The 10 Things No One Tells You About Writing & Publishing a Cookbook Episode

If you're trying to write a cookbook — or any nonfiction book — and you feel like you don't know what you don't know, this episode is the one. Cookbook and food memoir coach Amanda Polick breaks down the ten things almost nobody tells aspiring cookbook authors before they start: why a book proposal can take six months or longer, what agents are actually looking for, how to think about an advance (and why bigger isn't always better), what happens to your manuscript after you sign a deal, and why fighting for your work is the most important skill you can develop. In this episode, you'll learn: • What a book proposal actually is — and why it's so much more than a summary • How platform really works, and what to do if yours feels too small • How to approach agent meetings without losing yourself in the process • Why your publisher's publicity team is not your whole plan • How to defend your creative choices at every stage Perfect for: aspiring cookbook authors, food writers, nonfiction authors building a platform, and anyone in the proposal or querying stage. Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach, writing mentor, and podcast host based in Nashville. She helps clients land publishing deals.

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The 10 Things No One Tells You About Writing & Publishing a Cookbook Episode is an episode from Babe Cave by Babe Cave.

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This episode was published on Mar 11, 2026.

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