#FoodFictionFriday Assignment #6: Supermarket Study

Last week’s #FoodFictionFriday assignment was rather involved and a couple of us hit Instagram’s word limit (me included!). So this week we’re going to take a field trip away from our computers and phones.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, observe a person and his or her cart. What’s in there? How do the items relate to one another? How is the person acting? Then, using your observations, extrapolate a fictional snapshot of this person’s life and how they are going to use those items.

Explore all the possibilities. For example, you might observe a couple at Costco buying a cartful of bottled water and eggs. Maybe they own an omelette food truck. Or maybe they’re running an egg drop competition. Or maybe they’re going to let the eggs rot, then will use them at a protest (which is thirsty work). Once you’re done brainstorming, pursue the story that revs you up the most.

Whether you consider yourself a “writer” or not, I’m sure you’ve done this before. We are more creative than we think. Exercise those muscles and join us! What do you think the couple was doing with all those eggs and water bottles??? 🤔🤔🤔

P.S.: From now on, I won’t be posting assignment highlights on the blog, only the assignments themselves. The community exists on Instagram, and it stopped making sense for me to separate the stories from their main platform/community. So, to really follow along, follow me at @jessica_tom, where I post assignments every Monday and re-post pieces from the community in my stories every Friday. Follow the hashtag #FoodFictionFriday to see all the magic that’s been happening thus far!

#FoodFictionFriday Assignment #4: Mystery Basket

This week’s #FoodFictionFriday takes its inspiration from our favorite showcase for tomatillos, canned tarantulas and wayward ice cream machines: CHOPPED!

In front of you you’ll find your mystery basket. Your story must include:

Grapefruit
Baby back ribs
White chocolate

I was merciful and only gave you three ingredients, no time limit… and no one will be chopped. 😁

In the kitchen, our job is to make ingredients taste good. We use technique to elicit flavor. Not so with writing. We use technique to elicit meaning, attitude, WEIGHT. Consider a homey stew as a cultural touchstone. A macaron as a hope for a prettier, more perfect life. A bowl of cereal as an act of defiance. Depending on your story, a cake can be a cause for celebration, a source of shame, a procrastination tool, and on and on…

Even though this is a Chopped-inspired challenge, the ingredients don’t have to be used in a meal context (ie: no obligation to write about ribs with white-chocolate mole and grapefruit gastrique). But, like Chopped, consider how you can “transform” all of these ingredients through story.

I’m really excited by this one -- both as a writer and #FoodFictionFriday reader. In my experience, sometimes our most brilliant work comes out of the oddest constraints. 

#FoodFictionFriday Assignment #3: Imaginative Eating

In week 1, we practiced the art of subtext and setting the scene. In week 2, we explored drink metaphors and editing.

This week for #FoodFictionFriday, we’re going to loosen up a bit.  Describe an unusual way of eating. This could be grounded in real life, like #MFKFisher’s way of eating tangerines:

Take yesterday's paper...and spread it on the radiator....On the radiator the sections of tangerines have grown even plumper, hot and full. You carry them to the window, pull it open, and leave them for a few minutes on the packed snow on the sill....I cannot tell you why they are so magical. Perhaps it is that little shell, thin as one layer of enamel on a Chinese bowl, that crackles so tinily, so ultimately under your teeth. Or the rush of cold pulp just after it. Or the perfume. I cannot tell.

Or, you can take a more fantastical approach like the #DrSeuss excerpt above or this passage from Lewis Carroll’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter”:

”A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,
”Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed —
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.”
”But not on us!” the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”

The first approach is like a snapshot of the self. Whether it’s the way you pick apart a Kit Kat, or gnaw a giant bone, our eating quirks are very personal and often reveal parts of the self that otherwise can’t be articulated in words.

Or, you can treat this as permission to get fantastical and strange. Find the joy of creating for creating’s sake. Have fun with this one!

Highlights from #FoodFictionFriday Assignment #2: Distillation

And… week 2 of #FoodFictionFriday is in the books. You guys are really finding your writing groove. As a reminder, the challenge was to use the principles of distillation to write and edit a piece describing a person as a drink.

