This crime writing competition is open to all published and unpublished authors from anywhere in the world. It’s for short stories originally written in English of up to 3,500 words. All that we ask is that the story hasn’t been previously published anywhere, shortlisted for this competition or won any other competition. The competition is ideal for writers of mystery, crime fiction, detective fiction and Golden Age-inspired short stories.
Please follow Margery’s definition of a mystery to be in with the best chance of winning this international writing competition: “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.” The way a submitted story matches this definition is awarded greater weighting in the scoring than any other criteria.
Entry to this short story competition costs £25 and the prize for the winner is £500 as well as a year’s membership with the Crime Writers’ Association.
Before entering, please read the terms and conditions carefully, then submit your entry via the online form.
2027
Entries open: 1 September 2026
Closing date: 6pm GMT on Friday 29 January 2027
Longlist: April – exact date to be confirmed
Shortlist: May – exact date to be confirmed
Winner: Date to be confirmed
All announcements will be on the website as well as at any in-person event.
We asked Martin Edwards, the inaugural winner of the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition for his top tips:
- Read a wide range of successful short stories (not just crime fiction!) and ask yourself what makes them great.
- Don’t kid yourself that writing a short story is much easier than writing a novel – it’s not.
- Think about the effect you want the story to have on the reader.
- The opening needs to arrest attention.
- The end must leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction.
- Between the beginning and the end: don’t waste a word.
Learn more about Martin Edwards and explore his Crafting Crime online crime writing course.
Who can enter the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition?
The Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition is open to authors aged 18 or over on 1 January of the competition year. Entries are welcome from published and unpublished writers worldwide, provided the story meets the competition terms and conditions.
What is the word limit?
Stories must not exceed 3,500 words.
What is the entry fee?
The entry fee is £25 for each story submitted.
When is the 2027 competition deadline?
The deadline for the 2027 competition is 6pm GMT on Friday 29 January 2027.
Can unpublished writers enter?
Yes. Unpublished and published writers can enter, provided the story has not been previously published, has not won another competition and has not previously been shortlisted for the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition.
Can international writers enter?
Yes. The competition is international, and writers do not need to be resident in the United Kingdom to enter.
Does the story have to be in English?
Yes. Entries must be submitted in English. Translations of stories originally published in languages other than English are not eligible.
Can I submit more than one story?
Yes. Writers may submit more than one story, provided each entry is accompanied by the £25 entry fee. However, no more than one story by the same writer can be longlisted.
Can I use AI to write my story?
No. Entrants must not use AI to generate all or any part of the submitted story.
What is the prize?
The winner will receive £500 and one year’s membership with the Crime Writers’ Association.
