It’s always a great idea to flex our writing muscles and one of the best ways to do this is through contest submissions. Here’s a quick roundup of some promising ones — some of them have April 1 deadlines, so if you have work you love on tap, why not spend the week polishing and then submit?

Tin House Summer Workshop  Scholarship: To apply for a scholarship to help with accommodations and travel while you attend, that deadline is fast approaching. All scholarship applicants are considered for attendance, so there’s no need to submit two applications.  Full guidelines here. Entry Fee: $40 Deadline: April 1

The Southampton Review – General Submissions Open: There are two reading periods each year for The Southampton Review, and there is still a little time left.  It accepts fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and is also interested in plays and screenplays. Do note, however, that they ask for only one submission in one category during each reading period. Submit here. Entry Fee: $3 Deadline: April 1

Waterston Desert Writing Prize:  Provides financial and other support to writers whose work reflects a connection to the desert. The Waterston Desert Prize awards one writer  $2000, a reading and reception, and a four-week residency at Summer Lake, OR. Applicants need to provide a biographical statement, a proposal, and a writing sample. Submission guidelines here. Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: April 1

Poetry International Prize: Through San Diego State University, this competition is looking for a single poem to award $1000 and publication in Poetry International. Contestants may submit up to three poems, and everyone is welcome to enter, even those who won a prize last year. More details here. Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: April 1

The Alice Munro Festival Short Story Competition: Submit up to 2500 words to be considered for publication! Prizes vary in adult and youth categories and all the winners will be recognized at the summer festival in Ontario. Munro fans, apply now! Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: April 1

New Ohio Review: All three New Ohio Review contests end this month, so enter now to receive one of the three $1000 first-place prizes! Colm Toibin will judge the fiction, Rosanna Warren is judging the poetry section, and Phillip Lopate is judging the nonfiction. Winners and selected runners up will be published! See more here. Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: April 15

Event Nonfiction Prize: From the website: “Contest winners feature in every winter issue since 1989, and many have gone on to greatness. Awards $1500 in prize money to winners.  J. Jill Robison is judging nonfiction entries.  More here. Entry Fee: $35 Deadline: April 15

Prime Number Magazine Awards:   Contest for brevity boosters of poetry and short fiction. The short story requirement is 53 to 5300 words, as a nod to their parent organization Press 53. The first-place winner in each category receives $1000 and publication in Prime Number Magazine. Enter here! Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: April 15

The 2017 Gulf Coast Prize:  Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry accepted. The winner in each category receives $1500, and two honorable mentions in each category also receive $250. Make sure you submit to the correct category! Check it out here. Entry Fee: $23 Deadline: April 15

So let’s rev up our creative engines and write on!