M.F.K. Fisher Symposium
M.F.K. Women in Food &
Storytelling Symposium
April 4-5, 2025
Nashville, Tennessee
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now live for the inaugural M.F.K. Fisher Symposium for Women in Food & Storytelling.
This two-day event is an evolution of the M.F.K. Fisher Prize and will bring together women from across the worlds of journalism, food writing, media, PR, and more. Whether you’re involved in print, digital, audio, cookbooks, or other channels, this event offers an exciting opportunity for mentorship, networking, and professional growth.
The M.F.K. Fisher Symposium will take place in various venues around Nashville, including the Downtown Library and the vibrant co-working space The Malin, with additional stops around the city. We are committed to keeping this event intimate, with only 200 attendees. This provides ample opportunity for one-on-one interactions with our incredible speakers, as well as smaller, more interactive sessions designed to foster deep connections.
The symposium is open to all, though it will be especially beneficial to writers, journalists, authors, and storytellers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or simply passionate about the legacy of M.F.K. Fisher and the role of women in food journalism, we encourage you to join us. Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including:
– Representation and activism in food writing
– Navigating today’s digital storytelling landscape
– Breaking down the economics of freelance work
– Mentorship and career development
Additionally, we are offering some exclusive add-ons for attendees:
– A Cookbook Intensive, a must for those working on cookbooks
– “Pitch an Agent” sessions, offering dedicated time with literary agents for personalized pitching
Scholarships
Thanks to the generous support of The Toni Tipton-Martin Foundation with support from The Julia Child Foundation, Les Dames Chicago, and Les Dames Sonoma, we are able to offer 12 scholarships for the M.F.K. Fisher Symposium, covering registration and providing stipends for hotel and travel. Scholarships are open to women in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico pursuing a career in food media, including print, digital, podcasts, and cookbooks. One of the scholarships is specifically reserved for women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Applicants must seek hands-on learning at the Symposium and not receive financial support from other sources. To apply, submit an application, resumé, a 300- to 500-word essay, and a letter of recommendation by January 31, 2025. Winners will be announced in February 2025. For more information and the application, visit the scholarship links below:
– The Toni Tipton-Martin Scholarship, with the support from the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts
– The Joan Reardon Scholarship, sponsored by Les Dames Chicago
– Susan Kornblatt Idell Sonoma Chapter Scholarship for Bay Area Women, sponsored by Les Dames Sonoma.
The M.F.K. Fisher Symposium will be a one-of-a-kind gathering to celebrate the achievements of women in food media while fostering new opportunities for collaboration and growth. We can’t wait to connect with you and help elevate women in our industry.
Space is limited—register today to secure your spot!
Itinerary
Friday, April 4, 2025
9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: TBD
Optional Workshop Add-On: Cookbook Publishing Intensive
Join Senior Literary Agent, Sally Ekus for this 2.5 hour cookbook publishing session.
Come prepared with a 2-minute pitch outlining your cookbook idea (include title, sub-title, why you are writing the book, marketing ideas, and short summary). Participants are also encouraged to bring 4-6 comp titles for market analysis.
Noon to 5 pm
M.F.K. Symposium
Location: The Downtown Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St., Nashville, TN 37219
General Sessions
Noon – Check in and Registration
1 p.m. – Opening Remarks from Co-Chairs Kathy Gold, Emily Haws, and Erin Byers Murray
1:15 p.m. – Keynote: Ruth Reichl in conversation with Toni Tipton-Martin
2:00 pm – Snack Break
2:15 p.m. – The Influence of Nathalie Dupree
2:30 p.m. – Activism Through Food Writing, featuring Grace Young, Marion Nestle, and moderator Kat Craddock
Sponsored by Les Dames d’Escoffier New York Chapter
3:00 p.m. – Snack Break
3:10 p.m. – Viewing of The Art of Eating: The Life of M.F.K. Fisher with an introduction by Joan Nathan
5:30 to 7 p.m.
