The Crime Writers’ Association

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...


Helplines and Discounts

Helplines and Discounts CWA members enjoy a number of perks to help their day-to-day work and career, from a tax advice helpline to discounts on membership with sister organisations.Helplines The CWA has a close working relationship with accountant...


New CWA Anthology Published 22 February

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) has released a new collection of crime stories written by its members. Music of the Night, edited by Martin Edwards, invited CWA authors to submit short stories on the theme of music. An array of award-winnin...


CWA Brings Writers, Venues and Book Groups Together in National Crime Reading Month in May

May will be a time for murder and mayhem as National Crime Reading Month (NCRM) makes a welcome return – and the organisers are urging writers and venues to become involved. NCRM, which has run for a number of years, is a unique literary festival t...


Come and Chat to CWA Oxford – via Zoom

The Crime Writers Association was founded in 1953 to support, promote and celebrate the crime writing genre. Would you like to chat to some of the CWA Oxford crime writers over a coffee or gin and tonic? All totally virtual, of course, but in every ...


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 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...


ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger

ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger This Dagger is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality with their first novel of any kind published in the UK in English during the judging period.  ‘Best crime novel by a first-ti...


CWA Daggers Awarded in Glittering Ceremony

All 10 winners of this year’s CWA Daggers were announced at a glittering black-tie occasion at the Grange City Hotel in Cooper’s Row, London on Tuesday October 11. The CWA Daggers, which are probably the awards crime writers and publishers alike ...


Countdown to CWA Daggers

Just a few days are left to buy tickets to attend the annual Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagger Awards dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the crime genre. Booking closes this Friday (10 June) for the 2022 awards dinner, which is hosted at the Leona...


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