Food. Everyone needs it, no-one can live without it – and a lot of people like to read about it. So that’s what this week’s creative writing prompt/exercise is all about: food, glorious food!

It’s a big subject of course. And there are many, many different ways to write about it. Your task this week is to choose just one aspect of food writing and go for it. Try 750 tasty words.

The secret to good food writing is to make it uber entertaining as well as informative,  without resorting to lists of ingredients and descriptions which include the word ‘delicious’.

Try writing an article, as if you are writing for one of the lifestyle magazines – all the major supermarkets, airlines and charities publish both on-line and print magazines, and they are voracious consumers of the written word.

You could, of course, try reviewing a restaurant experience, but that’s a fairly niche market, probably a bit tricky to break into if you are just starting out.

Recipe books are always popular, but only if you have the knowledge and skill to come up with the next big thing – and of course, it helps here if you are already a celebrity.

Meanwhile, do some research into what is being published by food writers. Our friend Google can help.

That is how I stumbled across the work of American travel blogger Geraldine DeRuiter who has the everywhereist.com blog, and I discovered she delivers a masterclass in how to make food writing entertaining with her caustic but hilarious style.

 A really old post from 2012 had me in stitches – Seven Badass Bavarian Foods You Must Try. Someone who can persuade me to continue reading about food I’ve absolutely no intention of eating (OK, I might try a real pretzel, but never any of that other meaty stuff) has, I believe, really nailed the communication thing. 

And at the end of 2021, Geraldine DeRuiter wrote a blistering review of an over-priced, pretentious restaurant in Italy, which was so sarcastic and funny.  See if you agree with me, it’s no wonder she’s won awards and has a new book coming out next year. 

Of course, all the celebrity chefs have plenty to say (and write) about food, so you could look to them for inspiration on themes (healthy eating and superfoods, anyone?), style and content.

You could get your teeth into any number of meaty food writing topics, there’s a  lot of scope. At the very least, use this exercise as another way to sharpen your general wordsmithing skills.

Bon Appetit!

Don’t forget to call back next week for another tasty topic to chew over. Every Wednesday at 5pm (Dublin time) I post a new creative writing prompt/exercise to help you generate some new material. Subscribe (it’s free!) to receive email notifications.