In article >,
"Jinx Minx" > wrote:

> I'm on this committe that wants to put together a cookbook that it can sell
> for a small profit. Has anyone here does this before that can offer up
> advice how best to go about it? Places we can get it printed inexpensively
> but aren't cheaply made, free software or websites we can use to put it
> together, etc. I use Mastercook at home and it says you can "print your own
> cookbook", but I've never used it for that purpose so I'm not sure whether
> it's a good choice for a larger project like this. We're just getting
> started on this project so I'd like for us to start out on the right foot.
> Suggestions? Do's? Dont's?
>
> Jinx

Oooh, fun! I've been thinking about one for a reunion but am not sure
I've got the time in the next 2-1/2 months.

Set standards and stick to them at risk of annoying someone;
Insist that recipes be submitted in the format you want, ingredients
listed in the order they are mentioned in the method;

Use the same abbreviations (or no abbreviations) throughout;

Make sure your proofreaders are literate ‹ good intentions are not
enough;

Have someone proofread what the proofreaders approved * you wouldn't
believe the number of changes made to the rfc cookbook after **the
proofread** version (galley proofs) came back from the printer. We were
damned lucky that the guy didn't charge us a boatload of money for
making the corrections that needed to be made;

don't let anyone refer to No. 3, No. 303, etc. sizes for canned goods;

Dummy up a cookbook with, say, 20 recipes in it, from your MC files.
Follow their instructions and try out different layouts and paper sizes,
etc.

And I could go on and on and on.


--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
Updated 4-17-2010