This is a list of notable female writers.
A
- Eleanor Hallowell Abbott (1872–1958), American poet, novelist and short story writer.
- Louise Abeita (born 1926), Native American Isleta Pueblo writer. I am a Pueblo Indian Girl
- Abiola Abrams (born 1976), American TV host, art filmmaker and author. Dare
- Kathy Acker (1947–1997), American novelist, poet, essayist and playwright. Blood and Guts in High School
- Juliette Adam (1836–1936), French author and magazine editor.
- Abigail Adams (1744–1818), former First Lady of the United States, letter writer and diarist.
- Fleur Adcock (born 1935), New Zealand born English poet and editor.
- Kim Addonizio (born 1954), American poet, novelist.
- Yda Addis (1857–1902), American writer and translator.
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977), Nigerian novelist and short story writer. Purple Hibiscus
- Renata Adler (born 1938), American author, journalist and film critic.
- Aelia Eudocia (c. 401–460), Byzantine religious writer in Greek.
- Aesara of Lucania (4th or 3rd c. BC), Greek philosopher.
- Charlotte Agell (born 1959), American novelist and children's writer.
- Kelli Russell Agodon (born 1969), American poet, writer, and editor.
- Grace Aguilar (1816–1847), English novelist and writer on Jewish history and religion.
- Delmira Agustini (1886–1914), Uruguayan poet.
- Freda Ahenakew (born 1932), Canadian author and academic.
- Ilse Aichinger (born 1921), Austrian writer.
- Ama Ata Aidoo (born 1942), Ghanaian author and playwright.
- Joan Aiken (1924–2004), English novelist. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
- Lucy Aikin (1781–1864), English historical writer.
- Akazome Emon (956–1041), Japanese poet and historian.
- Rachel Akerman (1522–1544), Austrian Jewish poet writing in German.
- Bella Akhmadulina (1937–2010), Russian/Soviet poet.
- Anna Akhmatova (1899–1966), Russian/Soviet poet. Requiem
- Anna Åkerhjelm (1647–1693), Swedish writer and traveller.
- Anne-Marie Albiach (born 1937), French poet and translator.
- Jordie Albiston (born 1961), Australian poet and academic.
- Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), American novelist. Little Women
- Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841–1930), American children's writer.
- Claribel Alegría (born 1924), Nicaraguan-born author and poet.
- Elizabeth Alexander (born 1962), American poet, essayist, playwright and academic.
- Álfrún Gunnlaugsdóttir (born 1938), Icelandic novelist.
- Al-Khansā (7th c.), Arab poet.
- Isabel Allende (born 1942), Chilean/American novelist. Eva Luna, Daughter of Fortune
- Phyllis Shand Allfrey (1908–1996), West Indian writer. The Orchid House
- Margery Allingham (1904–1966), English crime writer. Mystery Mile, Sweet Danger
- Dorothy Allison (born 1949), American writer and speaker. Trash: Short Stories, Cavedweller
- Almucs de Castelnau (c. 1140–pre-1184), French poet writing in Occitan.
- Julia Álvarez (born 1950), Dominican-American poet, novelist and essayist. How the García Girls Lost Their Accents
- Valerie Anand (born 1937), British author of historical fiction.
- Ethel Anderson (1883–1958), Australian poet, essayist, novelist and painter.
- Laurie Halse Anderson (born 1961), American author, writes for children and young adults. Speak, Twisted
- Jessica Anderson (1916–2010), Australian novelist and short story writer. The Impersonators
- Isabella Andreini (1562–1604), Italian playwright, poet and actress.
- Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (1919–2004), Portuguese poet and writer.
- Eliza Frances Andrews (1840–1931), American novelist and Civil War writer.
- Maya Angelou (born 1928), American autobiographer and poet. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
- Jane Anger (late 16th c.), English writer.
- Christine Angot (born 1959), French novelist and playwright.
- Marion Angus (1865–1946), Scottish poet writing in Braid Scots and English.
- Anyte of Tegea (fl. early 3rd c. BC), Greek poet
- Gloria E. Anzaldúa (1942–2004), American author, poet and activist. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza
- Núria Añó (born 1973), Catalan writer and novelist.
- Maria Arbatova (born 1957), Russian novelist, playwright and poet.
