Entry Guidelines

1. The award is open to those who were born in, or are citizens of, or resident in Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland.
2. NO entry form is required.
3. Entries must NOT have been, by the date of submission, published or broadcast in any medium. If a story submitted elsewhere should be shortlisted or scheduled for publication before our closing date, we ask that entrants notify us and withdraw their submission for the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award.
4. Entries must be typed, in double spacing, using only one side of A4 paper.
5. Entries must NOT exceed the maximum of 3,000 words.
6. Entries can be emailed to info@linenhall.com or posted to the Linen Hall at the address below. Hard copy entries will NOT be returned.
7. No indication of the writer’s identity may appear on the story to be entered.
8. Name, address, telephone number and email address should be submitted separately, under the heading Michael McLaverty Short Story Award 2025.
9. An entry fee of £10 Sterling must accompany each individual entry. Entries without this fee will not be considered.
10. Payment can be made via our website (please forward payment confirmation email with your short story entry to info@linenhall.com), or by sterling cheque (payable to the Linen Hall Library). Please do NOT enclose cash.
11. No more than ONE story may be submitted by any entrant.
12. The decision of the adjudicators is final.
13. Winners and runners-up ONLY will be notified.
14. The adjudicators will not enter into any correspondence concerning the award.
15. The staff of the Linen Hall will not enter into any correspondence concerning the award.
16. Should an appropriate standard not be achieved, no award will be presented.
17. The Linen Hall reserves the right to select for publication such entries as may be deemed appropriate, in any year.
18. The Linen Hall will liaise with successful authors in preparing texts for publication.
19. The award will be presented at the Linen Hall in March 2026.