The Crime Writers’ Association

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation Sponsored in honour of Dolores Jakubowski. This award is for crime novels (defined by the broadest definition to include thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction) as long as the book was not originally wr...


Gold Dagger

Gold Dagger This award is for the best crime novel by an author of any nationality, originally written in English and first published in the UK during the judging period. The broadest definition of the crime novel applies. Eligible books include thr...


Diamond Crime Zoom Masterclass in Editing

Some writers claim to hate them. Others won’t make a move without one firmly secured to their writing arm. Who are we talking about? BOOK COPY DEVELOPMENTAL LINE EDITORS Whether you love them or loathe them, editors they are a vital part of t...


Crime Picks of the Month!

To finish off a fantastic month of all things crime, Love Reading’s Picks of the Month for June are all crime books. They include Deadline by Holly Watt, winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2019, House of Lamentations by double CWA Histor...


Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival

Join us for Wales’s very first international crime fiction festival, Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival. It kicks off in Aberystwyth this spring with its own unique brand of murder, mystery and criminal mayhem. From April 21-23 you can join bestsellers...


Notes on Word Count for CWA Writing Competitions

Different competitions have different rules – and different levels of rigour in the way they apply them. For the Debut Dagger we are super-strict. We ask for entries not to exceed 3,000 words (1,500 words for the synopsis) by even a word. The ti...


Associate membership

Join the CWA - Associate membership Thank you for your interest in joining the CWA. Membership is subject to meeting the membership criteria and completing the application form does not guarantee membership. Please fill in your details below and a m...


Corporate membership

Join the CWA - Corporate membership Thank you for your interest in joining the CWA. Membership is subject to meeting the membership criteria and completing the application form does not guarantee membership. Please fill in your details below and a m...


Northern Ireland is Set for NCRM 2024

PRESS RELEASE The Crime Writers Association, National Crime Reading Month NI Crime Writers team up with Libraries NI and local bookstores to celebrate National Crime Reading Month with a host of events across the province throughout June. Fo...


CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition – Winner Announced

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) has announced the winner of its Margery Allingham Short Mystery Prize. Camilla Macpherson beat strong competition with her short story, ‘Heartbridge Homicides’. Camilla lives in The Hague in the Nether...


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