2023 CWA Debut Dagger Competition Opens for Entries

 

The most hotly contended competition for would-be crime novelists is now open for entries.

Aspiring crime novelists have until the end of February 2023 to enter the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger, renowned for opening doors for new writers.

Shortlisted authors often get representation by literary agents, with some going on to achieve publication deals.

The competition for the best new voices in the genre has been going for over 20 years and helped launch the careers of established crime writers, including M W Craven, who entered in 2013.

Craven went on to win the CWA 2019 Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year for The Puppet Show, and more recently the 2022 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Dead Ground.

M W Craven said that, “The CWA Debut Dagger competition gave me a career. I can draw a direct evolutionary line from being shortlisted to the two-book deal I signed.” The decision to take a week off work and write 3000 words for the competition he said, “would go on to change my life.”

Created in 1955, the CWA Daggers are the oldest and most regarded awards in the genre, and for over two decades the CWA has been encouraging new writing with its Debut Dagger competition for unpublished writers.

The Debut Dagger is awarded every year by the CWA for the opening of a crime novel and a synopsis. Budding authors are invited to submit the opening 3,000 words and a synopsis of the full novel of up to 1,500 words before the competition deadline of Tuesday 28 February, 2023.

Maxim Jakubowski, Chair of the CWA, said: “The winner of the Debut Dagger receives £500, but the main motivation to enter is that shortlisting ensures that your work will be brought to the attention of leading agents and top editors, who have to date signed up over two dozen winners and shortlisted Debut Dagger competitors.”

Submissions are judged using a range of criteria including quality of prose, originality of plot, execution of plot, narrative voice, plausibility, characterisation, setting evocation, and good read factor.

From the hundreds of entries from around the world, around a dozen will be longlisted in April 2023. Longlisted authors are asked to submit a further 3,000 words from their novel. The shortlist is announced at CrimeFest in May 2023, and the winner at the Daggers event held in early July.

Judges comprise top crime fiction editors and literary agents, as well as bestselling author, Leigh Russell, who chairs the Debut Dagger competition.

The competition is only open to writers who have never had a publishing contract for fiction over 20,000 words, or self-published fiction more recently than February 2018. Authors of published short stories are eligible, as are authors of published non-fiction.

Also now open for entries is the annual CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition. Entrants have until Tuesday 28 February 2023 to enter.

The Margery Allingham Society, set up to honour and promote the writings of the great Golden Age author, works with the CWA to run the writing competition. Submissions have a limit of 3,500 words and stories must pay homage to the author’s definition of a mystery. The winner is awarded £500 and two passes to CrimeFest the following year.

Dea Parkin, Secretary of the CWA and competitions co-ordinator, said: “Crime continues to dominate as a fiction genre, and whether it’s celebrity authors such as Richard Osman or established, much-loved writers such as Elly Griffiths who make the headlines, crime and mystery stories are a key touchstone now for publishers. This short story competition is a fantastic way of developing your crime-writing craft and raising your profile.”

Whether you’re writing suspenseful psychological noir, historical crime or traditional whodunnits, the trend has resulted in hit books in the genre from authors such as Nicola Upson, Martin Edwards and Vaseem Khan.

Dea added: “These stories provide familiarity and comfort in an uncertain world as they offer clues, great characters and locations, with the mystery solved in the end and justice served.”

For writing tips, case studies of shortlisted and winning Debut Dagger entrants, and full details on how to enter both writing competitions, go to https://thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-competitions. To receive a regular enewsletter in the run-up to the deadline, join the Debuts https://thecwa.co.uk/supporting-crime-writing/join-the-debuts

The Debut Dagger 2022 Long List

 

The Debut Dagger 2022 Long List has been announced

Henry's Bomb by Kevin Bartlett

Lufkin, Texas by Katherine Futers

Holloway Candle by Laura Ashton Hill

The 10-12 by Anna Maloney

The Mercy Seat by Rachel Nixon

The Two Murders at Manor Park by Elizabeth Opalka

Blood Castle by Shylashri Shankar

Dead Reckoning by Jennifer Slee and Jesica Slee

The Dead of Egypt by David Smith

The Dieppe Letter by Liz Rachel Walker 

Congratulations to all the nominated authors.

