The Crime Writers’ Association

Countdown to the Daggers on 22 October

Free tickets are available from Thursday 15 Oct for the virtual awards ceremony of the 2020 Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers, which honour the very best in crime writing. The oldest awards in the genre, the CWA Daggers have been synonymous ...


Crime Writers in Residence: at home with Holly Watt

The CRA: Please tell us a little about yourself and the books you write. My name is Holly Watt, and I write novels about a journalist called Casey Benedict who investigates stories that take her all over the world. The first one - To The Lions, whi...


Two Vice Chairs for the CWA

In a move away from tradition, the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) has appointed not one but two Vice Chairs for the year 2017-2018. This follows Martin Edwards’ assumption of the role of Chair after serving as Vice Chair since 2015. The two new...


CWA Dagger featured on BBC Look North

The CWA Daggers were recently featured on BBC Look North, focused on CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger winner Trevor Wood and his work at The People’s Kitchen in Newcastle, inspiration for his debut novel The Man on the Street. ...


12 Criminally Good Hints for Crime Writing by Laraine Stephens

by Laraine Stephens   Start with reading in the crime genre. You'll pick up how different authors approach their craft. You’ll learn to recognise good writing and bad writing. Also, there’s great advice in books and blogs about how to ...


Author profile guide

Updating your Author Profile on the CWA website Your CWA author profile is a powerful way to reach readers, if you complete it properly. It will feature prominently in Google search results, and we always link to your profile when promoting you as a...


Short Story Dagger

Short Story Dagger This award is for any crime short story first published in the UK in English during the Judging Period, whether on its own or within an anthology or collection. Upon publication it must have been for sale to the public, either in ...


Marketing your books

Marketing your Books The CWA’s mission is to promote the crime-writing genre, both fiction and non-fiction, and support our membership of professional authors. We offer our members a wide range of promotional outlets, and the help of our Bookselle...


Cath Staincliffe: Author of The Girl in the Green Dress

Cath Staincliffe talk looking at reading, writing, libraries and her new book The Girl in the Green Dress. For more information and to book, please click here. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/author-talk-cath-staincliffe-tickets-37193122631 ...


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...


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