March 10 

Food memoir 

FOOD WRITING // MEMOIR

Barbara's heading to Five Mile Siding, a rose farm near Tallarook in Central Victoria in March to present a scone demontration and morning tea, a Cookbook Love session and this two-hour introduction to food memoir.

It's aimed at those of you who would like to write down your family's recipes, tell the stories behind them and publish it for family and friends. 

Our food stories are a lovely gift for the next generation and a meaningful project for those who care about food and family. 

You'll make a work plan and participate in some fun writing exercises designed to get the creative juices flowing. 

It's you chance to start writing your story.

Barbara's heading to Five Mile Siding, a rose farm near Tallarook in Central Victoria in March to present a scone demontration and morning tea, a Cookbook Love session and this two-hour introduction to food memoir.

It's aimed at those of you who would like to write down your family's recipes, tell the stories behind them and publish it for family and friends. 

Our food stories are a lovely gift for the next generation and a meaningful project for those who care about food and family. 

You'll make a work plan and participate in some fun writing exercises designed to get the creative juices flowing. 

It's you chance to start writing your story.

March 10 

Food memoir workshop

FOOD WRITING // MEMOIR

Coming up

Our first residential food memoir writing workshop is being held at the home of Jillie Arnott at Coolah Creek in central west NSW in late autumn, in May, 2024.

Jillie, an amazing country cook, and her husband Will are our hosts. Guests/students are invited to stay at the homestead for one, two or three nights. Or, you can travel in daily for the workshop, which runs from 10am–4pm on May 4–5.

Here's your chance to tackle that long-held dream to write your family food stories and recipes down for future generations to enjoy.

We're bound to spend as much time in the kitchen and around the dining table as we do writing – although you don't have to, there is a veranda chair with your name on it.

May  4–5

Food memoir writing 

FOOD WRITING // RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP

Our first residential food memoir writing workshop is being held at the home of Jillie Arnott at Coolah Creek in central west NSW in late autumn, in May, 2024.

Jillie, an amazing country cook, and her husband Will are our hosts. Guests/students are invited to stay at the homestead for one, two or three nights. Or, you can travel in daily for the workshop, which runs from 10am–4pm on May 4–5.

Here's your chance to tackle that long-held dream to write your family food stories and recipes down for future generations to enjoy.

We're bound to spend as much time in the kitchen and around the dining table as we do writing – although you don't have to, there is a veranda chair with your name on it.

May  4–5

Food memoir writing 

FOOD WRITING // RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP

About your tutor

Barbara Sweeney has more than 30-years’ experience working in print and digital content creation (in other words, putting words down on the page). Her primary subject has been food and the people who grow and cook it. She has a genetic and cultural imperitive to tell stories. She started presenting food writing classes and workshops in 2010. 

Food writing workshops 

Copywrong to Copywriter by Tait Ischia

Photo credit Karly Santiago/Unsplash

Includes

• Option to attend workshop in person or via Zoom 
• Notes, resources, and writing exercises
• 30-minute, one-on-one consult session with your tutor, Barbara Sweeney
• One hour post-course review at three months
• Invitation to join the Food & Words' Writers' Hour.
• In person workshop includes Sunday group lunch somewhere nice.

Do you dream of writing a book about your food story and family recipes? Becoming a food essayist or recipe developer? Make time for a creative writing practice in your life? Chamge careers? Write for the pleasure of it? Or, do you work in a food business and would like to write better copy?

If this is you, join Barbara for one of her writing workshops and turbo-charge your writing dream.

You will work your way from procrastination to production, using tools and techniques designed to develop a writing habit. 

Your writing muscle will be stretched with in-class exercises.

You will give form to your dream, outlining the idea, creating content structure and a work plan. 

By the end of the course you will have a roadmap and a clearer idea of where you are going and some practical tools to help you get there.

What students say about Barbara's courses

Write with Intent was the shot in the arm I needed to put pen to paper. The weekly get-together was incentive enough to keep going. —Susan MacKinnon

I have accomplished so much in my writing endeavour because of you Barbara. You did inspire with your wisdom and creative advice.

—Mary Taylor

This course was way too short. Not because I needed more time to learn, but because it opened so many important doors inside me. I have more clarity of where I’m at and where I want to be. It was a beautiful course. — Maira Sagnori 

Excellent workshop – relevant, challenging and valuable techniques I know I’ll use.' —B.B

Barbara was an engaging, empathetic and insightful teacher. Her shared experiences and advice were invaluable. —P. S

Barbara knows her stuff and is willing to pass on tips and share information. —V.W

Where we connect over the pleasures of the table and enjoy good food and stimulating conversation (about food!). Where we support and enjoy the hospitality offered by creative cooks and chefs.  Where we flex our conversational and listening skills and remember our table manners. Everyone's invited. Tables are kept small, so that everyone is an active pacticipant. Outings monthly.

Supper Club

$180

6.30pm

Four-course set menu and interesting wines to complement. 

June 20

King Clarence, City 

May 9

Club Fontana, Redfern

$65

Sunday lunch, noon

Two generous courses. Drinks at Club prices from the bar.

Rowie's By The Sea

Newport Surf Life Saving Club, 394 Barrenjoey Road, Newport

April 21

Rowie's by the Sea,

$190

7.30pm

Banquet menu and interesting wines with the meal.