- Elvia Ardalani, Mexican writer, poet, and storyteller.
- Hannah Arendt (1906–1975), German Jewish political theorist. The Human Condition
- Rae Armantrout (born 1947), American writer, Language poet and professor.
- Karen Armstrong (born 1944), British author of numerous works on comparative religion. A History of God
- Kelley Armstrong (born 1968), Canadian writer, author of the Women of the Otherworld series.
- Louise Armstrong (1937–2008), American author and feminist.
- Bettina von Arnim (1785–1859), German writer and novelist.
- Elizabeth von Arnim (1866–1941), Australian-born British novelist. Mr. Skeffington
- Elizabeth Arnold (born 1944), English children's writer.
- Joanne Arnott (born 1960), Canadian Métis writer.
- Harriette Arnow (1908–1986), American novelist.
- Daisy Ashford (1881–1972), English writer. The Young Visiters
- Anastasia Ashman (born 1964), American author and cultural producer. Tales from the Expat Harem
- Anne Askew (1520/21–1546), English poet and Protestant martyr.
- Francis Leslie Ashton (1904–1994), English novelist.
- Cynthia Asquith (1887–1960), English novelist and diarist.
- Margot Asquith (1864–1945), English author.
- Mary Astell (1666–1731), English feminist writer.
- Thea Astley (1925–2004), Australian novelist and short story writer; also some poetry.
- Gertrude Atherton (1857–1948), American writer.
- Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson (1863–1942), American author, journalist and teacher.
- Kate Atkinson (born 1951), English novelists. Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird
- Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (born 1984), American novelist.
- Margaret Atwood (born 1939), Canadian novelist, poet and critic. The Handmaid's Tale
- Madeleine de l’Aubespine (1546–1596), French poet.
- Penelope Aubin (c. 1679–c. 1731), English novelist and translator.
- Dorothy Auchterlonie (1915–1991), English-born Australian academic, literary critic and poet.
- Jean M. Auel (born 1936), American novelist. Earth's Children series.
- Rose Ausländer (1901–1988), Bucovina-born poet writing in German and English.
- Jane Austen (1775–1817), English novelist. Pride and Prejudice
- Mary Austin (1868–1934), American writer. The Land of Little Rain
- Sarah Austin (1793–1867), English translator from German.
- Auvaiyar, name shared by several poets in Tamil literature.
- Frau Ava (c. 1060–1127), first female writer in German.
- Margaret Avison (1918–2007), Canadian poet, editor and speaker.
- Marilou Awiakta (born 1936), Native American Cherokee author.
- Pam Ayres (born 1947), English poet, songwriter and radio/TV presenter.
- Azalais de Porcairagues (late 12th c.), French poet writing in Occitan.
B
- Natalie Babbitt (born 1932), US author and illustrator of children's books. Tuck Everlasting
- Ingrid Bachér (born 1930), German playwright and screenwriter.
- Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973), Austrian poet, playwright and novelist.
- Albena Bakratcheva (born 1961), Bulgarian author, best known for her work on American Transcendentalism.
- Delia Bacon (1811–1859), American writer of plays and short stories, best known today for her work on the Shakespeare authorship question.
- Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), British author and playwright. National Velvet
- Elisaveta Bagryana (1893–1991), Bulgarian poet; one of the mothers of Bulgarian literature.
- Joanna Baillie (1762–1851), Scottish poet and dramatist.
- Beryl Bainbridge (1932–2010), English novelist.
- Deb Baker (born 1953), American mystery writer.
- Dorothy Baker (1907–1968), American novelist. Young Man with a Horn
- Faith Baldwin (1893–1978), was a very successful U.S. author of romance and fiction.
- Toni Cade Bambara (1939–1995), American author, social activist and college professor.
- Mary Ellen Bamford (1857–1946), American author.
- Ban Zhao (45–116 CE), first female Chinese historian. Lessons for Women
- Helen Elliott Bandini, American writer, primarily of Californian history.
- Zsuzsa Bánk (born 1965), German novelist.
- Leslie Esdaile Banks (born 1959), American author. The Vampire Huntress Legend Series
- Helen Bannerman (1862–1946), Scottish children's writer. Little Black Sambo
- Agnieszka Baranowska (1819–1890), Polish playwright and poet.