Here are some highlights:

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“I am serious, this guy is a milkshake. At first you think he’s all sweet, creamy, wholesome, made from ice cream and strawberries and milk and shit. Then something happens when he gets agitated. Those tasty bits get all mixed together, they become icy cold, thick as concrete and give you a headache.” . . . #foodfictionfriday #writingchallenge

A post shared by Sean Keever (@boomboombbq) on Jan 11, 2019 at 6:25pm PST

This piece from @Boomboombbq read in such an effortless, uncontrived way. The drink metaphor was so natural, you’d think we all described people that way.

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Time for another #FoodFictionFriday! This week @jessica_tom told us to describe a person as a drink. There was obviously no other drink I could pick besides this one! So here it goes: He shimmers in any well-lit room with his silver jacket and bright red tie. When he greets you he will send shivers down your spine. He’s got a secret and if you listen closely you can hear the gurgles and pops of whatever is brewing inside. He’ll never tell you what he’s hiding. (Not even the key to staying healthier than his older brother) Instead, he will entertain you with sweet stories that roll off the tongue. He ends every conversation with a salty joke, or burn that leaves you craving for more.

A post shared by Deme Walls (@demewalls) on Jan 11, 2019 at 7:10pm PST

@Demewalls wrote a heartfelt yet unsentimental ode to one of the best drinks of all time. Don’t you want to be this guy’s best friend?

View this post on Instagram

Okay, this week’s #FoodFictionFriday was to use the principles of distillation to write a profile of a character as a drink. Yes, kind of a mouthful, but hope you had fun with it. 😉 ✏️ My piece started kind of amorphous, a little like it was trying too hard. Then I took out excessive “thats” and ideas that led to nowhere. Then I cut out words that sounded profound but were actually kinda cliche. Last, I listened to the rhythms of the sentences and moved words around so they landed with a punch. 👊#mineralwater #butnot ✏️ My writing teacher once told me that you need at least one knockout sentence per page. Now your turn -- hit me! (I know revision is part of this week’s theme, but if you look at it too much, you’ll start to hate it. Just post it!)

A post shared by Jessica Tom (@jessica_tom) on Jan 11, 2019 at 4:53am PST

And finally… here’s mine!

Keep on the lookout for the next prompt on this blog or on Instagram. The next assignment goes a little more outside the box. ;)

#FoodFictionFriday Assignment #2: Distillation

There are three basic steps to distill liquor. Collect the raw material, separate the water through evaporation, and condense the spirit. The rough draft is loose and flabby, but all the material is there. The second draft is stronger but still lacks punch. The final draft is the most potent yet.

Now your turn. This is a 3-part writing *and* distillation process.

1. PRODUCTION: Describe a person as a drink. For example, an elegant but stern mother can be a martini. A dishy best friend could be English Breakfast tea. Feel free to depict a real or made-up person. Write freely without editing yourself.

2. PRECISION: Time to separate the water from the spirit. Remove repeated ideas or words. Take out moments where you’re simply clearing your throat. Cut your piece by half.

3. PUNCH: Replace lackluster words with powerful, assertive ones. Instead of “he put the bowl down”, say “he dropped the bowl”. Instead of saying “She missed him,” say “She mourned him”. Make each sentence a knockout. Aim for 4-6 sentences when you’re done.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Post your work on Instagram this Friday using the hashtag #FoodFictionFriday and tag me at @jessica_tom.

2) Follow #FoodFictionFriday and support your fellow writers with words of encouragement. I’ll be in the mix cheering you on and offering feedback. I’m so excited to read your drink-people-profiles!

Highlights from #FoodFictionFriday Assignment #1

What a great way to start #FoodFictionFriday! Thank you to all who participated. I loved seeing how everyone interpreted the prompt in their own unique ways.

I read and comment on every single story and will be featuring a handful here on the blog every week.

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WHILE Potions #1 through #8 utilize ingredients found year-round, this Potion is very seasonal. Typically it is most effective in the spring, but San Francisco's summer of 1967 proves there are exceptions. #FoodFictionFriday @jessica_tom

A post shared by Jill R (@jillfoodie) on Jan 4, 2019 at 9:05am PST

@Jillfoodie’s 2-sentence story showed incredible confidence. She set up the story, then let the reader fill in the blanks for him or herself.

