How to become a member of the CWA
Why you should join
Are you a crime writer, reviewer, editor, or agent? Or is your business concerned with publishing, bookselling or representing crime writers? Then why not join the UK’s only exclusive crime club?
The Crime Writers’ Association was established in 1953 by prolific author John Creasey. Since then it has enjoyed a prestigious reputation, and is responsible for the annual Dagger awards, the most significant awards in crime writing.
Individual membership is limited to published crime writers, with associate membership also offered to those in the publishing industry and provisional membership to writers who have a contract with a publisher but whose book is not yet out.
Corporate membership is open to publishers, literary agents, booksellers and others connected with the production of individual CWA members’ work, whether in print, on stage, in film, radio or television? Head over to the Corporate Membership page to learn how you can extend many of the benefits of membership to your staff, and show your support for the CWA.
The remainder of this page is for people interested in becoming individual members of the CWA. Join us today and for around £5 a month you can benefit from:
- the chance to meet other writers
- events throughout the year, including parties, free speaker events (ranging from forensics to book publicity)
- the chance to attend our annual conference, especially for crime writers
- discounts and special offers on events, publications, and books
- meet publicists, journalists, bloggers, and other associate members
- a wide range of contacts in libraries and bookshops and festivals, to help you organise and publicise your author events
- our monthly magazine, Red Herrings, and regular enewsletters full of news, events, and opportunities for crime writers
- sell your book and promote your events, website, and news directly through this website
- sell your books and engage with crime fans directly through our new Crime Readers’ Association. This has a newsletter, website, and events, all of which help our members to reach new audiences.
- links and partnerships with organisations such as the US-based International Thriller Writers (which runs the Thrillerfest convention)
- Access to a dedicated free tax helpline for members
The Crime Writers' Association has five categories of membership.
- FULL MEMBERSHIP
- is limited to writers resident in the UK who have published at least one full-length novel or non-fiction book with a crime theme; or published serials, short stories or feature articles with a crime theme, equivalent in total to a book-length work; or a feature film script or a number of shorter screenplays with a crime theme, approximating to a book-length work; or a full-length play with a crime theme, produced in the professional theatre; or radio or television scripts, which have been broadcast, and which approximate to a book-length work.
- Please note that:
- Your book must already have been published before you can join. A publisher’s contract is not enough (but see below).
- Self-published works do not qualify you for membership.
- Nor do works where you have contributed to the cost of publication.
- PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP
- is open to crime writers with a valid contract, whose first book will be published within the next two years. This class of membership is only open to those, who when their book is published, will qualify for full membership. If the book on the basis of which provisional membership has been granted is not published at the end of two years, then this membership will automatically expire.
- ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
- is open to those who, in their profession or occupation, are associated with the genre - including publishers, editors, literary agents, crime reviewers, booksellers and those connected with the production of members’ work, whether in print, on stage, in film, radio or television.
- OVERSEAS MEMBERSHIP
- is open to those resident outside the UK who fulfil the criteria for Full or Associate Membership.
- HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
- is limited to twelve people outside the above categories who are deemed worthy of such membership by the CWA Committee.
Please note that self-published works, or works where you have contributed to the cost of publication do not make you eligible for membership.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions may be paid by standing order, by debit/credit card, by PayPal or by cheque. The rates are:
FULL MEMBERSHIP: £60 per calendar year.
PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP: £60 per calendar year.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP: £70 per calendar year.
OVERSEAS MEMBERSHIP: £60 sterling per calendar year
OVERSEAS MEMBERSHIP (email only): £50 sterling per calendar year
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Members joining between July and October pay half of the above amounts. If you join in November and December you will pay the full rate, and your membership will run to the end of the following year.
APPLY NOW
If you meet the criteria for membership, we invite you to join the CWA. So we can provide you with the appropriate application form, please answer these two questions: