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...
Bookshop of the Month – April 2022: Reading Matters
Fearful and Wonderful: Alfred Swaine Taylor and 19th century forensic science
“Fearful and Wonderful: Alfred Swaine Taylor and 19th century forensic science.” In this talk, discover the cases, both well-known and obscure, of leading 19th century forensic scientist Alfred Swaine Taylor (1806-1880). Along the way, f...
CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition
Have you penned one of the murkiest, most deadly crime stories the nation has yet to be intrigued by? We’re looking for the best unpublished stories to send chills up the spines of our judges for this year’s Margery Allingham Short Story Competit...
Robert Goddard to receive CWA Diamond Dagger 2019
The Crime Writers’ Association is delighted to announce that Robert Goddard is to receive the 2019 CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing. The Dagger award recognises authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by ...
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...
Trying Again, by Sherry Rankin
I do not have a risk-taking personality. The whole idea of attempting to find an agent and get published always seemed so daunting to me that, for decades, I was afraid even to try. I always loved to write, however. So a few years ago, I took stock o...
The Entry Process
The Entry Process There are four kinds of Dagger, differentiated by how they are nominated. See below for an explanation of the different entry processes, and who may nominate for each Dagger. Please do not hesitate to contact the Dagger Liaison Or...
Erin Kelly at Gliterary Lunch, London
If you want to treat your clients, friends or simply yourselves to a entertaining afternoon listening to two bestselling authors talk about what lies behind their latest books while you enjoy good food, wine and conversation, please come and join us ...
Join the CWA
Become part of a thriving community of successful crime writers with invaluable support, expertise and marketing opportunities for all our members.
