The Crime Writers’ Association

2015 winning story

Game Over - Lesley Mace The feel of the skateboard rumbles up through the bones of his feet. He is enclosed within the sound of wheels. He concentrates on contracting muscles, on making his body into the correct shape to fly over the top of the co...


WRITERS’ BLOCK by Sarah Rayne

We’ve all been there. It doesn’t matter if we’re in the best-selling lists, or just starting out with a hopeful eye on the CWA Debut Dagger as a stepping-stone to great things (which, of course, it can often be) – we’ve all sat dismally in...


Staying Accountable

Even writers don’t feel like writing all of the time. When you’re part-way through your book and the rest of it stretches out ahead of you like an insurmountable task, the temptation to do something else instead can become strong, and if you’ve...


Debut Dagger Submission Info

The deadline is Monday 28 February, 6pm GMT. Read the full rules here; remember eligibility has changed this year. You can purchase your entry voucher before you enter so as to make the process less stressful.   If you chose to pre-pay y...


Crime Writers in Residence – at home with Dougie Brimson

The CRA: Please tell us a little about yourself and the books you write. My name is Dougie Brimson and I’m a former serviceman who fell into writing largely by accident. As a full time author and screenwriter, I’ve produced all kinds of books a...


‘The Importance of the Note on the Fridge’ by John Dean

My house, like all authors’ homes, I suspect, is full of scraps of paper. Each one contains a scribbled note of something that I will add to the novel I am working on the next time I switch on the laptop. The notes are often made after I have be...


Red Herring

The Red Herring Award From its earliest years, right up to the present day, the CWA has benefited enormously from the hard and selfless work of a wide range of people. It’s always been a fundamental part of the CWA’s ethos that contributions of ...


ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction

ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction This Dagger is for any non-fiction work on a crime-related theme by an author of any nationality as long as the book was first published in the UK in English during the judging period. The Dagger encompasses, tho...


The CWA Presents Crime Writers’ Clinics

  The Crime Writers Association is proud to present Crime Writers' Clinics, a programme of online conversations with industry experts specially designed with CWA members in mind. These events are free for CWA members, and £10 per event fo...


Booksellers

Supporting booksellers The CWA strongly believe in the value of bricks-and-mortar booksellers, both independents and chains, and work to support and encourage their work. We do this in several ways: By fostering communication and cooperation...


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