Call For Testers for Gluten-Free Wishlist!

Hey folks!  It’s finally recipe-testing time!  I am in need of volunteer recipe testers for my book, Gluten-Free Wishlist, due out Fall 2015.  Recipe testers are the quality control officers for the process of writing a cookbook.  Their work makes sure that the book has recipes that can be easily used and that work well.  I am deeply grateful to the folks who have served (and will serve) as recipe testers for my books!

To apply to be a tester, please read this post and then go to the survey link at the end and complete the survey.  Thank you!!

DETAILS

1) This is a volunteer position.  Anyone who tests at least 3 recipes will get a mention in the Acknowledgement section of the book.

2) All recipe testers need to be at least moderately experienced home bakers.  This is not a position for someone who doesn’t know how to bake.

3) Recipe testers will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement stating that they will not share the recipes in any form before the book comes out.  Each tester will not be able to start testing recipes until the confidentiality agreement has been signed and sent back to me.

4) Recipe testers need to test the recipes within a few days of getting each recipe.  My manuscript is due June 1, so we are on a tight deadline.  May is the month to bake!

5) I will probably do the same thing I did last time and start an online group (possibly through Yahoo groups) for the recipe testers (depending on how many I end up with).  If I do that, I will let you know how to join that group.

6) I welcome US testers and International testers.

7) It should be a fun process!

ANSWERS TO SOME COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT DOES A COOKBOOK RECIPE TESTER DO?
1) A recipe tester tests the recipes EXACTLY as written in order to make sure of the following things:
-it doesn’t have any crazy typos
-it works
-it is easy for a home baker to read, understand, and make

2) In addition, a recipe tester completes a “Recipe Testing Feedback Form” and sends it back to me as soon as they finish testing the recipe so I can see how everything worked for them.  The response form is fairly quick and painless to fill out.

USUALLY, I MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE RECIPES I FOLLOW.  CAN I DO THAT FOR THIS PROCESS?
No.  The purpose of recipe testing is to make sure that the recipe works AS WRITTEN.  This means that the exact ingredients, oven temperature, preheating time, and pans that are listed in the recipe must be used.  No changes can be made.

I WANT TO USE THIS EXPERIENCE AS A WAY TO LEARN HOW TO BAKE.  IS THAT OK?
No.  For this process I need folks who know how to bake at least moderately well.  This is to test that the recipes work, not to teach folks how to bake.

DO I GET ALL OF THE RECIPES TO TEST?
No.  That would be too much for any one tester to do.  Each recipe tester will only get at most a few recipes to test.

I WANT TO TEST A PARTICULAR RECIPE (AND I ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS).  CAN I BE ASSURED THAT I WILL GET THIS RECIPE?
No.  There may be a few recipes that are very popular and only 1 or 2 folks will test each recipe.   I need testers to be flexible and willing to test a variety of recipes, even if they don’t get their favorite one.

IS THIS A PAID POSITION?
No.  I wish I could pay my recipe testers, as they are worth their weight in gold to the process, but I don’t have the funding to do so.   All testers who test at least 3 recipes will get a mention in the Acknowledgments section of the book (and my undying gratitude 🙂 ).

DO I GET A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK WHEN IT COMES OUT IF I TEST RECIPES?
No.  Unfortunately, I can’t afford to buy copies for everyone. (sigh)

CAN I PUT THE RECIPES I’M TESTING ON MY BLOG or NEWSPAPER COLUMN, or CAN I USE THEM IN MY RESTAURANT, BAKERY OR CAFE?
No.  Each recipe tester will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement–which means that you can’t share the recipes with anyone before the book actually comes out.

MAY IS A BUSY MONTH FOR ME.  CAN I TEST RECIPES IN JUNE?
No, my manuscript is due June 1, so I need people who can test recipes starting immediately.

If you are interested in being considered as a recipe tester, please complete survey by Wednesday, May 7th at 5 pm*, Pacific Time.  And thank you so very much for your help!!

* I have had so many responses to my call for testers that I am closing the application period earlier–on Wednesday of this week instead of on Friday.

CALL FOR TESTERS HAS ENDED.  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED!  I WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU SOON!

 

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