- Natalya Baranskaya (1908–2004), Soviet writer. A Week Like Any Other
- Anna Laetitia Barbauld (1743–1825), English poet, essayist and children's author. Eighteen Hundred and Eleven
- Arvède Barine (1840–1908), French writer and historian.
- Nicola Barker (born 1966), English novelist and short story writer.
- Anna Barkova (1901–1976), Soviet poet, journalist, playwright, essayist, memoirist, and writer of fiction.
- Mary Barnard (1909–2001), American poet, biographer and Greek-to-English translator.
- Djuna Barnes (1892–1982), American writer. Ladies Almanack, Nightwood
- Margaret Ayer Barnes (1886–1967), Pulitzer Prize winning American author. Years of Grace
- Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (1831–1919), British American novelist.
- Lynne Barrett American writer and editor, best known for her short stories.
- Marie Bashkirtseff (1858–1884), diarist and artist.
- Allie Bates (born 1957), American writer.
- Katharine Lee Bates (1859–1929), American songwriter.
- Carol S. Batey (born 1955), American writer.
- Baudovinia (fl. c. 600), French religious writer and nun writing in Latin.
- Dawn-Michelle Baude (born 1959), American poet, journalist and educator.
- Vicki Baum (1888–1960), Austrian novelist.
- Gertrud Bäumer (1873–1954), German writer and feminist.
- Ada Ellen Bayly (Edna Lyall, 1857–1903), English novelist.
- Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986), French author and philosopher. She Came to Stay, The Mandarins
- Margaret Bechard (born 1953), U.S. children's writer.
- Béatrix Beck (1914–2008), French novelist. The Passionate Heart
- Patricia Beer (1919–1999), English poet and critic.
- Mrs. Beeton (1836–1865), English domestic author. Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management
- Aphra Behn (1640–1689), British playwright, poet and novelist. The Rover
- Gioconda Belli (born 1948), Nicaraguan revolutionary and writer, designated among the 100 most important poets of the 20th century.
- Victoria Benedictsson (1850–1888), Swedish author.
- Elizabeth Benger (1775–1827), English novelist and biographer.
- Gwendolyn B. Bennett (1902–1981), African American writer.
- Nina Berberova (1901–1993), Soviet/Russian writer. The Tattered Cloak
- Josefa Berens-Totenohl (1891–1969), German novelist.
- Juliana Berners (14th/15th century), English writer on heraldry, hawking and hunting. The Book of Saint Albans
- Bertice Berry (born 1960), American sociologist, author, lecturer, and educator.
- Mei-mei Berssenbrugge (born 1947), Chinese American poet associated with Language poetry, the New York School, phenomenology, and visual art.
- Betty Berzon (1928–2006), American author.
- Annie Besant (1847–1933), English author, theosophist and activist. The Ancient Wisdom, Thought Forms
- Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945), English writer.
- Marthe Bibesco (1886–1973), Romanian writer in French.
- Gisèle Bienne (born 1946), French novelist.
- Linda Bierds (born 1945), American poet and professor.
- Anna Bijns (1493–1575), Flemish humanist writing in Dutch and French
- Carol Birch (born 1951), English novelist.
- Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer (c. 1800–1868), German playwright and actress.
- Isabella Bird (1831–1904) 19th-century English traveler and writer.
- Anne Bishop, American fantasy novelist. The Black Jewels series
- Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979), Pulitzer Prize winning American poet and writer.
- Malorie Blackman, author of literature and television drama for children and young adults. Noughts & Crosses series
- Susanna Blamire (1747–1794), English poet.
- Neltje Blanchan (1865–1918), American nature writer. Bird Neighbors
- Ann Eliza Bleecker (1752–1783), American poet and correspondent.
- Countess of Blessington (1789–1849), Irish novelist.
- Karen Blixen (1885–1962), Danish writer. Out of Africa
- Francesca Lia Block (born 1962), American author. Weetzie Bat series
- Amelia Bloomer (1818–1894), American writer, women's rights and temperance advocate.
- Judy Blume (born 1938), American novelist. Forever, Tiger Eyes
- Enid Blyton (1897–1968), English children's writer. Famous Five series
- Margarita Bobba (fl. 1560), Italian writer and poet
- Imma von Bodmershof (1895–1982), Austrian poet.