CWA Debut Dagger Writing Competition Deadline Draws Near

 

The deadline to enter the most hotly contended competition for aspiring crime novelists is fast approaching.

Aspiring crime novelists have until the end of February to enter the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger, which is sponsored by ProWritingAid and renowned for opening doors for aspiring writers.

Shortlisted authors often get representation by literary agents, with a number going on to get publication deals.

The competition for the best new, unpublished voices in the genre has helped launch the careers of established crime writers, including M W Craven, who was shortlisted in 2013. Six years later, Craven went on to win the highest accolade for a crime novel, the CWA Gold Dagger, for The Puppet Show. It has been sold in 17 foreign language territories, and TV rights have also been sold. He ascribes much of his success to entering the Debut Dagger, which he said “would go on to change my life”.

Created in 1955, the Daggers are the oldest and most regarded awards in the genre, and for over two decades the CWA has been encouraging new writing with its Debut Dagger competition for unpublished writers.

The Debut Dagger is awarded every year by the CWA for the opening of a crime novel and a synopsis. Budding authors are invited to submit the opening 3,000 words and a synopsis of the full novel of up to 1,500 words before the competition deadline of 6pm GMT on Monday 28 February 2022. The CWA supplies a mini Criminal Critique service tailored to would-be Debut Dagger entrants which helps writers perfect their novel opening in advance of submitting.

Bestselling author Leigh Russell, Chair of the Debut Dagger judges, said: “The winning and shortlisted manuscripts will be read by leading agents and top editors, who have to date signed well over two dozen shortlisted Debut Dagger competitors. In addition, the winner of the Debut Dagger receives £500.”

The other judges comprise top crime fiction editors and literary agents. Submissions are judged using a range of criteria: quality of prose, originality of plot, execution of plot, narrative voice, plausibility, characterisation, setting evocation and good read factor.

In April, from the hundreds of entries from around the world, around a dozen will be longlisted – announced live at an online event held by sponsors ProWritingAid. Longlisted authors are asked to submit a further 3,000 words from their novel. The shortlist is announced in May at the UK’s international crime fiction convention, CrimeFest. The winner will be announced at the annual CWA Dagger awards ceremony at the end of June.

The competition is only open to writers who have never had a novel or novella published in any genre, or self-published one within the last 5 years. However, authors of published short stories are eligible, as are authors of published non-fiction.

For full rules, and to enter, go to Competitions on the CWA website: www.thecwa.co.uk. For more details contact secretary@thecwa.co.uk

 

Dagger Awards update!

Press Release

Dagger Awards to Carry Cash Prizes and 

Open to Authors to Self-Nominate 

The CWA Daggers – synonymous with quality crime writing for over half a century – is set to again award cash prizes beginning in 2023, for titles published and nominated in 2022. Detail of the amounts will be announced next year. The CWA is delighted to reinstate this tradition, thanks to renewed support and sponsorship.

In the same year the CWA will accept Dagger nominations from authors themselves. Traditionally published authors who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to nominate their own titles for a Dagger, as will self-published authors who are members of the CWA.

The new eligibility criteria follow the change of rules earlier this year to allow self-published authors who successfully demonstrate professionalism to become CWA members for the first time in its 68-year history.

The move came after the CWA consulted its members, who voted with an 84% majority in favour to accept self-published authors.

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.”

The awards remain open as normal to traditional publishers of the genre who are invited to nominate their authors’ titles. A fifty per cent discount on the nomination fee applies to titles by CWA members, whether submitted by a publisher or author.

Maxim added: “We continue to be committed to quality. Successful self-publishing requires the same professional approach that publishers take. Our aim is to ensure the Daggers stay relevant, accessible and open to all talent.”

A thriving, growing community with a membership encompassing authors of all ages and at all stages of their careers, the CWA is UK-based, yet attracts many members from overseas.