King Clarence
171 Clarence Street, Sydney

Copywrong to Copywriter by Tait Ischia

Dates  Dates for 2023 courses coming

Time 10am-11am

Location In person (Sydney CBD) and online, via Zoom

Fee $350

Includes

• Four x weekly one-hour Zoom sessions
• Notes, resources, and writing exercises
• 30-minute, one-on-one consult session with Barbara
• One hour post-course review at three months

Write *great* newsletters
A powerful medium for telling your story 

The digital newsletter is unique, combining the very best elements of traditional print media with the intimacy of a personal letter. This course shows you how to get that balance right and nudges you on your way to finding your voice and building trust with your reader – the Holy Grail of writers everywhere. In the course you will identify your reader; determine your house style (the look and feel of your newsletter); understand the power of active and engaged writing; practice writing compelling subject lines and headlines; and identify strategies for growth. All in all, a template for success.

What students are saying

The major hurdle I had was sending my newsletter regularly and feeling good about it: I always felt nervous and threw it together quickly. With Barbara’s practical advice, I’ve now got a map. When I pressed send on the latest issue, I thought: ‘Oh my God, I’ve done it’. –Holly Davis, Food by Holly Davis

About your tutor 

Barbara Sweeney has more than 30-years’ experience working in print and digital content creation (in other words, putting words down on the page). Her primary subject has been food and the people who grow and cook it. She is also a serial small-business creator and has, at various times, owned and ran a café,  as well as catering , greeting card and event management businesses. Her experience means she understands what it is to own and operate a small business and what it takes to market it.

See below for Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions 

The Food & Words writing courses  are designed for adults and you must be 18 years or over to register for any course.

Your place is only guaranteed when full payment is received.

Cancellation: A $50 cancellation fee will apply up to 7 days before course commencement.

Refunds: No refunds will apply 7 days from course commencement, however you may defer to another course at no extra charge. There are no refunds nor deferrals after course commencement.

We cannot accept responsibility for any changes in personal circumstances or work commitments. We reserve the right to cancel or change class dates if necessary.

Course content: Weekly class notes and email content is protected by copyright unless stated otherwise. You need our written permission to reproduce any of the course material.

Privacy: The only personal information collected by Food & Words is what you provide when you register for a course for the purposes of course registration and when undertaking a course.

We do not sell or share any private information with any other third-party for the purposes of selling their products or for the purposes of trading your private information and we never will knowingly do so, except where it is necessary to deliver the services you have requested.

Jurisdiction: Our terms and conditions are in accordance with the laws of NSW (New South Wales) and any claim which arise out of our terms and conditions will be heard in NSW and you agree to this.

If you have any questions, please email us at Food & Words.

The Food & Words writing courses  are designed for adults and you must be 18 years or over to register for any course.

Your place is only guaranteed when full payment is received.

Cancellation: A $50 cancellation fee will apply up to 7 days before course commencement.

Refunds: No refunds will apply 7 days from course commencement, however you may defer to another course at no extra charge. There are no refunds nor deferrals after course commencement.

We cannot accept responsibility for any changes in personal circumstances or work commitments. We reserve the right to cancel or change class dates if necessary.

Course content: Class notes and email course content  is protected by copyright unless stated otherwise. You need our written permission to reproduce any of the course material.

Privacy: The only personal information collected by Food & Words is what you provide when you register for a course for the purposes of course registration and when undertaking a course.

We do not sell or share any private information with any other third-party for the purposes of selling their products or for the purposes of trading your private information and we never will knowingly do so, except where it is necessary to deliver the services you have requested.

Jurisdiction: Our terms and conditions are in accordance with the laws of NSW (New South Wales) and any claim which arise out of our terms and conditions will be heard in NSW and you agree to this.

Terms & Conditions 

If you have any questions, please email us at Food & Words.

Copywrong to Copywriter by Tait Ischia

Photo credit Karly Santiago/Unsplash

• Four x weekly one-hour Zoom sessions
• Notes, resources, and writing exercises
• 30-minute, one-on-one consult session with Barbara
• One hour post-course review at three months

Write with Intent
Work with purpose and see results

Turbo-charge your writing dream in this focussed and enjoyable four-week course. You will work your way from procrastination to production, using tools and techniques designed to develop a writing habit. Your writing muscle will be stretched with in-class and at-home writing exercises; you will give form to your dream, outlining the idea, creating content structure and a work plan. By the end of the course you will have a roadmap and a clearer idea of where you are going and some practical tools to help you get there. 

What students are saying

Write with Intent was the shot in the arm I needed to put pen to paper. The weekly get-together was incentive enough to keep going. —Susan MacKinnon

Barbara’s deep passion for writing and her ability as a teacher got me into the swing of things. I have direction, purpose and, now, many pages written.
—Mary Taylor

This course was way too short. Not because I needed more time to learn, but because it opened so many important doors inside me. I have more clarity of where I’m at and where I want to be. It was a beautiful course. — Maira Sagnori 

About your tutor

Barbara Sweeney has more than 30-years’ experience working in print and digital content creation (in other words, putting words down on the page). Her primary subject has been food and the people who grow and cook it. She has a genetic and cultural imperitive to tell stories.

See below for Terms & Conditions

Come write with us. Whether you have a personal writing project or need to write well for work, we have a course for you. 

Putting words onto the page to tell your (food) story comes with a whole lot of excitment, fear and expectation. Our courses provide a practical, step-by-step approach to help you achieve your writing goals. Our business is food, so descriptive writing is something we touch on in all our courses, but we've had students enrol who are not in the food business and they've loved the experience.