£2,000 for 3,000 words ... if you win the Linen Hall Library's short story competition

Always wanted to be a writer?

Do you have a short story in you, waiting to burst out?

If so, the Linen Hall Library would like to receive your 3,000 words along with a cheque for £5 before the closing date of 30 June to be considered for the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. Entrants must have been born on the island of Ireland and be over 18 years of age.

The judges – who are blind to the identity of the authors – are local author Glenn Patterson and Anne Tannahill, freelance editor and retired MD of Blackstaff Press.

Oh, and the winner receives a prize of £2,000 and the story will be published by the Linen Hall Library. You can check out the more detailed rules on the Linen Hall Library website.

According to the Linen Hall Library’s librarian John Killen:

“The competition first ran in 2006 and has become very popular. It is fitting that the Linen Hall Library, which holds an incomparable collection of the published works of Michael McLaverty should continue to be instrumental in encouraging Irish writing talent through this award.”