The Crime Writers’ Association

Tell us about a new book

Tell us about a new book Fill out this form to tell us about your upcoming book, for inclusion in Red Herrings’ Hot Off the Press feature and our social media ‘Publication Day’ posts. Submit your book at least one week before its publicat...


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...


CWA Daggers Announced

Chris Whitaker, Clare Mackintosh, Michael Robotham, Vaseem Khan and Peter May win 2021 CWA Daggers. The winners of the 2021 CWA Daggers, which honour the very best in the crime writing genre, have been announced. The prestigious Crime Write...


Society of Authors Urges Findaway Voices to Clarify New Terms of Use

The Society of Authors has voiced deep concern over new phrases included in a revised Terms of Use document from audiobook distributor Findaway Voices by Spotify. The new terms gave Findaway Voices a range of new rights over creators’ works, in...


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...


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...


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...


Emerging Author Dagger Rules

Rules and Submission Guidelines Emerging Author Dagger The Emerging Author Dagger (formerly the Debut Dagger), an international competition for the opening of an adult/YA crime novel and synopsis, is aimed at debut writers. The CWA defines a de...


London Book Fair and Byte the Book

London Book Fair runs at Olympia this year from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 March. As a book-lover, it's always a fabulous event to visit, whether or not you have business there. http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/ Byte the Book also have a few seminars...


Kate Ellis headlines at Crediton Literary Festival with a crime focus

A one-day Literary Festival on Saturday 5 June presented online via Zoom. Sixteen authors are speaking on a range of genres throughout the day, with a 10pm crime panel, Victoria Dowd at 1.30pm and Kate Ellis headlining in the afternoon. Tickets are f...


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