Dialogue, Disclaimers, and Diarrhea

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Cate Macabe

What do dialogue, disclaimers, and diarrhea have in common? They’re three of the topics of my most popular blog posts for 2013. Just over half the articles were related to writing, the rest included recipes and one remedy for – yes – diarrhea. If you missed any of these, here are the top ten posts from my blog for last year.

Ten Favorite Country Sayings – Wisdom (or country wisdom, anyway) must have been on many people’s minds this year, evidenced by my No. 1 blog post.
Writing the Memoir: Disclaimers – Most works of fiction include a disclaimer to help ward off potential lawsuits, and it’s even more essential for a memoir. I include examples of different types of disclaimers and a link to where to find disclaimers for many kinds of fiction and nonfiction books.
Writing a Memoir Like a Novel: Dialogue – The fourth post in my Writing a Memoir Like a Novel series discusses how to write natural dialogue.
Free Resources for Writers: The Basics – This is a short list of free foundational resources that continue to help me in my writing journey.
Southwestern Recipe: Green Chile Sausage Gravy – The flavor of green chile is popular both inside and outside of the southwestern United States. Here’s a recipe shared by a New Mexico fireman that never fails to keep the firehouse happy.
Country Remedy: Diarrhea Relief – Who knew this country cure would be so popular, but AJ Jackson says this simple remedy has never failed to provide relief from diarrhea.
Writing a Memoir Like a Novel: Story Arc – The first in the series of Writing a Memoir Like a Novel, this article discusses the beginning-middle-end structure of a memoir.
5 Tips for Retrieving Memories – An excellent article by Lisa Hase-Jackson (reprinted with permission) originally titled “Five Tips for Retrieving Memories and Developing Your Memoir.”
Country Recipe: Old-Fashioned Tea Biscuits – This is one of AJ Jackson’s favorite family recipes that makes a ton of cookies.
Writing the Memoir: Consider the Consequences – Three important things to think about before deciding to write a memoir.

Ten More Favorite Country Sayings

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Cate Macabe

The best country sayings take truths found in life and add a little twist. Here are a few more I came across while doing research for This New Mountain (see my first list of ten favorites here).

It’s been hotter than a goat’s butt in a pepper patch.
Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than getting her back in.
I’ll slap you naked and hide your clothes.
It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.
A man who straddles the fence gets a sore crotch.
That child could tear the hind end out of a skunk.
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over.
Never drink downstream from your horse.

And last, I think this is one a lot of people can relate to:

10. I’m busier than a cat covering crap on a marble floor.

Ten Favorite Country Sayings

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Cate Macabe

I found at least a hundred useful country sayings while doing research for This New Mountain. I included about two dozen of my favorites as part of the book’s chapter headings. Here are a few others that were new to me when I came across them and, like most good sayings, are still stuck in my mind like flies on poop:

It’s hard to put a foot in a closed mouth.
He fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
Nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
Don’t pee down my back and tell me it’s raining.
If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
Let the hair go with the hide.

The last saying is on the top of my list at the moment, mostly because it’s a very practical piece of summer advice. It also conjures up a visual that’s hard to get out of my brain.

10. Never kick a cow patty on a hot day.

What’s your favorite saying that hits the nail on the head?