The Crime Writers’ Association

How to win £1,000

Enter the CWA’s Margery Allingham short story competition! This is open to published authors as well as unpublished ones. The maximum word count is generous too at 3,500. The deadline is still attainable even if it is a little bit close: March ...


Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition 2022

Winner


Scott Hunter

Locked In


Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition 2022

Shortlisted


Mark Thielman

Boxed In


An Evening with Lynda La Plante

At London Book Fair/ London Book & Screen Week this March, join Lynda la Plante, the queen of crime drama, for a gin cocktail as she discusses her illustrious career across page, stage and screen and offers a preview of her forthcoming book Burie...


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...


2023 Dagger Award Winners Announced

2023 CWA Dagger Awards Announced The winners of the 2023 CWA Daggers, which honour the very best in the crime writing genre, have been announced. The prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers are the oldest awards in the genre and ...


The Killer Women Festival of Crime Writing & Drama

CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Now in its fourth year, the capital’s only exclusively author-led festival will take place on Sunday 15 March 2020 - at Brown’s Courtrooms, Covent Garden, London. The 2020 festival will include appearances by, amongs...


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 ...


About the CWA

About the CWA The Crime Writers’ Association was founded in 1953 by John Creasey (pictured). Our overall aim is to support, promote and celebrate this most durable, adaptable and successful of genres. The CWA’s everyday aim is to support writers...


Crime Time at Clapham Book Festival

CWA Diamond Dagger winner Simon Brett, OBE and author, barrister and Crown Court Judge Nicola Williams open the eight-day Clapham Book Festival with Crime Time, a discussion of Williams's fiction and her new book, Until Proven Innocent. Thriller wr...


Join the CWA

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


Advertise with us