Opening Night Reception, Sponsored by Visit Music City
Location: Private Event Space, 3rd Floor, 411 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Saturday, April 5
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: The Malin Wedgewood Houston, inside the Nashville Warehouse Co. Building, 1131 4th Ave. South, 2nd floor, Nashville, TN 37210
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Check in / Registration and Breakfast
Sponsored by 8th & Roast
Concurrent Sessions
10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
Option 1 Storytelling Through Recipes
Option 2 M.F.K. Fisher’s Legacy: Self-Discovery Through Food Writing
Option 3 Managing & Maximizing Your Relationships with PR
Option 4 Workshop: The Confident Creator – Launching Your Creative Content Career
Option 5 Workshop: Pitch Perfect: How to Write (and Submit) A Good Pitch
Option 6 Interviews as a Full Body Sport
11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Coffee Break
11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Option 1 What makes it Journalism?
Option 2 Choosing Your Channel: Newsletter, Socials, Podcasting—What Works For You and Your Content
Option 3 Freelancing Power Play – Tools & Strategy for Maximizing Your Income
Option 4 Workshop: The First Ingredient is You: Voice in Recipe Writing
Option 5 Workshop: Video Skills for Culinarians
Option 6 Workshop: The Craft and Creativity of the Cookbook Proposal
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Lunch
Sponsored by The Chef’s Market
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Option 1 Representation in Food Writing: Whose Stories Are Being Told & Who Gets to Tell Them?
Option 2 Using AI to Elevate Your Social Media Presence and Build Your Food Brand
Option 3 Wine Writing for Modern Times: Updating how—and where—we talk about wine to new and existing audiences
Option 4 Workshop: Food & Emotion: What Makes for a Strong Narrative in Food?
Option 5 Workshop: Carving out Time and Ways to Write for Yourself
Option 6 Workshop: Exploring the Recipe: A Creative Writing Workshop to Find the Story Behind Your Favorite Dish
Optional Add-Ons: Pitch An Agent
Throughout the Day
We will have two literary agents on hand for optional add-on “pitch an agent” sessions. These 10-minute sessions are like speed dates: You may either pitch your book idea(s) to the agent or simply ask questions about the industry, publishing process, or their agency. The session provides guaranteed time with that agent but does not guarantee interest or further follow-up from the agent. These sessions are designed to give you practice pitching, an opportunity to make an impression, and a chance to gain insight into the publishing industry.
Please note that these are oral pitches only, and agents will not accept or take home any physical materials, such as paper manuscripts or proposals. Be prepared to succinctly describe your book idea or project, as follow-up materials may only be requested electronically at the agent’s discretion. Agents may or may not express interest in your project during the session, and this is not a reflection on your work or its potential.
Make sure you are practiced and ready to go. Keep in mind that these will be scheduled during concurrent sessions and being on time is your responsibility. Plan to select a concurrent session option and step out for your agent session, arriving five minutes before your start time. It should be easy for you to step back into the concurrent sessions once you’ve finished.
Agents
Lauren MacLeod, Aevitas Creative Management
Lauren specializes in cookbooks—particularly chef-driven projects—alongside food writing, culinary scholarship, and food history. Her expertise extends to memoir, pop culture, true crime, narrative nonfiction, and a carefully curated selection of fiction. Particularly recommended for attendees wishing to pitch a food-centered narratives or memoir.
Sally represents a wide range of culinary and lifestyle authors including journalists, food writers, social media creators, and other select non-fiction niches. Recommended for attendees wishing to pitch a cookbook.
3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Reception and Light Bites
Location: The Malin
Sponsored by Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
Your Registration Includes:
– Access to two days of Symposium programming
– Snack breaks and a reception on Friday; Breakfast, lunch, snack breaks, and a reception on Saturday
– Water, coffee, wine, and other beverages throughout the Symposium
– Additional optional add-on, including the Cookbook Intensive and Pitch an Agent sessions
Hotel Information:
Sentral Sobro
516 Lea Ave., Nashville, TN 37203
Rate: $224 per night
Code: SMKFSHR
Link for reservations
Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown/The Gulch
901 Division St., Nashville, TN 37203
Rate: $234 per night
Link for reservations
Registration Fees
Full Weekend Pass
Members: $475
Non-Members: $525
Optional Add Ons
Cookbook Intensive: $175
Pitch an Agent Session: $50
Photo credit: Paul Harris