The sharp end of crime

The eligibility rules for the CWA’s Dagger

Awards have changed for 2022 to allow selfpublished authors to enter.

This year, in a break from previous tradition, the CWA is opening nominations for all its Dagger Awards directly from selfpublished authors who are members of the

CWA. It will also include cash prizes in some of the Dagger Awards.

Maxim Jakubowski, Chair of the Crime

Writers’ Association, said: ‘The Daggers are assuredly the best and most accurate reflection of what’s happening on the crime and mystery writing front. The time is right to reflect that prestige by again awarding a cash prize along with certain Daggers. It’s also true that the publishing landscape has changed in recent years. Self-publishing has become a route for professional writers, and indeed there are many trailblazers in this field. It’s important our awards recognise this, and of course if self-published authors can nominate their titles, then it’s important we extend that right to eligible authors who are traditionally published, too.’

• Now accepting entries, the Crime Writers’ Association’s prestigious annual Debut Dagger contest for unpublished writers offers a cash prize of £500 and potentially career-changing opportunities to get work seen by literary agents and editors. It is open to anyone who has not had a novel traditionally published and has not got a contract with a literary agent.

To enter, send the first 3,000 of an unpublished crime manuscript plus a synopsis up to 1,500 words. Writers entering the Debut Dagger must not have had a traditional publishing contract for any work of fiction over 20,000 words.

The entry fee is £36.

The closing date is 28 February.

Website: https://thecwa.co.uk/debuts/debut-dagger