- Louise Bogan (1897–1970), American poet; fourth US Poet Laureate.
- Margarete Böhme (1867–1939), German novelist. Tagebuch einer Verlorenen
- Eavan Boland (born 1944), Irish poet.
- Sarah Knowles Bolton (1841–1916), American writer.
- María Luisa Bombal (1910–1980), Chilean author.
- Erma Bombeck (1927–1996), American Humorist.
- Tanella Boni, Ivorian poet and novelist.
- Geraldine Bonner (1870–1930), American author.
- Marita Bonner (1899–1971), American writer, essayist and playwright, commonly associated with the Harlem Renaissance.
- Gertrude Bonnin (Zitkala-Sa) (1876–1938), Native American writer, editor, musician, teacher and political activist.
- Mary Everest Boole (1832–1916), English writer.
- Frances Boothby (fl. ca. 1669–70), British playwright.
- Alice Borchardt (1939–2007), American writer of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror. The Silver Wolf, The Dragon Queen
- Marianne Boruch, American poet and professor.
- Anne Lynch Botta (1815–1891), American poet, writer, teacher and socialite.
- Phyllis Bottome (1884–1963), British novelist and short story writer. The Mortal Storm, Danger Signal
- Jane Bowdler (1743–1784), English poet and essayist.
- Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973), Anglo-Irish novelist and short story writer. The Death of the Heart, The Heat of the Day
- Jane Bowles (1917–1973), American writer and playwright. Two Serious Ladies
- Mary Bowes (1749–1800), English playwright and botanist.
- Karin Boye (1900–1941), Swedish poet and novelist.
- Kay Boyle (1902–1992), American writer, educator and political activist.
- Leigh Brackett (1915–1978), American science fiction author. The Starmen, People of the Talisman
- Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1837–1915), English novelist. Lady Audley's Secret
- Marion Zimmer Bradley (1930–1999), American fantasy and science fiction writer. The Door Through Space, The Firebrand
- Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672), American poet and writer.
- Shannon Bramer (born 1973), Canadian poet.
- Hannah Brand (1754–1821), English actress and playwright.
- Giannina Braschi (born 1953), Puerto Rican writer. "Empire of Dreams", "Yo-Yo Boing!"
- Ann Brashares (born 1967), author of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series.
- Lily Braun (1865–1916), German feminist writer.
- Libba Bray (born 1964), American author of young adult novels. The Sweet Far Thing, Going Bovine
- Angela Brazil (1868–1947), British writer.
- Fredrika Bremer (1801–1865), Swedish writer and feminist activist.
- Sophia Elisabet Brenner (1659–1730), Swedish writer, poet, feminist and salon hostess.
- Martha Wadsworth Brewster (1710 – c. 1757), American poet and writer; first American-born woman to publish under her own name.
- Mary Chavelita Dunne Bright (1859–1945), "New Woman" writer and feminist.
- Vera Brittain (1893–1970), English writer, feminist and pacifist. Testament of Youth
- Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić (1874–1938), Croatian children's writer, nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. Croatian Tales of Long Ago, The Marvelous Adventures and Misadventures of Hlapić the Apprentice
- Anne Brontë (1820–1849), English novelist and poet. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Agnes Grey
- Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855), English novelist and poet. Jane Eyre, Villette, Shirley
- Emily Brontë (1818–1848), English novelist and poet. Wuthering Heights
- Frances Brooke (1723–1789), English novelist, essayist, playwright and translator.
- Anita Brookner (born 1928), English novelist and art historian. Hotel du Lac
- Geraldine Brooks (born 1955), Pulitzer Prize winning author of March.
- Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000), American writer. Annie Allen, We Real Cool
- Nicole Brossard (born 1943), French Canadian formalist poet and novelist
- Rhoda Broughton (1840–1920), English novelist.
- Olga Broumas (born 1949), Greek poet, living in the United States
- Pat Brown (criminal profiler) (born 1955), True crime author, criminal profiler.
- Rebecca Brown (born 1956), American author.
- Frances Browne (1816–1887), Irish poet and novelist
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861), English poet. Aurora Leigh
- Andrée Brunin (1937–1993), French poet.
