Competition format

Every contest I've ever entered had very specific guidelines about how they wanted entries formatted. I am unaware that there is any such animal as a uniform "competition format". In all the contests I've entered, the basic double-spaced TNR or Courier 12-pt type manuscript has been required, but some contests are blind-judged (meaning they don't want your name anywhere on the manuscript itself), others are not. Always use page numbers; I can't imagine anyone not wanting them. And I always put the title on the first page, regardless. Let common sense rule your entry format, and if the contest doesn't like it, it probably is a contest not worth entering again.

caw.

I would look further for the competition guidelines, either in the magazine or online. If you can't find them, e-mail them with the question.

There's generally a requirement about your name only appearing on a cover sheet (and not in a header on each page) and a few other particulars for a contest. They probably do want the title keyword and page number in a header on each page.

If you still can't find the guidelines, tell us what contest and we'll try to help you find them.

Most of the time they will say "send an SASE if you want your entry back" or they will say "no entries will be returned".

I wouldn't send a SASE. You can mark the MS as "disposable copy" if you'd like.