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...


CWA Dagger Awards Terms and Conditions of Entry

CWA Daggers Terms and Conditions of Entry Three categories of people can nominate a title for the CWA Daggers. Approved publishers Traditionally published authors whose book or title is published (not merely distributed) in the UK Self-pu...


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 Emerging Author Dagger (formerly called the Debut Dagger) we are super-strict. We ask for entries not to exceed 3,000 words (1,500 w...


Social media guide

Social media guide Between Twitter and Facebook the CWA has close to 30,000 social media followers, and also runs a Facebook group with more than 2,000 members. We encourage all members to take advantage of this reach! X (Twitter) The CWA ac...


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...


2022 winning story

Locked In - Scott Hunter There’s something singularly evil about a crime carried out in secret, don’t you think? Especially if it is repeated on a regular basis. And especially if the victim is powerless to prevent it. Let me explain my cir...


Byte the Book: How Can We Sell More Books Through Non-Traditional Retail Channels?

Date: Monday 14th November 2016 Time: 18:30 to 21:00 Location: The Groucho Club, London Not specifically aimed at crime writers, but interetsing for writers in general. Byte the Book asks: as sales channels for books become increasingly polarised,...


Useful info

Useful info This is where we keep a selection of other useful guides and information. Author profile guide Want to know how to keep your CWA author profile and books up to date? Watch our handy video guide to find out. Social media gu...


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...


Capital Crime

Capital Crime, London’s first crime and thriller festival, is coming this September to Covent Garden. With over 30 CWA members appearing, such as Peter James, Antonia Hodgson, Ian Rankin, Dreda Say Mitchell, Mark Edwards, Will Dean and MW Craven, t...


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