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Cookbook Publishing

This article describes the steps involved to publish your cookbook manuscript.

Organize Your Recipes

• Assemble recipes from all sources, including handwritten recipes, recipe cards, an old family cookbook, magazines, newspapers, recipe programs and web sites.
   

• Enter recipes in The Cooks Palate along with category information for easy search and retrieval

Develop a Cookbook Project Plan

• Determine what type of book will be printed. Book dimensions such as size, fonts, margins, illustrations, page count etc... must be configured exactly for the type of book being published.
   
• If it is a team project, identify the team leader/editor. Cookbook project teams are eligible for special Cooks Palate multi-pack licenses to complete their project.
   
• Establish cookbook project guidelines with standardized processes for recipe testing, data entry, book layout chapter definitions, and cover design.
   
• Establish a cookbook project budget, theme and timeline for publishing completion.

Design Your Cookbook

• Develop a prototype manuscript.  Typical cookbook layouts include a table of contents, chapters, images, font styles and sizes, pagination, an index and cover artwork. Ideally, you should use a cookbook software program that automates cookbook formatting for you.
   
• Proofread and edit the manuscript
   
• Print a draft copy and circulate it for peer and editorial review.  The extent of editorial review and copy editing will depend on type of book you are printing.
   
• Get a final print production estimate based on page count, size, binding etc..

Print Your Cookbook Manuscript

• Print the final manuscript from The Cooks Palate cookbook publishing software.
   
• Optionally export your manuscript to a popular word processor for further format customization.
   
• Submit your manuscript to a commercial printer for final production.