September 19, 2012

Defy the Dark By the Numbers

Posted by admin

Dear Figs,

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a sucker for lists. The fine folks at Figment thought it would be fun if I kept track of some of the statistics from the DEFY THE DARK contest, and I couldn’t agree more.

So here we are, now that the contest is closed and the dust is settling, DEFY THE DARK by the numbers:

3.35 million: Number of words you wrote for this contest!

1242: Number of stories entered.

38½: Number of cups of Timothy’s Mint Tea I drank while reading submissions.

788: Average number of pages in each file Figment sent me.

127: Fewest number of pages in a single batch of stories.

1350: Most pages in a single batch of stories.

332: E-mails exchanged between me, HarperTeen and Figment during the contest
(this seems awfully low!)

22: Number of times I listened to “Ooh La” by The Kooks while reading submissions.

742: Comments left on the official Figment announcement for the contest.

1219: Times you shared info about the contest on Facebook.

12: Total batches of stories.

9: Average pages of a given story.

9: Months it took to get ready for the contest—just like a human baby!

9: Months until DEFY THE DARK is available in stores. (Just like a zombaby?)

10: The month we’ll announce the winner of the contest!

That’s just some of the numbers and how they all add up to DEFY THE DARK. I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the curtain. Stay tuned! We’ll be announcing the winners soon!

Best,

Saundra

59 thoughts on “Defy the Dark By the Numbers”

On September 19, 2012 at 12:45 pm, Lucy said:

YAY update! And yay tea drinkers!

Good luck with decisions! (Have you finished reading all those submissions? So many! Congrats if you have!)

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 1:48 pm, Leigh Smith said:

Ha. I just listened to “Oh La” at least twice while going for a brainstorm walk this am. Good song.

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 2:00 pm, Jennifer said:

Whoa. Whoa.

Nine months? So this all started in November? Ironically, I think I was reading The Vespertine last November.

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 2:13 pm, Shukaynna Ahmad said:

Awesome!! Can’t wait to see the results! Good luck to everyone!!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 2:31 pm, James said:

Fun list! So cool to read all of that, though we have to wait til October for the winners? Will they be notified before then or will it happen at the same time? Also, what part of October? lol. I just wanna know!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm, Concha said:

So the winner’s going to be announced in October?

Reply ↓
- On September 21, 2012 at 1:19 pm, Emily said:
  
  Should be!
  
  Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 2:43 pm, Lindsay Mead said:

Oh so the winner won’t be announced till next month. Wooh, good to know. I can stop stalking Saundra’s twitter page looking for information then

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 3:05 pm, Sarah said:

I’m dying right now! So intense! October needs to come much faster right now!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 3:19 pm, Donna said:

How will you get a hold of the winners?

Reply ↓
- On September 20, 2012 at 9:29 am, Emily said:
  
  Email!
  
  Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 3:35 pm, Sara said:

WHY YOU RELEASE RESULTS NEXT MONTH?

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 3:48 pm, Raquel said:

AGH! SO NERVOUS!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 4:12 pm, KARLY said:

I’m about to explode! The anticipation is KILLING me! I feel like locking myself in a very dark room until the results come in

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 4:45 pm, Erin Fishman said:

This got me so excited! Gah, I can’t wait!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 5:55 pm, Julie said:

Awesome! Thanks for the update! I love mint tea. Thanks for the link

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 5:55 pm, Susan said:

Wow 1242 submissions!! Now THAT’s a lot of reading! WOW!
Can’t wait to hear the outcome!! Good luck to all!!
I’m really excited!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 5:57 pm, brittany said:

I cant wait 2 hear the results!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 6:05 pm, Martina said:

OH MY GOD, THIS IS TORMENT. You’re just tormenting us with these numbers. By the way, I would just like to say that I admire you for reading them all and all the effort that went into this. Thanks for making an amazing contest where the entries were actually read and appreciated!!!!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 6:47 pm, Faraway said:

Awesome stats Just wanted to say thanks Figment team for giving us this chance and working so hard to bring us this fantastic contest!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 7:19 pm, Karyn Leigh said:

/isfreakingoutsomuchrightnow

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 8:05 pm, Jen said:

What a huge project! Amazing!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 8:08 pm, Lieder Madchen said:

Haha, I actually wrote two stories for this theme and then had to pick between them. At the last moment I came up with an idea for a third, but…oh well, maybe next time. This is the most amazing contest ever!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 8:23 pm, Sara said:

YAY!!! Can’t wait for the results!!! Maybe they’ll come out on Haloween, that would be fitting wouldn’t it?

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 8:45 pm, Katrina De Lo said:

I literally just had a heart attack. I think my heart stopped beating twice while I was waiting for this. OCTOBER COME FASTER!!!

Reply ↓
- On September 19, 2012 at 8:45 pm, Katrina De Lo said:
  
  *while I was reading this.
  
  OOPS, speaking and typing at the same time is NOT suggested.
  
  Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:00 pm, Shylock said:

AAAAAAAAAH I’m so excited! 8^D

Reply ↓
- On September 19, 2012 at 9:03 pm, Shylock said:
  
  Wait! Question: Does that mean the winners have already been chosen? And will they be notified by email before everyone else finds out? (Eh, that was two questions, actually… :^P)
  
  Reply ↓
  - On October 1, 2012 at 5:50 pm, Emily said:
    
    We can’t discuss the timeline of the judging process. As soon as possible, winners will be announced on the blog!
    
    Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:07 pm, Emily said:

Ahh!! I am literally jumping up and down in my seat with excitement right now! Can’t wait!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:16 pm, Julie said:

Thanks for the update! Yum, Peppermint tea

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:23 pm, Christine said:

I feel bad for you, having to read all of that, and count all of that. Thank you for taking your time to do this, as you can tell, many people appreciate it!

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:47 pm, Spooks said:

I had a mini heart attack when I saw this, thinking it was the results…but it wasn’t! This is really cool, though, seeing all the stats…

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:53 pm, Vic Archer said:

Kudos to you. Lot’s of rerading to do. Good luck to all.

Viva “Death in a Drainpipe”!

LOL…

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 9:59 pm, Allie Dafoe said:

So the winners will be announced this October?

Reply ↓
- On September 21, 2012 at 1:19 pm, Emily said:
  
  That’s the plan!
  
  Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 10:44 pm, MB said:

Woah. That’s a whole lot of entries.

/also, I love mint tea but have not been able to find one as good/strong as one a friend had brought back from Germany I tend to end up using two bags of Twinnings at a time

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 11:06 pm, Katie said:

I am so excited.

Reply ↓
On September 19, 2012 at 11:11 pm, ciera said:

Wow! I never would’ve thought about everything in terms of numbers! Can’t wait for the results- good luck everyone!

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 12:34 am, GracieGrrrl said:

Wow! Thanks for all your hard work!

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 1:49 am, Kathaleeya said:

Good luck to everyone! Can’t wait till November…

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 9:46 am, Brooklyn Fairchild said:

AHHH I can’t wait to hear who won! Best of luck to everyone who entered!

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 12:01 pm, Susan said:

Oooo I wish you’d tell us the titles of the stories that are still in consideration! Dying to know DDD

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 2:45 pm, Juliana Haygert said:

wow, that’s too many words!!
Yay for Saundra for reading them all! Jeez, can’t even think about it.

I wonder if winners will be notified before the results are posted here …
I say yes. No?

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 5:45 pm, W.S Williams said:

So stocked! Thanks Sandra for reading all those stories. Those numbers don’t lie.

Reply ↓
On September 20, 2012 at 8:55 pm, Katy said:

The Kooks are my favorite band, no joke! I hope my story The Salem Seven wins! Good luck to everyone!(:

Reply ↓
On September 21, 2012 at 8:34 pm, starfish said:

wow i can’t wait to find out! good luck to everyone! i wish you the best and no matter who won your stories were still great i bet!

Reply ↓
On September 22, 2012 at 3:08 pm, Enna said:

Y U NO TELL US RESULTS NOW?!?

Reply ↓
On September 22, 2012 at 10:37 pm, Ryanne Kap said:

Are the winners notified before the posting on Figment?

Reply ↓
- On September 24, 2012 at 11:39 am, Emily said:
  
  Winners may be contacted before the announcement is posted.
  
  Reply ↓
On September 23, 2012 at 1:57 am, runningfree said:

Yipes! I would hate to have to choose the winner out of ALL THOSE ENTRIES!!! Can’t WAIT to see who wins so I can read their stories.

Reply ↓
On September 23, 2012 at 1:49 pm, Shukaynna Ahmad said:

One more week of September then it will be October!!

Reply ↓
On September 23, 2012 at 9:06 pm, Cassidy said:

I am soooo excited but soooo nervous at the same time. Good luck to everyone who has entered! I know everyone put as much into it as I did!

Waiting for October

Reply ↓
On September 24, 2012 at 6:31 pm, Tayler W said:

YES! I’ve been so anxious to see the results! Good luck to everyone! (:

Reply ↓
On September 25, 2012 at 4:53 pm, EMMMMMA said:

EEEEEKKKK! One more week! I’m freaking out guys! Thanks to Saundra for reading all the entries!

Reply ↓
On September 25, 2012 at 9:56 pm, Alexes said:

So, when you say October, are we talking like October 1st…October 15th..or like Halloween?

Is there a guestimate here?

Should I start biting my nails in a week? Or should I wait a bit?

Reply ↓
- On September 28, 2012 at 11:16 am, Emily said:
  
  No set date to announce winners!
  
  Reply ↓
On September 27, 2012 at 10:01 am, Shukaynna Ahmad said:

3 more days until October!! Very excited!

Reply ↓
- On September 28, 2012 at 5:51 pm, Karyn Leigh said:
  
  I’m going to die.
  
  /isstillfreakingout
  
  Reply ↓

Defy the Dark By the Numbers

59 thoughts on “Defy the Dark By the Numbers”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Follow us on Twitter