SPRING 2011 SYLLABUS

Food Writing Syllabus

Monday 6:45pm-9:05, Begins, 
Feb 28

10 Sessions—No class March 14, April 12

Instructor: Ramin Ganeshram   


Welcome!

I’m pleased to have you join me in this food writing class where you will work on completing a story worthy of professional publication and learn how to pitch that story to publications.

In order to make this the best possible—and most effective—experience for everyone in the class there are few things I’d like you to keep in mind:

Come prepared! A big part of our class is discussing our work and giving valid and constructive criticism. Having work to share is therefore essential. Please complete your assignments and be prepared to discuss them with the class. There will also be short in-class assignments, which we will discuss in workshop format as well.

Blog! For the purposes of this class I have created a blog at niblescribl.blogspot.com. Each of you will be given permission to write on the blog, please post often and make comments on others’ posts. Some assignments, such as the restaurant review, will be posted to the blog. You will find that I will post articles and sites of interest on the blog as well as certain samples—such as a pitch letter—there as well.  The blog is an important part of our class so make sure to check in and often.

Turning in assignments: I prefer to edit your stories in Track Changes in Microsoft Word. This both saves paper and creates a good record for you to follow your progress. Please file your assignments to me two days before class via email at ramin@nibblescribble.com. Please also make sure to bring a hard copy of your assignment for you to read aloud in class and to take notes upon.

A Final Word: Please stay in contact with me and your classmates—you’ll have a richer experience. I understand that life comes up and you might miss a class here and there, but let me know and I’ll work with you. I believe that acquiring a new skill can be an engaging and entertaining process, even while we do the work. Keeping me in the loop about your progress, concerns, and scheduling issues if they arise, will ensure a rich classroom experience.

Session 1:–ENTRE INTO THE DESCRIPTIVE PROCESS

a) In-class assignment---50 words
b) Introduction
c) Discussion/lecture on description an observation techniques
d) Explanation of take home assignment

Session 2: Recipe writing—THE RECIPE BASED STORY

a) In class assignment---write a recipe
b) Discussion/lecture/dissection
c) Sharing/critiques of assignment from 10/4
e) Explanation of take home assignment: Story Supporting recipe

Resources & Suggested Readings:

1. The Recipe Writer’s Handbook by Barbara Gibbs Ostmann and Jan Baker

2. Oregon State U Recipe Development: http://food.oregonstate.edu/prodev/rc_write.html

3. Dianne Jacob’s 7 Most Common Recipe Writing Errors: http://diannej.com/blog/2010/05/7-most-common-recipe-writing-errors/

4. Sample of recipe based story follows.

Session 3: Going Deeper
a) Workshop and breakdown story
b) Discussion/lecture on outlining a story
c)    In class assignment: begin rough outline
d)    Take home assignment: Complete and elaborate on outline for story

Session 4: Interview techniques

a) Workshop and critique outline

b) Discussion/lecture of food essays/memoirs and other food stories

c) The Interview—interview a classmate and write a short piece in class.
c) Assignment: Rewrite your story in 150 words

Resources:

From The Poynter Institute

1) Interviewing: The Forgotten Skill http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=36&aid=37661

2) Interview Techniques http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=36&aid=38681

Session 5:—Interview techniques, the big leagues
a) Workshop story
b) Guest Lecturer TBA

d) Assignment: Write a story from interview with guest speaker, 300 words; 2^nd draft of story,

Resources and samples at niblscribl.blogspot.com

Session 6:—The Pitch

a)     Pitching techniques

b)    Work shop 2^nd draft

c)     Workshop interview story

d)    Assignment: 2^nd Draft of story, 1^st draft pitch letter

Session 7:—Refining the pitch

a) Workshop pitch letter

b) Discuss possible venues

c) Workshop 2^nd story draft

Session 8: THE FOOD REVIEW

a)     Discuss the qualities of a food review

b)    Visit a food locale for the purpose of reviewing

c)     Assignment: Write food review, post on class blog

d)    Fine tune story and pitch letter

Session 9:

a) Discuss food review further

b) Workshop final story draft

Session 10:—Nibbles and Next Steps

Please bring a nosh or nibble, ideally indicative of your story to the class. We’ll chow down while we discuss any final questions or thoughts on our work.

a)     Final class discussion of stories

b)    Open Forum