13 October 2025
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Win £500 for short mystery fiction in the CWA's annual international contest
The CWA and the Margery Allingham Society's short fiction contest for short stories that satisfy Golden Age crime writer Margery Allingham's definition of a mystery has run every year since 2014. The definition is: 'The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with a Element of Satisfaction in it.'
Enter original, unpublished mysteries up to 3,500 words. International entries are welcomed.
The winner will receive £500.
The entry fee is £25 per story.
The closing date is 27 February 2026.
For full details see the website.
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