The Crime Writers’ Association

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation Sponsored in honour of Dolores Jakubowski. This award is for crime novels (defined by the broadest definition to include thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction) as long as the book was not originally wr...


Portsmouth BookFest & MysteryFest 2018

Portsmouth BookFest runs from Monday 12th February to Saturday 3rd March. MysteryFest is on 3 March This year sees the city’s eighth book festival, taking place at venues throughout the city, and it will present a varied programme of events – as ...


Become a crime scene investigator for the day or night …

For all real -life crime fans and forensic science enthusiasts comes 4 exclusive events which reveal the wonders of forensic science in crime scene detection. Join eminent forensic scientists Tracy Alexander and Jo Millington as they guide you throu...


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...


Private: How I Wrote 20 Mystery eBooks In 20 Months by C T Mitchell

How I Wrote 20 Mystery eBooks In 20 Months How I Wrote 20 Mystery eBooks In 20 Months October 17, 2017 / Writing / By CT Mitchell Have you ever wanted to write mystery eBooks but procrastinated for so long you never got started? You...


Gold Dagger

Gold Dagger This award is for the best crime novel by an author of any nationality, originally written in English and first published in the UK during the judging period. The broadest definition of the crime novel applies. Eligible books include thr...


“Killing People for Fun and Profit” a guest lecture by Val McDermid

The Literary Leicester Festival welcomes bestselling author Val McDermid cto Leicester discuss her writing, her inspirations and the fatal attraction of crime fiction. CWA Diamond Dagger recipient, Val McDermid, has sold over 15 million books to d...


CWA Announce Longlists for Prestigious Crime Writing Daggers

The Crime Writers’ Association announced the much anticipated longlists for the annual CWA Dagger awards for the best of the year’s crime writing at a reception during international convention CrimeFest in Bristol on the evening of Friday 10 May....


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...


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...


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