The Crime Writers’ Association

Join the CWA

Join the CWA Who can join? We offer full membership for those in the UK and overseas who have had published a full length work of crime fiction or non-fiction, and provisional membership for those who have a contract from a recognised publishing ho...


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...


Crime Writers Emerging from Lockdown with JG Harlond

Escaping through a picture window... My study has a sliding picture window opening onto a balcony. From my desk I can see the Sierra de Las Nieves in the Province of Málaga, Spain. This was where the Moors of al-Ándalus harvested snow for sherbet ...


CWA Appoints New Champions for Libraries

The Crime Writers’ Association has appointed new Libraries Champions based in England, Scotland and Wales. The trio take over from Ruth Dudley Edwards, the CWA’s very first Libraries Champion. The new champions are crime writers Priscilla Masters...


Noirwich Crime Writing Festival

East Anglia’s largest annual celebration of crime writing returns to Norwich on 12 – 15 September 2019. Join us in Norwich UNESCO City of Literature for a four-day spectacular of author readings, panel discussions on hot topics, exhibitions, boo...


CWA Christmas Party

It’s beginning to look a lot like… The supermarket shelves are full of mince pies, the lights on Oxford Street are twinkling and various celebrities are heading to the Australian jungle. This can only mean one thing. It’s time to book your t...


Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Masterclass

In association with the University of Stirling, this masterclass for writers features Booker shortlisted Graeme Macrae Burnet; author (& Slice Girl!) A K Benedict; and advice on writing a synopsis and pitch by Alison Belsham (who won Pitch Perfec...


CWA Dagger Awards Dinner

Thursday 25 October Grange City Hotel, 8-14 Cooper's Row, London EC3N 2BQ 7pm - late   The publishing world gathers to celebrate the very best in crime writing. Whether your interest is professional or simply through a love of crime fiction ...


CWA Annual Conference: Edinburgh, April 2017

CWA Edinburgh Conference 21 – 23 April 2017 The CWA Annual Conference, open to CWA members only, is shaping up to be a lot of fun – and a chance to get together with fellow writers in a superb setting in Edinburgh, the Jekyll and Hyde of cities ...


Make Crime Pay – thriller and crime fiction day

Join us for a packed day of online workshops, talks, interviews with an exciting range of Crime Writing authors. Online via Google Meet As crime and thriller fiction enjoy unparalleled popularity, join us for a packed day of online workshops, t...


Join the CWA

Become part of a thriving community of successful crime writers with invaluable support, expertise and marketing opportunities for all our members.


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