With apologies for the delay (Easter intervened, and a couple of discrepancies showed up and it required a bit of searching to find the culprits) here are the stats for the 300 Worders.
As before, but likely for the last time as I’m running out of room, I’ve produced a combined table showing the year’s figures on the left, with each quarter and the year’s totals, and then the annual figures for all previous years leading up to the cumulative totals on the far right. Taking them in turn:
Year 6: 2016-17
Something of a disappointment overall – not only have we seen falls in every notable statistic from the 2015-6 figures, we’ve hit historical lows in some of them. As I’ve been reminded in the past, to a real statistician the figures are basically flat despite small rises and falls, so I’m hopeful it’s only one of those odd blips and we’ll revert to the higher part of the flattish line in 2017-8.
Anyway, the lowest-ever figures start with those taking part in the Challenges, as numbers fell from 71 to 61 entrants (the previous lowest was 63), and, perhaps inevitably, that brought a new low in the number of stories they produced, 140 entries down from 164 (the previous lowest was 146). Another low was the number of new entrants – 19 newcomers joined the Challenges over the year, down from the last three years’ 23. The best month for entries was April with 39 (2015-6 produced 45, the best ever 52) and the worst was October with a new low of 31, down from 35 last year (the previous lowest was 33).
Some 16 of us completed all 4 Challenges (down from 19), while 10 completed 3 Challenges (down from 13), 11 did 2, and some 24 members took part only once, though 7 of those were newbies in the January Challenge. Let's hope we can encourage some of those one-timers to return for the 2017-18 Challenges.
Voting was also somewhat disappointing. We gathered a total of only 450 votes, well down on the previous year’s 516, and again a new low (the previous low was our first year with 464). Those votes came from 152 voters, again the lowest ever – last year’s was 175 and the previous low was 158. We still managed to grab more voters than entrants, though, which is some good news!
As to those voters, over the year we had again had some 12 missing voters, when members entered but were unable to vote in a Challenge, the same as last year, but this time two members twice missed voting which is disappointing. The good news is we again had “extra” voters , ie members who voted without having entered that particular Challenge, which came in at 24 extra voters from 17 members, up from 23 from 21 members. Thanks to all who voted without taking part, with extra-special thanks to chrispenycate, Suzanne Jackson (crystal haven as was) and Droflet who each voted twice in Challenges in which they didn’t participate, and mega-extra-special thanks to DEO and nixie who voted in three such Challenges!
And the year belonged to Cory Swanson, who not only gained a wonderful 26 votes but came second in three consecutive quarters, which is a record! Moreover, he managed it in his first three outings in the 300s which is stupendous!
Victoria and I tied for second place with 24 votes, just ahead of Wruter on 22, who also made his debut this year! With the two newbies leaping into the top four, Juliana and Phyrebrat were pushed down into joint 5th place with 21 votes, then Dan Jones and Shyrka shared 7th place with 19 votes, just edging out mosaix who came in at 9th place with 18, and LittleStar came in 10th with 16 votes.
As I think I mentioned at the time, Juliana’s win in April with a magnificent 21 votes takes her into joint second place with Hex in the highest-vote league table. In addition, Phyrebrat’s 16 in January catapulted him into the table in joint 5th place with Teresa, just behind Jo on 18.
Years 2011-12 to 2016-17 inclusive
Looking at the six completed years of the 300 Worder we’ve had a wonderful 937 stories, from 213 entrants, receiving 2911 votes from 991 voters. We still have 4 of us having completed all 24 Challenges (mosaix, Perp, me and Ursa), with johnnyjet and Starbeast having completed 21, and Chris p, Jo and ratsy 20. But the number of entrants who have only taken part in one Challenge is now 97.
I’m hanging onto first place on the leader board, but mosaix has edged into second place with 128 votes, just pipping Jo who has 127, though hers come from 20 Challenges to his 24. Victoria continues her incredible ascent up the table, and has vaulted into 4th place with 104 votes from her 17 Challenges, just ahead of Juliana who has 103 in only 14! Perp has also hit his century, and is on 101 votes in 6th place, and in 7th place is alchemist who didn’t take part in any 300s this year and remains on 92 votes. TDZ in 8th place has 86 votes, while Teresa remains in the top 10 with her 84 votes, though she’s not entered any 300s for two years now, and with 80 votes, Phyrebrat has jetéd into 10th place (which he doesn’t have to share with anyone for a change...). Then come four members who’ve not taken part in the 300s this year – Hex is 11th with 65, Cul 12th with 63, and remaining joint equal 13th are Boneman and Mouse with 56 votes apiece – and in 15th place is Ursa with 47 votes.
It occurs to me I ought to be pulling more facts out of the cumulative figures, so if anyone can think of other statistics/information which might be interesting, let me know!
Anyway, we got our 200th entrant this year as I’d hoped – Coast was the 200th – and we’re well on our way to 250! As ever, welcome and congrats to all newbies, and extra congrats to Cory who got 8 votes in his very first 300 Challenge, Stable who got 7 in his first, and DZara who got 4. Well done all!