Cookbook for Broke Writers

(or What We Ate in workshop 2013)

When asked for advice on being a writer, I always say “Learn how to cook.” The reasons are simple: you’ll always be broke, yet you’ll always want to meet other writers. Learning how to cook freed me from unnecessary expenses and allowed me to host friends and artists at my apartment. New Yorkers are particularly impressed. And what better to make than soup? In 2012 and 2013, I was a visiting instructor at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and rather than hold class in the offices, I invited the writers to my rented house. I served them soup after workshop and the writer up for discussion always brought dessert. I wanted to show, by example, how easy it could be. And cheap. I also always made a veggie version. Since these are from 2013, please forgive me for not being more up-to-date—I’ve been cooking much more vegan these days. But at an event a few months ago, I promised emerging writers to post my cookbook from back then. And so. Here it is. Ignore it of course. But DO learn how to cook.