It supports author members, as well as literary agents, publishers, bloggers and editors, through its own activities and through the Crime Readers’ Association (CRA). The CRA distributes a free digital monthly newsletter showcasing CWA authors and related news to around 12,000 subscribers, while the CRA website provides readers with news and features by CWA members, as does the bimonthly ezine, Case Files.

The CWA also supports unpublished writers, many of whom enter the Debut Dagger competition and the Margery Allingham Short Mystery competition.

For authors wishing to enter the Debut Dagger competition, sponsored by ProWritingAid, they mustn’t have had any fiction over 20,000 words of any genre traditionally published, or self-published in the last five years.

The CWA’s Dagger judging panels remain strictly independent and are refreshed every year.

The organisation also supports libraries and booksellers, with two Library Champions and a Booksellers Champion, Elly Griffiths, as well as promoting its annual National Crime Reading Month in June.

Eligibility restrictions apply on particular Dagger categories; entrants can check out the full guidelines on the CWA website.

Ian Fleming Publishing, ALCS and ProWritingAid are regular sponsors of the Daggers; the CWA is very grateful for their support.

 

2021 CWA Debut Dagger Long list announced.

The CWA have announced the longlist for this years Debut Dagger. The Debut Dagger is a competition for the opening of a crime novel by an uncontracted writer. Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way. This year the Debut Dagger is being sponsored by ProWritingAid.

The long-listed stories are as follows - 

 Savage Games by Peter Boland

The Tonganoxie Split by Zack Daniel

Long Egg by Kerry Eaton

The Looking Glass Spy by Ashley Harrison

Under Water by Fiona McPhillips

Sister Killer by Karen Milner

The Lying Days by Julie Nugent

Rough Justice by Biba Pearce

Deception by Hannah Redding

Lightfoot by Edwrd Regenye

The Tunnel Runners by Elizabeth Todman

Mandatory Reporting by Jennifer Wilson O’Raghallaigh

CWA Dagger Longlists

The CWA Gold Dagger

The Beautiful Dead by Belinda Bauer (Bantam Press)

Dead Man’s Blues by Ray Celestin (Mantle)

The Girl Before by J P Delaney (Quercus)

Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith (No Exit Press)

Little Deaths by Emma Flint (Picador)

The Dry by Jane Harper (Little Brown)

Spook Street by Mick Herron (John Murray Publishers)

Sirens by Joseph Knox (Doubleday)

Ashes of Berlin by Luke McCallin) No Exit Press

The Girl in Green by Derek B Miller (Faber & Faber)

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee (Harvil Secker)

Darktown by Thomas Mullen (Little Brown)

The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott (Picador)

Kill The Next One by Frederico Axat (Text Publishing)

The Twenty Three by Linwood Barclay (Orion Fiction)

The Killing Game by J S Carol (Bookouture)

The Heat by Garry Disher (Text Publishing)

A Hero in France by Alan Furst (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

We Go Around in the Night Consumed by Fire by Jules Grant (Myriad Editions)

Moskva by Jack Grimwood (Michael Joseph)

The One Man by Andrew Gross (Macmillan)

Redemption Road by John Hart (Hodder & Stoughton)

Spook Street by Mick Herron (John Murray Publishers)

Dark Asset by Adrian Magson (Severn House)

Police at the Station and the don’t look Friendly by Adrian McKinty (Serpent’s Tail)

The Constant Soldier by William Ryan (Mantle)

The Rules of Backyard Cricket by Jock Serong (Text Publishing)

Jericho’s War by Gerald Seymour (Hodder & Stoughton)

The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter (Century)

Broken Heart by Tim Weaver (Penguin)

CWA International Dagger

A Cold Death by Antonio Manzini (Tr Anthony Shugaar) (4^th Estate)

A Fine Line by Gianrico Carofiglio (Tr by Howard Curtis) (Bitter Lemon Press)

A Voice in the Dark by Andrea Camilleri (Tr Stephen Sartarelli) (Mantle)

Blackout by Marc Elsberg (Tr Marshall Yarborough) (Black Swan)

Blood Wedding by Pierre Lemaitre (Tr Frank Wynne) (Maclehose Press)