- Mary Brunton (1778–1818), Scottish novelist.
- Colette Bryce (born 1970), poet from Northern Ireland.
- Bryher (aka Annie Winifred Ellerman) (1894–1983), English novelist, poet, memoirist, and magazine editor.
- Maria Elizabeth Budden (c. 1780–1832), English novelist, translator, and children's writer.
- Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973), Pulitzer Prize winning American author. The Good Earth
- Andrea Hollander Budy (born 1947), American poet
- Buffalo Bird Woman (1839–1932), Native American Hidatsa writer.
- Anna Bülow (died 1519), Swedish writer, translator and abbess.
- Anna Bunina (1774–1829), Russian poet.
- Erika Burkart (1922–2010), Swiss poet and writer in German.
- Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924), English playwright and children's writer. The Secret Garden
- Frances Burney (1752–1840), English novelist, diarist and playwright. Evelina
- Frances Burney (1776–1828), English author of closet drama and governess.
- Sarah Burney (1772–1844), English novelist.
- Olivia Ward Bush (1869–1944), American author, poet and journalist.
- Christine Busta (1915–1987), Austrian poet.
- Sharon Butala (born 1940), Canadian novelist.
- Octavia Butler (1947–2006), American science fiction writer. Patternist series, Lilith's Brood
- Susan Bulkeley Butler, American motivational author.
- Mary Butts (1890–1937), English modernist writer.
- A. S. Byatt (born 1936), English novelist and poet. Possession: A Romance, Angels & Insects
C
- Meg Cabot (born 1967), American author. The Princess Diaries
- Caroline Caddy (born 1944), Australian poet.
- Florence Caddy (1837–1923), English writer.
- Cai Wenji (born 177), Chinese poet and composer.
- Mona Caird (c. 1854–1932), Scottish novelist and essayist.
- Hortense Calisher (1911–2009), American writer.
- Maria Callcott (1785–1842), English author of children's books and travel writings.
- Bebe Moore Campbell (1950–2006), American novelist.
- Marion May Campbell (born 1948), Australian novelist and academic.
- Dorothy Canfield (1879–1958), American author. Understood Betsy
- May Wedderburn Cannan (1893–1973), British poet.
- Minna Canth (1844–1897), Finnish writer and social activist.
- Lan Cao (born 1961), Vietnamese American writer.
- Jacqueline Carey (born 1964), American fantasy novelist. Kushiel's Legacy
- Rosa Nouchette Carey (1840–1909), English novelist and children's writer
- Leonora Carrington (born 1917), British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter and novelist.
- Angela Carter (1940–1992), English novelist and journalist. Nights at the Circus, The Bloody Chamber
- Elizabeth Carter (1717–1806), English poet, writer and Bluestocking.
- Alice Cary (1820–1871), American poet, sister of Phoebe Cary.
- Elizabeth Cary (1585–1639), English playwright. The Tragedy of Mariam
- Phoebe Cary (1824–1871), American poet, sister of Alice Cary.
- Kathryn Casey, American true crime author, novelist and journalist.
- P. C. Cast (1960), American author. House of Night
- Rosario Castellanos (1925–1974), Mexican poet and author.
- Ana Castillo (born 1953), Mexican-American novelist, poet, short story writer and essayist.
- Elisabeth Castonier (1894–1975), German-born children's writer and journalist writing in German and English.
- Rosalía de Castro (1837–1885), Galician writer and poet.
- Willa Cather (1873–1947), Pulitzer Prize winning American author. My Ántonia, O Pioneers!
- Catherine of Bologna (1413–1463), Italian religious writer and saint.
- Catherine of Genoa (St. Catherine, 1447–1510), Genoese writer and mystic.
- Catherine of Ricci (1522–1590), Italian religious writer and saint
- Jane Cavendish (1620/21–1669), English poet and playwright.
- Margaret Cavendish (1623–1673), English poet, philosopher, essayist, playwright, and writer of fiction. The Blazing World
- Susannah Centlivre (1667–1723), English playwright and poet.
- Laura Cereta (1469–1499), Italian humanist.
- Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951–1982), American novelist and artist. Dictee
- Françoise Chandernagor (born 1945), French novelist and playwright.