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this year, I’ve decided to take part in @jessica_tom’s #FoodFictionFriday and this is my first entry based on the prompt ‘Beginnings’ — I did a take on beans, inspired by my love of my vegetable garden and the wonder of feeding those you love with food you grow, and a spin on the Jack and the Beanstalk tale. What if he encountered a farmer instead? What might he begin? ⬅️ Swipe left for the story (in multiple ‘parts’). (ps: those beans featured were ones I got from the farmers market in summer — aren’t they gorgeous?) #writing #fiction #food (pps: totally self conscious because I haven’t written fiction in forever ahahahaha.)

A post shared by sook jin ONG 【翁淑君】 (@sookjinong) on Jan 4, 2019 at 8:10pm PST

@Sookjinong put a spin on a classic fairy tale, revealing a different sort of magic. I loved how the bean became the touchstone — a seed, a stew ingredient, a way to connect…

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Tomorrow morning I’ll be flying to LaLa Land 🌴, so I’m posting my #FoodFictionFriday tonight. Here’s my piece for assignment #1: Start a recipe while also conveying another world beyond the food at hand. ✏️ Chocolate sprinkles Chocolate-covered pretzels Oreos (not generic brand!) Peanut butter cups (mini if possible) Wafer cones Chocolate chips (semi-sweet) Chocolate syrup Elmer’s glue Instant mashed potatoes - 5 boxes CONFIDENTIAL. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. ✏️ At the risk of killing the art, I’ll unpack it -- just because this is our first one and I know it can be a little funky to transition from food non-fiction to fiction. My goal was to portray a fastidious recipe writer and take the reader on a little roller coaster. When we start, we think this person is making a delicious sundae. But then we get to Elmer’s glue? Instant mashed potatoes?? Perhaps this person is a food stylist. And then the last line drops. Why so paranoid? Maybe the author has some not-so-sweet intentions… ✏️ If you’re writing an autobiographical piece, I encourage you to play with voice, structure, and subtext (rather than the typical linear, confessional approach). I‘m so excited to read your pieces and see how you’ve interpreted this prompt. Remember, post your story tomorrow with #FoodFictionFriday and @jessica_tom. Check out other people’s stories and show them some love. Hit me up if you have any homework questions or need any guidance!👇Remember the most important thing is to HAVE FUN and PLAY. It’s just a game of make-believe. 😊

A post shared by Jessica Tom (@jessica_tom) on Jan 3, 2019 at 3:51pm PST

And here’s my story!

On Monday, I’ll be posting the next assignment. Stay tuned and thanks for playing! :)

#FoodFictionFriday Assignment #1: Beginnings

HAPPY 2019!! Today we start a new adventure in writing: #FoodFictionFriday. Our first theme is BEGINNINGS.

The Art of Cookery Plain and Simple by Hannah Glasse was the most popular cookbook in 18th-century England. Her recipe for hare soup was said to have started with this line:

“First, catch your hare.”

In just four introductory words, we get a picture of minimal resources (no FreshDirect here), industriousness, and a no-nonsense author speaking to an equally pragmatic audience.

Now your turn. Start your own recipe while also conveying another world beyond the food at hand. Your recipe can portray a time, place, or set of values. It can say something about the mindset of the author, or the nature of the audience. Some examples: a teenage daughter documenting her father’s cookie recipe after he leaves their family. Or an unscrupulous caterer stealing a rival’s famous dish. Convey these meanings and relationships within your recipe.

Keep it short. That’s the challenge.

INSTRUCTIONS (for this and all assignments):

1. Post your work this Friday using the hashtag #FoodFictionFriday and tag me at @jessica_tom. Feel free to use the text as your image, or post your writing as the caption along with a complementary image. I’ll be posting my work, too. (Note: I’ll usually announce assignments on Monday, but this week is extra short since Jan 1 is a Tuesday.)

