The Crime Writers’ Association

The Life of Crime, with Martin Edwards

Martin Edwards won the highest honour in UK crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger, for his outstanding contribution to the genre. He is President of the Detection Club, a former Chair of the CWA, consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics a...


CWA Appoints Elly Griffiths as Booksellers Champion

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) has appointed a new Booksellers Champion as Reading Month begins across the UK. Best-selling author Elly Griffiths has taken on the role which aims to build links between crime authors and bookshops. The C...


CWA appoints Maxim Jakubowski as Publishers’ Liaison Officer

Press Release from the Crime Writers’ Association February 2019 The Crime Writers’ Association has appointed Maxim Jakubowski as its first ever Publishers’ Liaison Officer. Jakubowski, who currently also serves as a CWA Vice Chair, takes up the...


Murder in the Library!

Author Talk with Leye Adenle, Alison Bruce & James Carol Celebrate National Libraries Week with the launch of our new bi-monthly Crime Panel, where best-selling authors will visit Chiswick and Osterley Libraries. With the CWA Daggers due to be a...


Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival

Join us for Wales’s very first international crime fiction festival, Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival. It kicks off in Aberystwyth this spring with its own unique brand of murder, mystery and criminal mayhem. From April 21-23 you can join bestsellers...


Elite Sponsorship Package

Elite Sponsorship Package Gold Dagger Ian Fleming Steel Dagger* John Creasey First Novel Dagger* Twisted Dagger Whodunnit Dagger   * indicates that the award currently has a sponsorSponsoring an Elite Dagger provides the f...


Prestige Dagger Sponsorship

Prestige Sponsorship Package Historical Dagger Gold Dagger for Nonfiction* Dagger in the Library Crime Fiction in Translation* Short Story Dagger Emerging Author Dagger   *indicates that this award has a current sponsor...


Breakfast Byte – Facebook Ads: How Do You Promote To Generate Sales?

Breakfast Byte Facebook Ads workshop at the Groucho Club on Wednesday 30 January. Title: Facebook Ads: How Do You Promote To Generate Sales? Refreshments: A light breakfast is included in the ticket price. Speaker: This Byte the Book workshop will be...


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...


Associate membership

Join the CWA - Associate membership Thank you for your interest in joining the CWA. Membership is subject to meeting the membership criteria and completing the application form does not guarantee membership. Please fill in your details below and a m...


Join the CWA

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


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