Top Blog Posts of 2011

To cap off the end of the year, here are the most popular posts I’ve written this year! Once again, folklore trumps everything else, and a few of my older posts still rank at the top of the hits.

10] What prairie winters taught me about the holidays
Thoughts on holiday lights in the middle of a blizzard. That this recent post made it to my top ten is entirely a reflection on the awesome #wana1011 crew and their support.

9] Artificial Intelligence and World-Building – questions and no answers
In which there is much pontificating on AI and Sci-Fi, and very few resolved questions.

8] Three uses for champagne that don’t involve drinking it
 A Foodie post for everyone out there who’d rather cook with champagne than swig a glass of it on Saturday night.

7] Hot villains, bad boys, and narrative lies
A quick look at some of the problems inherent in the bad-boy narrative, in contrast to outright villains who have no narrative thrust to claim they’re secretly a good catch.

6] Looking back and finding evil muppets behind me
Some personal ditherings on writing progress and my decisions to rewrite a couple years ago. I think this one is only popular because the word muppet was used.

5] A cry against democracy, gender equity, and wise rulers in fantasy
 A brief and marvellous tale about life in EverythingIsAwesomeland, featuring its leading citizens, Queen NeverMakesMistakes, King Don’tForgetThePeasants, and the romantic couple, Mr and Mrs IdealModernValuesButWithSwords

4] On Maxi Pads and Magic Tampons
Magic stones, cryptic herbs, moss, and how the only blood in fantasy comes from swords.

3] Globsters – A tale of sea monsters, tides, and blubber
Strange, dead creatures keep washing up on the shore, and finally there’s an explanation for this old cryptid story.

2] Five Folklore Hoaxes
An April Fool’s look at fairies, Nessie, and the most famous naked man you’ll ever find spread on a hillside.

1] Why every book has meaning: Reader-response theory
I’m not sure if it’s the literary theory discussed, or the ripping good comic included with the text, but this post gets a ton of regular hits. It also declares that “What the author meant” assignments are bullshit — and that claiming nothing has meaning is also bullshit.

See you in 2012!