. |
| depending on your editor. Remember that a whole | | | | How do I respond to an ad? |
| restaurant review can be a little more in-depth | | | | If you come across an ad for a food writer, say |
| than simply writing about the food, so make sure | | | | in a wine-lovers' magazine, you'll need to respond |
| to pay attention to everything that happens from | | | | in a way that entices editors to accept your |
| the moment you walk through those restaurant | | | | articles. How would you respond to the ad below? |
| doors. | | | | Calling all food lovers! Wine & Vine is looking |
| Where can I find these jobs? | | | | for articles about pairing wines and foods. Please |
| If you've done a couple of food reviews, submit | | | | submit 500-600-word articles with a short bio of |
| them to food magazines and the food section | | | | yourself before January. |
| editors of newspapers, along with a query letter. | | | | It looks like the magazine is looking for articles |
| Your query letter should include a brief, exciting | | | | with a food emphasis, which is great if you don't |
| plug for the article you'd like to write, along with | | | | know a lot about wine pairing. Do a bit of Internet |
| several good reasons why you should be the | | | | research on which cheeses and meats go with |
| freelance writer to do it. | | | | which wines. Then describe those foods ("A |
| Another idea is to look for restaurants that are | | | | melt-in-your-mouth Kobe steak," "Roquefort |
| opening in your area and approach the owners | | | | straight from the Vallée du Loire," you get |
| directly. Let them know you're a freelance food | | | | the idea) with panache. |
| writer who would like to help them get their new | | | | It's all about engaging your readers, so that |
| restaurant in the paper. It'll give you an excellent | | | | through your words, readers can share in the |
| opportunity to write their review first and get it | | | | moment of relishing each morsel. That's what |
| published. You might even get a free meal! | | | | being a good freelance food writer is all about! |