Climate of Fear by Fred Vargas (Tr Sian Reynolds) (Harvill Secker)

Death in the Tuscan Hills by Marco Vichi (Tr Stephen Sartarelli) (Hodder & Stoughton)

The Bastards of Pizzofalcone by Maurizio De Giovanni (Tr Anthony Shugaar) (Europa Editions)

The Dying Detective by Leif G W Persson (Tr Neil Smith) (Doubleday)

The Legacy of The Bones by Dolores Redondo (Tr Nick Caister & Lorenza Garcia) (Harper Fiction)

When It Grows Dark by Jorn Lier Horst (Tr Anne Bruce) (Sandstone Press)

Non-Fiction Dagger

A Dangerous Place by Simon Farquhar (The History Press Ltd)

Close But No Cigar: A True Story of Prison Life in Castro’s Cuba by Stephen Purvis (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

The Scholl Case: The Deadly End of a Marriage by Anja Reich-Osang (Text Publishing)

Arthur and Sherlock: Conan Doyle and the Creation of Holmes by Michael Sims (Bloomsbury Publishing)

The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury Publishing)

A Passing Fury: Searching for Justice at the End of World War II by A. T. Williams (Jonathan Cape)

The Ice Age: A Journey into Crystal-Meth Addiction by Luke Williams (Scribe Publications)

Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge (Guardian Faber Publishing)

Short Story Dagger

The Assassination by Leye Adenle in Sunshine Noir Edited by Anna Maria Alfieri & Michael Stanley (White Sun Books)

Murder and its Motives by Martin Edwards in Motives for Murder Edited by Martin Edwards (Sphere)

Alive or Dead by Michael Jecks in Motives for Murder Edited by Martin Edwards (Sphere)

The Super Recogniser of Vik by Michael Ridpath in Motives for Murder Edited by Martin Edwards (Sphere)

What You Were Fighting For by James Sallis in The Highway Kind Edited by Patrick Millikin (Mulholland Books)

The Trials of Margaret by LC Tyler in Motives for Murder Edited by Martin Edwards (Sphere)

Snakeskin by Ovidia Yu in Sunshine Noir Edited by AnnaMaria Alfieri & Michael Stanley (White Sun Books)

Debut Dagger

Camera Obscura by Richard McDowell

Strange Fire by Sherry Larkin

The Reincarnation of Himmat Gupte by Neeraj Shah

The Swankeeper’s Wife by Augusta Dwyer

Hardways by Catherine Hendricks

Lost Boys by Spike Dawkins

Victorianoir by Kat Clay

Red Haven by Mette McLeod

In the Shadow of the Tower by Clive Edwards

Broken by Victoria Slotover

Endeavour Historical Dagger

The Devil’s Feast by M J Carter (Fig Tree)

The Coroner’s Daughter by Andrew Hughes (Doubleday Ireland)

The Black Friar By S G MacLean (Quercus)

The Ashes of Berlin by Luke McCallin (No Exit Press)

The Long Drop by Denise Mina (Harvil Secker)

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee (Harvil Secker)

Darktown by Thomas Mullen (Little Brown)

By Gaslight by Steven Price (Point Blank)

The City in Darkness by Michael Russell (Constable)

Dark Asylum by E S Thomson (Constable)

John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger

The Watcher by Ross Armstrong (Mira)

The Pictures by Guy Bolton (Point Blank)

What You Don’t Know by JoAnn Chaney (Mantle)

Ragdoll by Daniel Cole (Trapeze)

Sunset City by Melissa Ginsburg (Faber & Faber)

Epiphany Jones by Michael Grothaus (Orenda Books)

Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard (Corvus)

Himself by Jess Kidd (Canongate)

Sirens by Joseph Knox (Doubleday)

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land (Michael Joseph)

The Possession by Sara Flannery Murphy (Scribe)

Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker (Twenty 7)

Dagger in the Library (Shortlist)

Kate Ellis

Tana French

Mari Hannah

James Oswald

C J Sansom

Andrew Taylor