Writing about food

What is the course about?

This practical course will cover everything from restaurant reviewing and pitching feature and book ideas to
blogging and recipe writing.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- The opportunities for writing about food.
- Restaurant reviewing.
- Food features – coming up with ideas and pitching to editors.
- Writing your own blog.
- Getting paid for your work.
- Pitching book ideas & self-publishing.
- How to improve your writing.
- Doing your research.
- Working with PRs.
- Recipe writing.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Understand the key elements of restaurant reviewing, recipe writing and food features.
- Know what food editors want and how best to approach them.
- Have a better understanding of the world of food blogging and what makes a good blog.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an introductory course. You will need a reasonable standard of English to keep up with the course and
an enthusiasm for writing about food.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course will have a strong practical focus with writing exercises, in groups and individually. In addition to a
virtual restaurant reviewing task, there will be plenty of opportunities to develop your writing and get class feedback on your work.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work
which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college
operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other
students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set
deadlines.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

It would be helpful if you can bring an example of a piece of food writing you like to the first class.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.