Skip to Content

Crime

Deviant Minds

Information

Closing date: 
27 April 2018
Entry: 
Open to unagented and unpublished crime or thriller writers who were born or are resident in the UK or Ireland No entry fee
Prize: 
Representation by A M Heath and digital publication by Corvus

Do you have what it takes to become a bestselling crime and thriller writer? Do you spend time day-dreaming about fiendishly complex ways to see off your boss or mother-in-law? Fancy yourself as the next Gillian Flynn or Lee Child? Well, now it's time to put your talent to the test.  Read more

Virago/The Pool New Crime Writer award

Information

Closing date: 
21 May 2017
Entry: 
Women writers resident in the UK who have not had a book published or self-published No entry fee
Prize: 
A publishing contract with Virago including a £7,500 advance

Sarah Savitt, Deputy Publisher at Virago, and Sam Baker, Co-Founder and CEO of The Pool, are thrilled to announce the Virago/The Pool New Crime Writer Award, a competition to find a superlative new female crime writer for Virago - and we want your entries!  Read more

Daily Mail/Penguin Random House New Crime Novel Competition

Information

Closing date: 
5 May 2017
Entry: 
Residents of the UK who are 16 or over No entry fee
Prize: 
£20,000 advance and publishing contract with Century, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK, and the services of literary agent Luigi Bonomi

The Daily Mail and Penguin Random House have relaunched a major competition to search for a new crime-writing talent. The winner of the First Novel competition will receive a £20,000 advance and publishing contract with Century, an imprint of Penguin Random House UKPenguin Random House have more than 50 creative and autonomous imprints, publishing the very best books for all audiences, covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s books, autobiographies and much more. Click for Random House UK Publishers References listing, and the services of literary agent Luigi Bonomi.  Read more

CWA Debut Dagger 2017

Information

Closing date: 
17 February 2017
Entry: 
Only unpublished authors are eligible Entry fee £30 + VAT
Prize: 
£500

For 15 years the Crime Writers Association has been encouraging new writing with its Debut Dagger competition for unpublished writers. The submissions are judged by a panel of top crime editors and agents, and the short listed entries are sent to publishers and agents.  Read more

Winchester Writing Festival Competitions 2016

Information

Closing date: 
13 May 2016
Entry: 
Open to all, whether or not they attend the Festival itself Entry fees various
Prize: 
Various

Winchester Writers' Festival
Friday 17 June - Sunday 19 June, 2016
University of Winchester, Hampshire
  Read more

No Exit Crimewriting Competition

Information

Closing date: 
22 June 2015
Entry: 
Open to all unpublished writers Entry fee £5
Prize: 
Not stated, but presumably leading to the chance of being taken on as an author

No Exit has announced a crime short story competition for unpublished writers.  Read more

Killer Reads open submission

Information

Closing date: 
14 September 2014
Entry: 
Submissions open to all authors writing in English
Prize: 
Publication by HarperCollins Killer Reads imprint

HarperCollins is launching a new digital-first crime and thriller list, which will begin publication with the best finds from an open submission held this summer. Killer Reads will invite unagented submissions from 29th August to 14th September, in all crime genres from police procedurals to high-concept thrillers. No submissions will be accepted before 29 August.  Read more

Criminal Lines

Information

Closing date: 
3 May 2014
Entry: 
Open to all unagented, debut authors born or resident in the UK and Ireland including self-published authors.
Prize: 
£1,000

A M Heath is launching a new crime writing prize in association with author consultancy The Writers' Workshop.  Read more

Syndicate content