How Cooking Transforms Your Writing

Sizzle, bubble, crackle, fizz. Throughout the day as I cook I hear all sorts of sounds coming from my kitchen. Homemade chicken broth simmering, katsu chicken crackling, whisks whisking, all igniting the senses while we cook. While I write, all manner of things are being baked, cooked, simmered, and more.

All these sounds, could you hear them? Could you hear the sizzle of onions and garlic in oil, the bubble of pasta in water? The bacon pops and crackles in its own grease. These are all experiences we’ve shared in the kitchen. We can transfer these experiences over into our writing. But what on earth could we learn from our kitchens that affect our writing? Well, there are a few different ways.?

When was the last time you went to your grandma's house? I bet it smelled warm like something baking, the sunlight was bouncing off the windows, and she was watching her soap operas where the same person keeps coming back to life. You go and hug her and you feel that sense of comfort that you haven’t felt in a long time because nothing can hurt you at grandma's house.?

What did you see in that paragraph? Did you see the light bouncing from the windows, the warmth of her house with the fresh baked goods, how she smelled when you hugged her? These all paint a picture, and it’s one of the best-selling tactics. Showing your customer instead of telling them gives your customer a deeper understanding of your product and what their life will look like with your product or service! In Ann Handley’s book “Everybody Writes” (a personal favorite of mine) she says:

“...don’t talk about your features, benefits, and shining moons. Tell me – better yet, show me – why they matter to me".?

When writing your sales page, services page, or anything on your website, make it about your customer. What does it look like, feel like, or even smell like to use your product? Just like cooking when we talk about a dish we think of it as a sweet bun that makes your mouth water. Or a steak the size of a dinner plate that makes your eyes widen with excitement. Show how your product will help your customers, instead of telling them. One of the best ways to utilize this is by using testimonials from previous clients who loved your product.?

Picture this: you’ve just come home from a grueling day of work. You smell like the office coffee pot. The sun blinds you as you walk up your driveway. You hear the garage door open and are confused. You touch the light switch and flick it on and you hear “SURPRISE”! You totally forgot it’s your birthday. After many thanks for coming and chatting amongst your friends, you finally take a piece of cake and it tastes like red velvet, your favorite.?

Did you notice? Throughout the paragraph above, each of the 5 senses is used. We use the 5 senses (taste, touch, feel, smell, hear to describe what’s going on around us constantly. Imagine if you implemented the sense in your writing and how well you could tell a story. When your writing utilizes the 5 senses as descriptors it brings your piece to life.?

Chefs that spend time researching, practicing, and improving their technique are infinitely better than chefs who don’t. The same applies to your writing. The more you research and analyze what good writing is, the easier you’ll recognize and write good content. The more you practice and form a daily writing habit, your writing will improve and your ability to sell will skyrocket.?

But, if you’re not a natural-born writer or don’t have the time to work on your writing chops, that’s where I come in. I’m your guide to a solid marketing strategy focused on continual growth. When we work together, we’ll talk about your needs and exactly what you want. We’ll talk about what it takes to get you to the level you want.?

?Cooking and food are an art in themselves. So is writing. By utilizing the same techniques used in cooking you can cook up some delicious copy and content. Whether you’re a business big or small, copy and content are the backbone of your sales and marketing strategy. By hiring a copywriter, you can get back to doing what you love, while I take care of your copy and content.

Let’s chat about your marketing goals today!