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...


Bryan Mason on Writing about Serial Killers in Hotwells, Bristol

Bryan Mason will be in conversation with Prof. Leroy White from the University of Exeter about Bryan's debut novel Shaking Hands with the Devil. Bryan will cover areas including the long genesis between drafting and getting published, characterisatio...


Friends, Romans, Murderers with Jane Finnis

“Friends, Romans, Murderers…” Jane Finnis, who writes the Aurelia Marcella mysteries, talks about life (and death) in Roman Britain, and explores the pleasures and pitfalls of writing historical mysteries. Admission free: all welcome. Jane’...


Friends, Romans, Murderers with Jane Finnis

“Friends, Romans, Murderers…” Jane Finnis, who writes the Aurelia Marcella mysteries, talks about life (and death) in Roman Britain, and explores the pleasures and pitfalls of writing historical mysteries. Admission free: all welcome. Jane’...


2023 winning story

How to Catch a Bullet in a Plate and Other Tricks to Astound - Judith O’Reilly He never performed the trick at a matinee show as he didn’t like to worry the children in the audience. At least there was that, Mrs Conway thought, as the red bloo...


Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival

Lin Anderson and Alex Gray started the festival in 2012 and now it’s huge. This year’s featured authors include Chris Curran, Val McDermid, Irvine Welsh, Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Peter James, Stuart Macbride, Chris Brookmyre, Ragnar Jonasson, M...


Debut Dagger Writing Tips

Here are tips from recent newsletters compiled for you by Dea Parkin, the CWA’s Competitions Coordinator (and professional editor). If you’re at the stage where your entry is finished and you’re into the all-important revision and editing pr...


Killer Women

The third Killer Women Festival is on 21 October in Brown's Courtrooms, Covent Garden, London. Headliners include Mark Billingham, Sophie Hannah, Paula Hawkins and Elly Griffiths. Talks from experts on forensic archaeology, CSI, psychopaths and ge...


Submitting for CWA Competitions: In at the Kill

The deadline’s getting close! So here’s some last-minute advice for you on the practicalities of submitting. Please remember the rule: if you have any problems with your Debut Dagger submission, you must let us know on comps@thecwa.co.uk befor...


Debut Dagger Deadline Draws Near

The deadline to enter the most hotly contended competition for aspiring crime novelists is fast approaching. Aspiring crime novelists have until the end of February to enter the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger, which is sponsored b...


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