Mystery Writers of America (MWA)

Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to those who write mysteries and/or about crime in any form (for example, books, short stories, plays, and screenplays). Membership also includes other professionals who support the genre (publishers, book agents, booksellers, librarians, etc). Mystery Writers of America also provides an “Affiliate” membership category for those who are aspiring to write for the genre or who are avid fans.

About Mystery Writers of America
The stated mission of Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is to promote “higher regard for crime writing and recognition and respect for those who write within the genre,” and its slogan is “Crime does not pay -- enough.”

MWA History
Founded in 1945 by a group of mystery writers looking to get more respect--and better royalties--earliest MWA members included Erle Stanley Gardner (creator of fictional lawyer/detective Perry Mason), Fred Dannay and Manfred Lee (co-creators of Ellery Queen, their fictional detective as well as their pseudonym), Rex Stout (creator of the Nero Wolfe mysteries), and Dorothy B. Hughes (author of fourteen hard-boiled crime and noir books, most notably of Ride the Pink Horse).

The official newsletter of Mystery Writers of America was given the name “The Third Degree” by its first editor, Clayton Rawson.

From the outset, the MWA concerned itself with addressing perceived unfair practices in their publishing contracts and getting a fair share of royalties and subsidiary rights. Early on, in the organization’s mission, the members embarked on creative attention-getting and fundraising efforts, including an annual mystery anthology book series and the Edgar® Awards, both launched in 1946.

Mystery Writers of America Today
Mystery Writers of America’s eleven regional chapters continue to educate its members as to their rights and interests, and to spearhead activities that further appreciation of mystery and crime writing. MWA’s focuses include legislation and judicial decisions that affect the rights of authors and an eye on rapidly changing publishing industry practices and resulting affect on writers and authors livelihoods.

Importantly, Mystery Writers of America has acted as an archivist and historian for the American mystery. While housing a robust selection of mystery reference materials at its New York City headquarters in the Anthony Boucher Memorial Reference Library, much of the MWA’s archives are now housed in the Mugar Library of Boston University as part of the 20th Century Special Collection.

To those ends, MWA provides scholarships for writers, sponsors MWA: Reads (their youth literacy program, formerly known as Kids Love A Mystery), and sponsors relevant conferences. The and present the prestigious Edgar® Awards each April at a banquet dinner in New York City.

To learn more about the Edgar® Awards read the related article.