A World Without Salt
Imagine a world where one key ingredient never existed. Choose an ingredient that is central to many dishes (like rice, tomatoes, or salt) and explore how its absence would have altered culinary history. Discuss the social, economic, and cultural impacts of this scenario.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- State your main point in one sentence before you start.
- Include a counterargument and answer it fairly.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
Writing cooking books
Recipes that work, and a reason to cook them.
Cookbooks and food writing cover everything from a single cuisine to the science of how cooking works. The best ones have a point of view: a voice, a philosophy, a story behind the food.
What readers expect
- Reliable, tested recipes
- A clear point of view
- Stories behind the food
- Beautiful, useful design
A tip before you start
Test every recipe more than once, ideally in someone else's kitchen. Readers forgive a lot, but not a cake that fails.
More Cooking, Food and Wine prompts
- Cooking With an Unknown FruitChoose an exotic fruit or vegetable you've never tried before. Research its origin, typical uses, and nutritional benefits. Then, experiment with…
- A Memorable Meal AbroadPen a reflective piece on your most memorable dining experience at a foreign location. Describe the setting, the flavors, and how the meal expanded…
- The Evolution of Regional CuisineExplore the history and evolution of a particular cuisine from a specific region of the world. Discuss its origins, key ingredients, and how global…
- Cooking with GrandmotherWrite about learning to cook a traditional dish from an older family member. How do the ingredients, the process, and the stories shared during…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
Plans from $9.99 a month. Cancel any time. Your words are always yours.