Labrenne
New member
Okay, this is going to sound silly, but I literally just had an "aha!" moment about writing while making spaghetti sauce last night. 
Let me explain!
I'm a 22-year-old with no formal writing training, but about six months ago I started a little food blog as a hobby. Nothing fancy—just me cooking in my tiny apartment kitchen, taking photos with my phone, and sharing recipes I've developed. It's been so fun!
But here's the thing: when I first started writing recipes, they were TERRIBLE. Like, unusable. I'd write things like "cook the onions until they're done" or "add some cheese." And people in the comments would be like "...how long? how much cheese? WHAT DOES 'DONE' MEAN?"
So I started studying other food blogs, really paying attention to how they wrote recipes. And slowly, I realized: a recipe is pure expository writing! It's explaining a process so someone else can replicate it successfully. Every word has to be clear, precise, and helpful.
Here's what I've learned about writing good recipes (aka expository writing):
Here's my question for all of you: What's something YOU'RE good at that you could explain to others? Cooking, gaming, knitting, fixing cars, anything! Because if you can explain it clearly, step by step, with helpful details—congratulations, you're doing expository writing! You might already be better at it than you think!
Let me explain!I'm a 22-year-old with no formal writing training, but about six months ago I started a little food blog as a hobby. Nothing fancy—just me cooking in my tiny apartment kitchen, taking photos with my phone, and sharing recipes I've developed. It's been so fun!
But here's the thing: when I first started writing recipes, they were TERRIBLE. Like, unusable. I'd write things like "cook the onions until they're done" or "add some cheese." And people in the comments would be like "...how long? how much cheese? WHAT DOES 'DONE' MEAN?"
So I started studying other food blogs, really paying attention to how they wrote recipes. And slowly, I realized: a recipe is pure expository writing! It's explaining a process so someone else can replicate it successfully. Every word has to be clear, precise, and helpful.
Here's what I've learned about writing good recipes (aka expository writing):
- Be SPECIFIC
—Not "cook until done" but "sauté for 5-7 minutes until translucent and slightly golden at the edges." Your reader can't read your mind! - Put ingredients in order of use
—List them exactly as they appear in the instructions. Nothing confuses a cook more than hunting through the ingredient list for something that's already supposed to be in the pan. - Explain WHY when it matters
—"Deglaze the pan with wine (this lifts up the browned bits that add deep flavor to the sauce)." Understanding the purpose helps people cook better, not just follow instructions. - Anticipate problems
—"If your sauce seems too thick, add pasta water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency." Warn people about common issues before they happen! - Use consistent terms
—Don't say "mix" in one step, "stir" in another, and "combine" in a third if they all mean the same thing. Pick one and stick with it.
Here's my question for all of you: What's something YOU'RE good at that you could explain to others? Cooking, gaming, knitting, fixing cars, anything! Because if you can explain it clearly, step by step, with helpful details—congratulations, you're doing expository writing! You might already be better at it than you think!