The Crime Writers’ Association

CWA welcome pack

CWA welcome packNew members are sent a welcome pack PDF when they join the CWA, to outline the benefits of membership and act as a handy guide to our activities and contacts. We invite all members, from recent to longstanding, to download the PDF ...


CWA London Chapter Meeting

The next meeting of the CWA London Chapter will be Wed April 6th from 6.30 pm at The Cittie of Yorke, High Holborn (north side), in the Cellar Bar. The nearest underground station is Chancery Lane, some nearby streets have free parking after 6.30 pm...


Seven Writing Tips from Leigh Russell

Chair of the CWA Debut Dagger judges, Leigh Russell, has sold well over a million books. Writer’s Block The best cure for writer’s block is a deadline. If you’re not fortunate enough to have an external deadline set by a publisher, you can ...


April 2023: York

April 2023: YorkVenue: Raddison Park Inn HotelAn Overview by Matthew Booth The old adage says that time flies when you’re having fun and, like many old sayings, it is true. And that probably explains why this year’s conference, held primarily in...


C J Sansom Awarded Diamond Dagger

CJ Sansom has been announced as the recipient of the highest honour in British crime writing, the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger. One of Britain’s bestselling historical novelists, Christopher John Sansom was born in 1952 in E...


CWA Events video archive

CWA Events video archive From time to time the CWA hosts online events, including workshops, panels, and interviews. While many of these events are open to the public for a fee, CWA members may attend for no cost – and we also record most of t...


Useful info

Useful info This is where we keep a selection of other useful guides and information. Author profile guide Want to know how to keep your CWA/CRA author profile and books up to date? Watch our handy video guide to find out. Social medi...


ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger

ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger The ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger (formerly the ILP John Creasey New Blood 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...


Margate Bookie – Mark Billingham

A body is found on Margate Sands… Join Mark Billingham as he reads from his latest crime blockbuster Their Little Secret. Mark’s first novel, Sleepyhead, was an instant bestseller in the UK. The series of crime novels featuring London-based ...


Opening Windows, by John Kennedy

A certain writer, arguably lauded for the wrong things but at the same time often underrated, once said something about writing behind closed doors and rewriting with the window open. Well, for me, the Debut Dagger competition opened that window. Get...


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