The Crime Writers’ Association

Elite Sponsorship Package

Elite Sponsorship Package Gold Dagger Ian Fleming Steel Dagger* John Creasey First Novel Dagger* Twisted Dagger Whodunnit Dagger   * indicates that the award currently has a sponsorSponsoring an Elite Dagger provides the f...


Our Chapters

The CWA has members around the world. Our regional chapters help members to connect with other writers in the same geographical area. There are also international specialty chapters for nonfiction and neurodiverse authors. Our geographically-based...


Prestige Dagger Sponsorship

Prestige Sponsorship Package Historical Dagger Gold Dagger for Nonfiction* Dagger in the Library Crime Fiction in Translation* Short Story Dagger Emerging Author Dagger   *indicates that this award has a current sponsor...


Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition – Rules

Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition - The Rules Please read all terms carefully before submitting your entry. Please pay attention to the Margery Allingham’s definition of a mystery and the chronology it outlines. Submission of an entry...


Crime Fiction: Past, Present, and Future with Simon Brett

Part of the Open Centre and Online CI Public Talks collection In conversation with OU's Bill Alder, detective fiction author Simon Brett will discuss crime fiction's past, present and future. Please join us on Wednesday 17 April from 13:00-14...


Kirkcudbright Book Week

Designed to showcase the developing literary scene in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries and Galloway area, join us for the second Kirkcudbright Book Week. Book Week features appearances by professional authors as well as affording community wri...


Dagger in the Library – shortlist announced

CWA 2014 Dagger in the Library Award shortlist announced   Five authors have today been shortlisted for the CWA 2014 Dagger in the Library award, sponsored by Dead Good Books. This year, for the first time, readers compiled the long list as crim...


On behalf of the late Seán Haldane – Book Launch with Music


Cath Stancliffe a guest speaker at Northern Lights Writers’ Conference

Cath Staincliffe, author of a host of popular and acclaimed books, deviser of the Blue Murder ITV series and writer of the Scott and Bailey novels, is a guest speaker at a fascinating all-day conference on Saturday 18 March in Sale, Greater Mancheste...


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...


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