- Elizabeth Margaret Chandler (1807–1834), American poet and writer; first woman writer in America to make the abolition of slavery her principal theme.
- Diana Chang (born 1934), Chinese American novelist and poet.
- Hester Chapone (1727–1801), English writer and Bluestocking
- Charlotte Charke (1713–1760), English actress, playwright, novelist, and autobiographer.
- Isabelle de Charrière (1740–1805), French novelist.
- Lidia Charskaya (1875–1938), popular Russian novelist.
- Noëlle Châtelet (born 1944), French essayist, novelist and story writer.
- Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (1904–1948), Indian poet famous for her emotionally charged Hindi songs.
- Daína Chaviano (born 1960), Cuban writer. The Island of Eternal Love
- Mavis Cheek (born c. 1948), English novelist.
- Ying Chen (born 1961), Chinese Canadian author.
- Helmina von Chézy (1783–1856), German poet, playwright and librettist.
- C. J. Cherryh (born 1942), American sci-fi and fantasy author. Downbelow Station, Cyteen
- Lydia Maria Child (1802–1880), American poet, novelist and journalist. Over the River and through the Woods
- Mei Chin (born 1977), American writer and food critic.
- Paulina Chiziane (born 1955), Mozambiquean novelist and short story writer.
- Joanna Chmielewska (born 1932) Polish writer.
- Pema Chödrön (born 1936), American Buddhist author.
- Kate Chopin (1851–1904), American novelist and short story writer. The Awakening
- Helene Christaller (1872–1953), German children's novelist
- Agatha Christie (1890–1976), British crime writer. The Mousetrap, The Seven Dials Mystery
- Chrystos (born 1946), Menominee rights activist and poet.
- Lady Mary Chudleigh (1656–1710), English poet, essayist and writer. The Ladies' Defence
- Lydia Chukovskaya (1907–1996), Soviet/Russian writer. Sofia Petrovna
- Ismat Chughtai (1915–1991), Indian Urdu writer.
- Caryl Churchill (born 1938), English playwright. A Mouthful of Birds
- Sandra Cisneros (born 1954), American novelist and short story writer. The House on Mango Street, Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories
- Hélène Cixous (born 1937), Algerian-born French poet, playwright and philosopher.
- Amy Clampitt (1920–1994), American poet and author.
- Mary Higgins Clark (born 1927), American suspense novelist. A Stranger is Watching, A Cry in the Night
- Amy Key Clarke (1892–1980), English mystical poet, author and teacher.
- Gillian Clarke (born 1937), Welsh poet, playwright, editor, broadcaster, lecturer and translator
- Margareta Clausdotter (died 1486), Swedish writer and abbess.
- Beverly Cleary (born 1916), American author. The Mouse and the Motorcycle
- Kate McPhelim Cleary (1863–1905), American novelist and story writer.
- Antoinette Henriette Clémence Robert (1797–1872), French novelist and playwright.
- Cleobulina (fl. c. 550 BC), Greek poet.
- Michelle Cliff (born 1946), Jamaican-American author. No Telephone to Heaven
- Lucille Clifton (1936–2010), American poet, writer and educator.
- Caroline Clive (1801–1872), English poet and novelist.
- Catherine Clive (Kitty, 1711–1785), English actress and dramatist.
- Wendy Coakley-Thompson (born 1966), American novelist. What You Won't Do for Love
- Florence Earle Coates (1850–1927), American poet.
- Frances Power Cobbe (1822–1904), Irish writer and suffragist.
- Alice Rollit Coe (1858–1940), Canadian-American author.
- Gabrielle de Coignard (1550–1586), French poet.
- Frona Eunice Wait Colburn (1859–1946) American journalist, author of short stories and books.
- Norma Cole (born 1945), American poet, visual artist, and translator.
- Wanda Coleman (born 1946), American poet.
- Christabel Rose Coleridge (1843–1921), English novelist and editor.
- Mary Elizabeth Coleridge (1861–1907), English novelist and poet.
- Sara Coleridge (1802–1852), English writer and translator.
- Colette (1873–1954), French novelist. Gigi
- Vittoria Colonna (1490–1547), Italian poet and marchioness.
- Mary Colum (1884–1957), Irish literary critic and author.