2. Follow #FoodFictionFriday and support your fellow writers with words of encouragement. I’ll be in the mix cheering you on and offering feedback.

Read, set… write!! Can’t wait to read your “recipes”!

9 Commandments of #FoodFictionFriday

#FoodFictionFriday is going down in TWO days so we better be getting ready…

Here are 9 things to keep in mind as we deepen, broaden, and basically blow up conventional ideas of “food writing”.

1. Food is visceral, so use that to your advantage. Write about longing when you’re hungry, love when you’re satiated.

2. In fiction, food doesn’t have to be delicious. It can be gross or strange or simply fact. You are creating art, not selling a dish.

3. Challenge yourself to write outside your own experiences. Your journal is something else. This is fiction.

4. No need to be smart or clever or fancy. Write what comes naturally. THAT is your voice and what will shine brightest.

5. If you can, return to your writing after a break so you can revise it with fresh eyes.

6. Share your creations -- it holds you accountable, sharpens your skills, and taps you into an inspiring network of like-minded people.

7. Maintain a childlike curiosity and unlock your imagination by asking, “What if?”.

8. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

9. Be proud that you put in the work. Seriously.

The first assignment will be posted here and on Instagram on January 1st. Post your story on Friday with the hashtag #FoodFictionFriday. Keep on the lookout for other FFF participants and give them some love! That’s what I’ll be doing.

About your #FoodFictionFriday host & teacher

Personally, I don’t think you need to have fancy credentials in order to be a writer. If you write, you are a writer.

But because we’re about to embark on #FoodFictionFriday (starts 1/1/19!), I thought I’d tell you a little more about myself and the experiences I bring to the table.

In chronological order:

• Was an English major with a fiction writing concentration at Yale

• Studied three years under Amy Bloom

• Wrote four children’s books, sold exclusively at FAO Schwarz

• Marketed heirloom books as my first job out of college

• Worked at three publishing houses, including editorial at Scholastic and Penguin

• Published FOOD WHORE with William Morrow/ HarperCollins, called “The Devil Wears Prada for foodies” in the NY Post

• Optioned film rights to Dreamworks before the book was released

• First food novelist to compete on Food Network Star (where Giada de Laurentiis said I have “an incredible knack for describing food)

• Won Food Network Star

My food fiction philosophy is that food embodies the entirety of the human condition. Whoa, right? But think about it -- food is at once primal and extravagant, a symbol of love or hate. It comforts and makes us retch. You can portray life in all its shades and meanings with food.

That’s what we’ll try to unpack with #FoodFictionFriday. Almost there!!

Introducing #FoodFictionFriday

Do you want to write more in 2019? Are you also food-obsessed?

Then join me for #FoodFictionFriday, a fun, social-media-based way to kickstart your writing and practice techniques that use food as a lens into our world.

This program is loosely based on a famous class I took at Yale called Daily Themes. Every week, we explored a different writing tool including perspective, dialogue, lists, and endings. Whatever the assignment, the main goals were always the same:

1. Show, don’t tell

2. Activate your full arsenal beyond plot and straightforward description

3. Consider the negative space -- everything you don’t mention  

We’ll focus on food as both a topic and literary device. We know that food is more than just ingredients. Food writing isn’t just about the juiciness of the steak, or the swiftness of a whisk. Food can also be about power. Lust. Love. Food is memory, war, a conversation, fantasy … you get the point.

Every Monday, I’ll post that week’s prompt. On Friday, post your work with #FoodFictionFriday and tag me at @jessica_tom on Instagram or Twitter. The first assignment will be posted on January 1st to get the year started off right!

You’re also welcome to keep your writing private, but I encourage you to share when you’re ready. You’ll get feedback from me and perhaps others participating in #FoodFictionFriday, and you’ll also get in the habit of releasing your writing into the world -- a must if you want to grow as an artist.

Give it a try even if you don’t consider yourself a writer. This is for anyone who is interested in the many facets of food -- not just how to cook, eat, and ‘gram it… but how to harness everything food means to us.  

I’ll post the prompts and tips on Instagram, but check here for more inspiration and pointers. Can’t wait to read your work!