9 tips to make your food post interesting
Recently I’ve received an increasing number of requests to guest-post on my site, which makes me ecstatic, but it also sets me in a difficult position to evaluate what is interesting. Of the millions of food blogs out there, what makes yours interesting? It’s you. Your voice, your emotions and your own experience with the food can set your post miles above a recipe that I can find just 0.2 seconds after I google its name. I’m no professional blogger, but I’ve read a fair share of food blogs, and from the ones that I keep returning to, I’ve learned and formed my own set of guidelines on how to write a post (which I try to follow, sometimes more successful than others).
In general, recipe posts have more room for personal stories, and they also comprise the most common type of food blogs (small sample: of the top 50 food blogs on Delish, 43 are recipes), so these guidelines are more geared toward recipe blogging than reviews. I’m gonna skip the photos, although they’re important, they’re the varnish and the writing is the wood.
1. Write statements with specific details, geographically and historically. Let’s say you want to write about grilled catfish. You need an opening sentence. Your first thought is “When it comes to catfish, there are many American dishes. They are mouthwatering and delicious.” These two sentences sound choppy and unimpressive, so you can remodel them into “Our American cuisine has no shortage of mouth-watering dishes with catfish, such as Catfish Tuscany and Catfish Gumbo.” Then you give more background details to it: in which regions in America are these dishes most common, who usually like them; or give a more personal touch: do you have a childhood story related to one of these catfish dishes, how did you come to like catfish or fish in general, etc.
2. Be confident with your opinions, but respect your readers. You’re not trying to give a lecture, you’re just telling a story. Sometimes a confident statement may sound a little bit too direct and confrontational. For example, “you should eat catfish because it is healthy” sounds like an order, but softening it to “my mother always tells me to eat catfish because it is healthy” offers not only consideration but also a personal story and a third opinion (your mom’s), which gently boosts the credibility of your statement. The use of “you” should be minimal, unless you want to make it sound like a conversation, which you should.
3. Give reasons. Why is catfish good for health? Include scientific facts if possible. Include your grandmother’s experience is even better: 1. It’s personal; 2. It’s most likely universal, somehow all grandmothers think the same; 3. It’s proven with time.
4. Tell a story. How did you come up with this recipe? How is your recipe different from other recipes of grilled catfish? Basically, what makes your recipe unique? What have you discovered while making this recipe, using this product, or eating this dish? James Boo and his co-writers on The Eaten Path tell some of the best stories.
5. How flexible is your recipe? Can I use brown rice instead of basmati rice, pork bone instead of beef bone, or blueberries instead of raisins? For a review, how adaptable is the dish or the product? Can it be eaten any time of the day, any season of the year? What kind of beverage would it go well with? What changes can/should be made if I want to make it for my grandmother’s cousin who has dentures and is fond of duck tongue?
6. Tell us about the result. What do you think about your recipe after you eat it? Is it perfect? Did it give you a split second of enlightenment? Is there anything you should have done differently or is there anything you would like to experiment next time you make it? Will you make it again? Did your best invention give you the worst stomachache the following day? Did anyone beside you eat it, if so, what did they think? The answers to these questions add personality to your post and complete your story.
7. Google is your best friend. And like with your best human friend, you should prepare to spend a lot of time with Google. There are already a lot of information out there, simply reciting the first link you find is not going to make your post any better than that link. What the reader needs is all of that information in one place, so that they can quickly go back and look up for it as needed. I spent 2 days browsing through 50 pages of articles on the ash sticky rice dumpling (bánh ú tro), most are copies of one another, to get enough information for my post. The more inclusive your post is, the more useful it is for the reader. Your reader is spending their valuable time to read your post, so you have to invest your time to research before you write.
Also make sure to cite your sources. Citation doesn’t take away your expertise, it proves it.
8. Be funny. This point is always mentioned in every blogging to-do list, and it’s the hardest point to follow. How can you be funny? I try, but I don’t know if I’ve ever succeeded because nobody has ever told me that I’m funny. But here’s a trick I’ve learned from noodlepie: you can be funny by referencing funny things. Use the built-in links to your advantage. Those who bother to click on them, get the hidden jokes.
9. Be open about yourself. Be personal. If you don’t want the world to know about you, maybe you should set your blog private, or blog in your head. Besides, the world is not out to get you, unless you’re a serial killer on Interpol‘s wanted list who also enjoys seeking out the most authentic pad thai in the States, in which case you probably shouldn’t blog about where you just had lunch… (or maybe you should?)
To sum it up, a good blogging tone is confident, respectful and open. Content-wise, be informative. Ask yourself while writing: have I learned something new? If you don’t learn anything new while writing your post, that means you haven’t done enough research and your post is useless. Even if you think of the entire post all by yourself in one go, there are always numbers and statistics that you can add to bolster your arguments, or fun facts to make your baked potato not so trivial, or new words that you procure from thesaurus.com to avoid repeating yourself. If you learn something new while writing your post, chances are your readers will learn something new from your post, and that newly acquired knowledge will prompt them to think of your blog as a valuable source, and they will come back.
This post was written after an allnighter. Now the author has learned what her third alarm, which she always sleeps through, sounds like.
Some genuinely nice stuff on this internet site, I love it.
1It is in point of fact a great and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
2Hi I am so glad I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Google for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent job.
3Someone necessarily help to make severely articles I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I surprised with the research you made to make this actual submit incredible. Magnificent task!
4I am perpetually thought about this, thanks for putting up.
5I reckon something really special in this internet site.
6This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
7Appreciating the dedication you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
8I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
9There are certainly quite a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to convey up. I offer the thoughts above as common inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you bring up the place crucial thing can be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged round things like that, but I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a good game. Each girls and boys feel the influence of just a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
10Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
11Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
12Some genuinely nice stuff on this web site, I love it.
13Very interesting details you have noted, regards for putting up.
14I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site :).
15I couldn’t resist commenting
16Perfect piece of work you have done, this web site is really cool with fantastic information.
17magnificent issues altogether, you simply received a new reader. What might you suggest in regards to your put up that you made a few days in the past? Any sure?
18I believe this is among the such a lot important info for me. And i’m satisfied reading your article. However wanna remark on few basic things, The website style is great, the articles is in reality nice :D. Just right process, cheers
19I like this web site so much, saved to bookmarks. “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” by Peter De Vries.
20Very efficiently written information. It will be supportive to anyone who employess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep up the good work – can’r wait to read more posts.
21It’s best to participate in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will advocate this website!
22Hi there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this web site.
23Wow, wonderful blog structure! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog look easy. The total glance of your website is excellent, let alone the content!
24I do believe all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for novices. May you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
25After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
26Thank you for any other informative website. Where else may I am getting that kind of info written in such an ideal approach? I’ve a project that I am just now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.
27Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What an ideal site.
28Hi my friend! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
29Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your site. You have some really great articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Regards!
30What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & aid other customers like its aided me. Good job.
31Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and all. However think of if you added some great pictures or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this site could definitely be one of the greatest in its niche. Excellent blog!
32We absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web site!
33Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and include almost all vital infos. I’d like to look extra posts like this .
34Regards for helping out, excellent information.
35