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Brrong on more music. That was a hilarious read :)

"OR literature" yeah. It's in the paragraph.

I was just about to add mine...thanks Austenite!

So far we have like... seven submissions? 1) JSands's Nocturne 2) Austenite's Souvenir from Pemberley 3) Muhmuhmusic's Romantic Variant 4) Ananth's Wechsel 5) IAMIvan's Takes on a Given Theme 6) Joshua Harton's Romantesque 7) TJS1977's Un Ballo in Mascara Ball now in the judges's court. Am I missing anyone else?

There is a considerable amount of loving-off that I would like you to do

Not much to add to Tokke's comments, other than to reiterate the importance of doing things for free to improve your craft and make connections. Also as important, as far as I can see, is being known as a performer. There are a lot more opportunities to be asked to play than to write, but if you make friends through your playing it gives you a base. All the arrangements and compositions I have been asked to write have come from people who knew me as a performer before they learned I was also a composer. If you're good at one there is a degree of expectation that you will be good at the other. Competitions are another way in, again as they give you a base and something to back up your abilities if you win or are commended. Some even have a recording and/or publishing prize which will be a massive boost to your career chances. I can't say it often enough though: connections are the key to doing anything in music. You need to make as many people as possible know who you are, what you do and how good you are at it.

There's lots. The problem is there's also lots of competent composers out there. Yes, I've been commissioned and I've worked in video game/film freelance. Next to none. An unknown in most music fields means nothing. You have to make music that is absolutely top-notch in order to survive. You won't making a living until people know your music and what to play it on a regular basis. Until then you have to find a way to feed yourself without relying on your composition alone. Yes, lots of them. Just make connections with people you know. If your music is good then people will take notice. A premiere with an influential group or director can do wonders for your networking base. Also, go to concerts in your area and similar to your field. You never know who you might run into!