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How to pick a crime writing contest

A short checklist for choosing which mystery, crime and thriller contests, awards and calls to enter, with real examples from the board.

Updated Nov 3, 2026. Every entry below was checked by hand against the organizer’s own page on the date shown. Deadlines, fees and terms change, so always confirm on the official page before you submit or pay anything.

1. Read the eligibility rules first

Most disqualifications come from eligibility, not the writing. Check whether “unpublished” includes online posts: the Desert Sleuths anthology counts audio, websites and webzines as published. Check career limits too: the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award is for writers with no more than two novels or ten short pieces published, and the Minotaur / MWA competition excludes writers who have already published a novel (self-published work doesn't count against you). Some calls also need membership or a set location, such as the Arizona setting for Desert Sleuths or the New England link for the Al Blanchard Award.

2. Compare the fee with what you could win

A fee isn’t a red flag by itself, since many respected competitions charge one. The Margery Allingham competition charges £25 for a £500 prize, for example. Still, check what the fee pays for: cash, publication, agent reads or just a certificate and seals. Plenty of strong opportunities charge nothing; see no-fee mystery contests.

3. Know what rights you’re giving up

Winning often means publication, which uses up first rights. Good calls say which rights they take and when they come back to you. Black Beacon Books, for example, takes first world English rights for its anthologies and returns all rights after release. If a call doesn’t say, ask before you enter.

4. Check the AI, simultaneous-submission and formatting rules

Many crime calls now ban generative AI outright (including the Sisters in Crime awards, Black Beacon Books and Crimson Gate Books). Some forbid simultaneous submissions. Blind-judged contests such as the Derringer Awards and the Desert Sleuths anthology will disqualify a manuscript that shows your name, sometimes even in the file’s document properties.

5. Note the exact deadline and time zone

“January 29” can mean very different hours. CWA competitions close at 6pm GMT, Desert Sleuths at 5 p.m. MST and the Derringers at midnight Eastern. Some contests, such as The Crime List, raise the fee as each deadline passes, so entering early can cost less.

6. Find out who runs it

Writers’ organizations (Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Crime Writers’ Association, Crime Writers of Canada, the Short Mystery Fiction Society) and established magazines and publishers post clear rules, judges or past winners. If you can’t tell who is behind a contest or where past winners ended up, look harder before you pay. SFWA’s Writer Beware site tracks warnings about contests and publishers.

Quick checklist

• Am I eligible (publication history, membership, location, age, AI policy)?
• Is the fee reasonable for the prize and the benefits?
• Which rights does a win or acceptance take, and for how long?
• Are simultaneous submissions allowed?
• Exact deadline, time zone and file format?
• Who runs it, and can I see past winners?

Questions writers ask

How do I know if a crime writing contest is legitimate?

Look for a named organizer, clear rules, a stated prize, published judges or past winners, and a clear statement of the rights taken. Writers' organizations such as Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and the Crime Writers' Association run long-standing contests. Writer Beware (from SFWA) tracks warnings.

Is it worth paying an entry fee for a mystery contest?

It can be. Many established competitions charge fees, such as the CWA's £25 Margery Allingham competition with a £500 prize. Compare the fee with the prize and the other benefits, and remember that many good opportunities are no-fee.

Does posting a story online count as publishing it?

Often, yes. Many contests and anthologies treat stories posted on websites, blogs or in audio as published. The Desert Sleuths anthology guidelines say so explicitly, so check each call's definition.

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