This FAQ was created to send to young composers along with their competition judging sheets. I hope you will find it useful.

CONGRATULATIONS!
If you are reading this, then you are already a winner, simply by having entered a competition. It takes a lot of courage to mail off the work that you put your heart and soul into for some strange person to look at, dissect, tear apart, and judge. (Whoops! You didn't realise judges did that?! Well, they do.) It's not an easy job for them either, as they don't want you to lose. In fact, I'll bet anything that whoever judges your work at any time has been in the same place as you: hoping, dreaming and praying that somehow your piece will stand out from all the others, and win a little recognition for your creative soul. So congratulate yourself for having taken that first big step!

GETTING PRACTICAL
You thought that all you had to do was to mail your entry on time, right? WRONG. Always, always, always follow ALL of the directions. Check and double check that your work meets any requirements for length, presentation, format, etc. and that you have included ANYTHING else that you were asked to send (a biography, personal information, entry fee, SASE [self-addressed STAMPED envelope], etc.).

Don't panic if you didn't remember something for this competition, because you weren't downgraded in any way. However, some judges receive so many entries that they use this as a weeding out tool. Forgot to send a stamped return envelope? Too bad, you're out! No phone number on the contact page, no entry fee? They won't even bother to play your piece. It's an easy way of eliminating entries and narrowing down the competition in larger contests.

Also, did you submit a cassette tape or CD? If so, was it labelled (with the same name as the name of your piece) and in a plastic case? If you sent a cassette, did you remember to erase whatever might follow your piece on the tape? Did you also remember to advance the tape past the clear plastic leader so the first few notes of your piece weren't lost?

YOU SENT YOUR ORIGINAL???
I'll bet it never crossed your mind -- but do you have any idea how many pieces of mail the Postal Service loses every year, let alone every week? Furthermore, what if the competition asks for a stamped return envelope which you forgot to enclose? Never, never, NEVER give away the original or only copy of a work. If a competition specifies that they will only accept an original, handwritten entry, I'd look for another competition. A clear, legible photocopy is all that is needed for any judge to see the merits of your work -- but that does mean clear and legible. Most notebook style manuscript paper is a little large for 8.5 by 11 (standard letter size in a copyring machine), so ask to have it reduced to 94%. If it's written in pencil, be sure to ask the service technician to darken the image for you, so that everything you wrote is clearly visible. Yes, it's worth the few extra cents a page to have it done by an expert who will make sure all your music fits on the page and is copied well.

COPYRIGHT
Why should you worry about copyright? Because sometimes competitions are not legitimate (the first one I entered was not!). Because sometimes people are not honest and will steal other people's ideas. But most importantly, because it's a way of showing that you are serious about your work. If you intend to do any more writing, this is a good habit to form.

It's not necessary to send $30 to the Library of Congress for each piece you want protected because by law your piece is protected from the moment it is created. However, you need to let people know that by writing on the bottom of the title page:

Not only will this deter dishonest people, but it shows just how much you believe in your work.

If you do decide to register your copyright legally, you can get forms and easy-to-follow instructions by calling 1.202.707.9100 and requesting forms PA and Circulars 1 and 50 or by visiting the Copyright Office website at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/.

I DIDN'T WIN THE PRIZE I WANTED!
Or maybe you didn't win at all. You know what? It doesn't really matter. As I said when we started, you've already won simply because you took the time and trouble to submit your best efforts. Of course, everybody likes to win; I know I do. Sometimes even worse than not winning is finding out how close you really came. Recently I received a wonderful letter telling me that a piece I submitted made it to the final 10% (hurrah!) but didn't make the final cut (sigh).

Michael Shurtleff wrote a book called Audition in which he gives advice to young actors. His advice is to never question why you didn't get the part because that's wasted energy. He's right! The important thing is to keep trying and not stop to wonder why your piece was rejected. It may be that someone with a piece much simpler than yours had a more exciting musical idea, or maybe someone else's composition was more complex, or maybe the judge had a bad hair day -- who knows, and who cares? THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOUR WORK IS BAD. It only means that you need to try, try, try again and keep on trying, while passionately continuing to believe in yourself and your work.

PARTING SHOTS
Remember: read the directions, never send originals, never enter the same piece in two competitions at the same time (should one involve a premiere performance and you happen to win both contests, you'd be out of luck!), keep listening, keep studying, keep trying, and most importantly, keep writing! You've already come so far, don't let disappointment or frustration ever stand in your way. Believe in yourself, and believe in your work. Remember, if you don't, no one else will.