David’s Awards
AEB: How did you learn of the AEB culinary writing fellowship for the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow? DAVID: Crescent Dragonwagon, the co-founder of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, spoke at a writers conference I attended. My agent said, “I think this is going to be your future.” She can be clairvoyant that way. I knew I’d need time away to work and the financial help was attractive. So, I applied. AEB: You’ve also recently won two scholarships—the 2002 Susan B. Langhorne Scholarship for Food Writers at the Symposium for Professional Food Writers, held at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV and the 2002 scholarship to the Greystone Food Media Conference at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA. What characteristics in your submissions were cited as reasons for the awards? DAVID: (David bowed to judge Antonia Allegra on this question. Antonia told us, “the 2002 judging panel for the Susan B. Langhorne Scholarship for Novice Writers awarded the scholarship to David Leite with strong applause. It was clear that David's writing is creative and covers food subjects in a fresh, descriptive manner. The work was considered in a class above the other entrants' work.”) AEB: What was of most help to you of the information you gleaned from the symposium and conference? DAVID: You never know what the people around you can offer you and what you can offer them. Also, you never know who the people sitting next to you might be! I was never a good networker, especially in advertising. During ad events and parties, I would often sit in the corner, practically hiding behind a plant. Once I became a freelance food writer, my diminishing bankbook drove me to network. I needed people.
AEB: Leite’s Culinaria (www.leitesculinaria.com) is particularly neat and clean, yet provides a good amount of information. Were there any other special points about your site that resulted in the 2002 Writer’s Digest award for Best Writer’s Web Site – something they particularly praised? DAVID: (Ed. note: David modestly referred us to his site for the release on this award. There we found that David took first prize among 425 entries. The judging criteria included presentation, ease of use, and marketing effectiveness. According to judge Jenny Wohlfarth, David’s “cyberportfolio” had her salivating, not because of the food, but because David is “a writer who gets it—‘it’ being the business of writing, particularly the challenge of marketing yourself as a writer.” Judge Grae Yohe was particularly fond of the site’s technical merits, which include programming to ensure a consistent look across browsers and platforms plus his sparing use of bells and whistles. The “delicious recipes and the judicious use of creative adjectives” were cited by judge Megan Lane. No wonder David won, with design, content and self promotion all receiving rave reviews!) AEB: How do you attract new visitors to your site?DAVID: When I have time, I spend about 20 hour per week so I can change the content monthly. I add either a new article, five to ten new recipes, or a cookbook or culinary book giveaway. I think it’s important to give readers something new to which they might return. I make them aware of the new content via an e-newsletter. My site is also listed on many search engines and directories and in many languages. AEB: Do you have any other suggestions for those who develop food sites?DAVID: Make it visually dynamic, not just lots of text. Food is very visual, but get permission before using someone else’s photos. There are so many other options on the Web that people will just surf off your site if you don’t include lively writing, your best writing. The visual content will get their attention, but the writing content is what will keep them there. Have a guest book, but respect your readers’ privacy. Remove names when requested and never give out personal information. David’s Career David’s Awards David’s AEB Fellowship Project Home Page Fellowship Application |
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