I recently entered the Rapido! Composition Contest. They have an interesting condition: the piece submitted must be written during a two-week period that the contest is open. The first day, they email contestants the constraints for the piece. This year, the requirement is a 4-6 minute theme and variations for violin, clarinet, and piano. I composed furiously for two weeks and finished a piece that I am very happy with. Now I’m back to working on a quartet for four violas, which I hope to premiere in September.