Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition

Open now for fiction.

Last checked Oct 10, 2026

The Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition is an international competition for original unpublished mystery and crime short stories in English.

Read the full guidelines at thecwa.co.uk↗

Submission calls

fictionMysteryEligibility requirementsCloses Jan 29, 2027Fee: £25 per storyPays: Winner receives £500 and one year’s membership with the Crime Writers’ Association.

Open to: Authors aged 18 or over on 1 January 2027; Entries must be in English, and submitted stories must not have been previously published, shortlisted for this competition, or won another competition.

International competition for original English-language mystery, crime, detective, and Golden Age-inspired short stories; stories must be unpublished, not previously shortlisted for this competition or winners of another competition. Up to 3,500 words. Entries open 1 September 2026 and close at 6pm GMT on 29 January 2027. Winner receives £500 and one year’s CWA membership.

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