Learn all about our 3rd annual Eat Write Retreat food blogger and writer conference, and you’ll want to join us!
Eat, Write, Retreat was developed by myself and Casey Benedict (a “food blogger resource). We've worked tirelessly to create an intensive, hands-on learning weekend, full of opportunity, friendship and fun at a great value.
Here’s the scoop:
We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s event will be held in Philadelphia at the Doubletree Hilton on Broad, in the heart of the Philadelphia
May 31 – June 2, 2013 – Philadelphia – Hilton Doubletree
Early Bird pricing in effect until March 1, 2013. Register today! (You’ll also be entered to win a Nikon D5100 DSLR 2-lens camera package.)
Eat, Write, Retreat is an intensive learning weekend focused on strengthening connections within the food community through shared exploration of cooking, photography and writing. We have a wonderful array of hands-on learning, valuable networking and one-of-a-kind dining events lined up for a weekend you won’t forget. As always, registration is all-inclusive, allowing you to enjoy every moment with us.
To kick off registration in high style, we’re throwing in a brand new Nikon D5100 D-SLR kit for one lucky attendee who registers between now and March 1, 2013*. What’s more? Take advantage of early bird pricing with 10% off your registration (until March 1, 2013). Simply use code “EWR13″ at checkout.
Visit the Eat Write Retreat website for more information on schedule, speakers and sponsors. Stay tuned for updates as we reveal all the fabulous events and sessions we have in store for you!
We have a wonderful array of hands-on learning, intensive networking and one-of-a-kind dining events lined up. Take a sneak peek at this year’s highlights below. Stay tuned as we reveal more about our fabulous weekend in the coming weeks.
Culinary Challenge
This hallmark of Eat Write Retreat programming takes on an exciting new twist, with the Amazing Apps Culinary Challenge sponsored by California Figs, California Ripe Olives, US Potatoes and California Raisins. Mystery boxes of ingredients, tools and recipe inspiration will be shipped right to your door!
Read all of the delicious details here, then register before April 15 to take part. You could walk away with a brand new iPad at our Saturday night Gala Awards Ceremony!
CORE CURRICULUM:
Food Writing in the Age of Sponsored Posts — Monica Bhide
Our food writing education expands to multiple sessions over three days. Noted food writer, Monica Bhide will guide you in during a variety of workshops aimed at shaking up your routine and grabbing your full attention. You’ll come away refreshed, inspired and full of ideas for bringing your stories to life.
During our core session, Monica will challenge you to stretch beyond your comfort zone as you craft a multi-platform piece highlighting mystery tools from OXO. Then Monica will re-visit her teachings throughout the weekend, emphasizing the techniques that every great writer should implement when approaching a new story.
Photography & Food Styling — Carolyn Ketchum and Sarah W. Caron
Stunning visuals are a must these days, especially for a food blog. Our readers eat first with their eyes, and a captivating photo can help build readership as much as an engaging story can.
But great photography doesn’t always require the latest gadgets, a premium lighting package and pricey editing software. Successful bloggers Carolyn Ketchum and Sarah Caron will share “grass roots” tricks of the trade that have allowed them to prosper professionally while still considering themselves amateur photographers.
From utilizing natural light and emphasizing the basic appeal of a dish, to entry-level software packages and semi-manual settings, Carolyn and Sarah will walk you through the choices and best practices of a home photographer. Their photography education will begin in a core workshop, and continue through “refresher moments” during other sessions of the conference, with ample opportunity to apply their insights “on the spot” to improve your results.
What’s more, this invigorating session is presented at Eat Write Retreat in partnership with Watermelonand Jarlsberg USA. During the workshop, you will benefit from direct feedback from the PR pros in charge of their brand’s image, including frequent collaboration with stylists and photographers. Stephanie Barlow and Ronnie Campbell (National Watermelon Promotion Board and Jarlsberg USA, respectively) will give pointers and insights into what they look for in brand imagery as the session unfolds, giving us a crash course in best practices when working with clients.
Beyond SEO — Jesse Gardner and Carolyn Ketchum
Your blog is your bread and butter. Let us walk you through the best practices for harnessing today’s technology to get the most out of your platform. We’ll cover: design/user experience, analytics, plug-ins, emerging technology and more. Several attendees will have their blogs analyzed during this session, so you’ll come away with oodles of practical, applicable information.
Culinary Exploration
We’ll spend time learning about various culinary traditions, deepening your understanding of different foods, growing cycles, cooking techniques and nutritional benefits.
Quickfire Sessions
Contact High – Joy Manning
You’ve probably heard the term “power networking,” a phrase that evokes quick bursts of sweaty exertion. “Power networking” is what you do when you’re panicked because you lost your job. But that isn’t how you do it–at least, not the kind of networking that really helps find opportunities and grow your readership. The best networking is more like religion–it’s an inner sanctuary you tend to a little bit every day and commit an hour to at least once a week. Like religion, if you turn to networking only when you need it, it isn’t going provide the bridge over troubled waters it’s so famously supposed to. Good networking is a lifestyle–a fun one!–and this short, perspective-changing session will show you how to start living it. Joy will review a list of 5-minute actions, one of which you should take daily like a vitamin, as well as a few bigger networking initiatives to take when you have more time. At the end of the session, attendees will jump start their networking streak–a mad-libs style email template that they will customize at the end of the session and email to someone they would like to have in their network.
MORE, MORE, MORE!
Networking — We structure Eat Write Retreat so that you have access to the sponsors all weekend long. Not only is there ample time to pitch your ideas, but you’ll find that you establish meaningful, lasting relationships that will serve you well going forward. The same applies to fellow attendees. You’ll make lifelong friends during your weekend with us.
Dining Events — Philadelphia is a food-lover’s paradise. From old world to avant garde, if you’re hankering for it, chances are it’s a bagel’s toss away. We’ll pack as much of Philly’s culinary highlights as possible into 48 delicious hours.
Sponsors — We are stacking the deck with oodles of fabulous sponsors who are interested in connecting with you! Our sponsors will join us all weekend, as well as taking your pitches during the one-on-one “Pitch to the Pros” session, so the networking opportunities are endless.
SWAG — Bring an empty suitcase. We’re not kidding.
*Winner will be chosen randomly from all attendees who register on or before March 1, 2013. Must be in attendance to win. Please see website for more details.
*** WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT Eat, Write, Retreat***
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