The Crime Writers’ Association

CWA Announces new Debut Dagger Sponsor

The Crime Writers’ Association has announced a new sponsor for its annual international writing competition for unpublished writers. The CWA Debut Dagger is to be sponsored by ProWritingAid, a platform that operates as a grammar checker, style edi...


Meeting and networking

Meeting and networking The CWA’s members are professional authors, agents, editors, reviewers, bloggers and booksellers working in the crime genre. Bringing them together, whether for business or pleasure, is a key benefit of membership. Ninety pe...


Private: Into the River: how a last-minute decision led to an award-winning bestseller, by Mark Brandi

In a river, on the outskirts of an isolated country town, two young brothers discover a wheelie bin, partly submerged beneath a fallen tree. Curious, the older brother goes closer to investigate. He steps carefully across the tree’s smooth trunk, ...


Manchester Libraries Crime Festival

A celebration of some of the best crime writers in Manchester and the North. Including panel discussions and a Murder Mystery Night! Manchester Central Library M2 5PD Book tickets: https://tinyurl.com/4y33kvbk Wednesday 16th March An author pane...


2023 Debut Dagger Competition Opens for Entries

The most hotly contended competition for would-be crime novelists is now open for entries. Aspiring crime novelists have until the end of February 2023 to enter the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger, renowned for opening doors for as...


The Meek Shall Inherit the Storyline – Talk

Best-selling crime novelist John Dean will give a talk looking at how conflict in the modern age drives crime fiction. John, whose books regularly feature in the best-selling charts on Amazon, is the creator of the DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harr...


Whodunnit Dagger

Whodunnit Dagger The Whodunnit Dagger celebrates books where the sex, swearing, and bloodletting take place offstage--books that focus on the intellectual challenge at the heart of a good mystery, and which revolve around often quirky characters. Bo...


Bookshop of the Month – February 2022: Winstone Books

Winstone Books in Sherborne, Dorset, is our February Bookseller of the Month. Bookseller Elly Griffiths paid them a visit. By serendipitous coincidence, February 2022 marks the tenth anniversary of Wayne Winstone opening his first bookshop. Winsto...


Submitting for CWA Competitions: In at the Kill

The deadline’s getting close! So here’s some last-minute advice for you on the practicalities of submitting. Please remember the rule: if you have any problems with your Debut Dagger submission, you must let us know on comps@thecwa.co.uk befor...


Debut Dagger Writing Tips

Here are tips from recent newsletters compiled for you by Dea Parkin, the CWA’s Competitions Coordinator (and professional editor). If you’re at the stage where your entry is finished and you’re into the all-important revision and editing pr...


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