The Crime Writers’ Association

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...


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...


Corporate membership

Join the CWA - Corporate 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...


Northern Ireland is Set for NCRM 2024

PRESS RELEASE The Crime Writers Association, National Crime Reading Month NI Crime Writers team up with Libraries NI and local bookstores to celebrate National Crime Reading Month with a host of events across the province throughout June. Fo...


CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition – Winner Announced

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) has announced the winner of its Margery Allingham Short Mystery Prize. Camilla Macpherson beat strong competition with her short story, ‘Heartbridge Homicides’. Camilla lives in The Hague in the Nether...


Join the CWA

Join the CWA Who can join? We offer full membership for those in the UK and overseas who have had published a full length work of crime fiction or non-fiction, and provisional membership for those who have a contract from a recognised publishing ho...


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...


Murder One, Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival

Brought to you online for the past two years, Murder One, Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival is back with a bang from 4-9 October with a host of in person and online events at a new venue, Dun Laoghaire’s stunning dlr LexIcon Library ...


CWA Anthology Launch and Christmas Party

Everyone is welcome to the CWA Christmas party and the launch of our brand new anthology Mystery Tour at Daunt Books, Cheapside on Wednesday Dec 6. The event starts at 6.30pm and ends around 8.30pm. The event is FREE (not £6 as previously announce...


Films Preserved and Restored: Friday 10 August to Sunday 12 August 2018

This is a residential weekend course organised by the Cosmopolitan Film Club (non-profit) which is running at Chester University Campus on Films Preserved and Restored (i.e. vintage movies which have been improved by new technology). Amongst the eig...


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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