The Crime Writers’ Association

Emerging Author Dagger

Emerging Author Dagger The Emerging Author Dagger (formerly the Debut Dagger) is an international competition, open to anyone in the world writing in English, for a crime novel opening (max. 3,000 words) and synopsis (max. 1,500 words). The crime no...


Police Procedurals Panel with Bryan J. Mason and Barry Faulkner

Join Bryan J. Mason and Barry Faulkner for a panel on police procedurals at the Celebration of the Book in Clevedon! Other events include a crime writing masterclass with Heather J. Reed, readings, and more! Book this event here, or buy a day pass fo...


CrimeFest

The hugely successful international crime writing convention returns to Bristol for a 10th year. The team have published an anthology in celebration of this milestone and are looking forward to a fabulous event with Martina Cole as a Featured Author....


Submitting for CWA Competitions: In at the Kill

The deadline’s getting close! So here’s some last-minute advice for you on the practicalities of submitting. Please remember the rule: if you have any problems with your Debut Dagger submission, you must let us know on comps@thecwa.co.uk befor...


Chilterns Heritage Festival. Author Talk – Dave Sivers: ‘Chiltern Thrills – Making Crime Pay’.

Dave Sivers, crime fiction author, will take you on his journey from lifelong scribbler to minor bestseller, the seismic changes in the publishing industry in the past ten years and the challenges of setting gritty crime fiction in a pleasant rural a...


Debut Dagger Writing Tips

Here are tips from recent newsletters compiled for you by Dea Parkin, the CWA’s Competitions Coordinator (and professional editor). If you’re at the stage where your entry is finished and you’re into the all-important revision and editing pr...


Perfect Crime One-Day Festival, Liverpool

Liverpool's First Ever Crime Fiction Day Perfect Crime UK is LIVE and IN PERSON this November, and have we got a lineup for you! Ann Cleeves, creator of Vera and Shetland, will be appearing in two sessions at this all-day event for crime fans in L...


Alibis in the Archive Online

Online: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 October Alibis in the Archive is back! Organised by award-winning crime writer Martin Edwards, former chair of the Crime Writers’ Association and recipient of the 2019 CWA Diamond Dagger, this online event hosted ...


Private: Latest Tips for Winning the Debut Dagger

CWA Coordinator and Debuts maestro Dea Parkin has some top tips for Debut Dagger entrants: You’re going over your Debut Dagger entry in the final days before the deadline. What might you consider revising to make it stand out and shine? Ens...


Bryan Mason on Writing about Serial Killers in Hotwells, Bristol

Bryan Mason will be in conversation with Prof. Leroy White from the University of Exeter about Bryan's debut novel Shaking Hands with the Devil. Bryan will cover areas including the long genesis between drafting and getting published, characterisatio...


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