- Anne Compton (born 1947), Canadian poet, critic, and anthologist.
- Ivy Compton-Burnett (1884–1969), English novelist. Pastors and Masters
- Helen Gray Cone (1859–1934), poet and professor of English literature
- Consort Ban (Ban Jieyu, Lady Pan, c. 48—c. 6 BC), Chinese scholar and poet.
- Eliza Cook (1818–1889), English poet.
- Marvel Cooke (1903–2000), American journalist and writer.
- Elizabeth Cook-Lynn(born 1930), Crow Creek Lakota Sioux editor, essayist, poet, novelist, and academic. Wíčazo Ša Review
- Ina Coolbrith (born Josephine Anna Smith) (1841–1928), first poet laureate of California, first public librarian in California.
- Wendy Cope (born 1945), English poet.
- Esther Copley (1786–1851), English religious and children's writer.
- Marguerite Coppin (1867–1931) woman Poet Laureate of Belgium.
- Marie Corelli (1855–1924), English novelist.
- Corinna (Κόριννα, 6th c. BC), Greek poet.
- Cornificia (c. 85–c. 40 BC), Roman poet and writer of epigrams.
- Caroline Cornwallis (1786–1858), English writer on education, philosophy and science.
- Jane Cornwallis (1581–1659), English letter writer
- Patricia Cornwell (born 1956), American crime writer. Body of Evidence, Cruel and Unusual
- Anita Cornwell (born 1923), American author.
- Jayne Cortez (born 1936), American poet and performance artist.
- Sophie Ristaud Cottin (1770–1807), French novelist.
- Hedwig Courths-Mahler (1867–1950), German novelist.
- Arlette Cousture (born 1948), Canadian writer.
- Dani Couture (born 1978), Canadian poet and novelist.
- Hannah Cowley (1743–1809), English playwright and poet.
- Dinah Mulock Craik (1826–1887), English novelist. John Halifax, Gentleman
- Margaret Craven (1901–1980), American novelist. I Heard the Owl Call My Name
- Isabella Valancy Crawford (1850–1887), Canadian poet.
- Hélisenne de Crenne (1510–1552), French novelist, epistolary writer and translator.
- M. T. C. Cronin (born 1963), Australian writer.
- Elsa Cross (born 1946), Mexican poet and essayist.
- Catherine Crowe (1800–1876), English dramatist, novelist, and author of children's books.
- Helen Cruickshank (1886–1975), Scottish poet writing in Braid Scots and English.
- Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651–1695), Mexican poet and playwright.
- Maria Susanna Cummins (1827–1866), American novelist. The Lamplighter
- Dymphna Cusack (1902—1981), Australian author. Come In Spinner
- Julie E. Czerneda (born 1955), Canadian sci-fi and fantasy author.
- Mary Crow Dog (born 1953), Native American writer and activist. Lakota Woman
D
- H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) (1886–1961), American poet, novelist and memoirist
- Jordan Dane (born 1953), American thriller writer
- Edwidge Danticat (born 1969), Haitian-American novelist. Breath, Eyes, Memory
- Catherine d'Amboise (1475–1550), French writer and poet
- Tullia d'Aragona (c. 1510–1556), Italian writer, philosopher and courtesan.
- Tina Darragh (born 1950), American Language poet.
- Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Australian fantasy novelist and short story writer. Bitterbynde trilogy
- Amma Darko (born 1956), Ghanaian novelist.
- Marie Darrieussecq (born 1969), French-Basque novelist.
- Helen Darville (Helen Dale, Helen Demidenko) (born 1972), Australian journalist and novelist.
- Kamala Das (born 1932), poet and short story writer.
- Madame d'Aulnoy (c. 1650s–1705), French writer of fairy tales.
- Marcia Davenport (1903–1996), American novelist, biographer and memoirist. The Valley of Decision, My Brother's Keeper
- Henriette Davidis (1801–1876), German cookbook writer.
- Joy Davidman (born Helen Joy Davidman) (1915–1960), writer and poet, wife of C. S. Lewis.
- Angela Davis (born 1944), American philosopher and political activist.
- Dorothy Salisbury Davis (born 1916), American mystery novelist.
- Rebecca Harding Davis (1831–1910), American journalist and novelist. Life in the Iron Mills
- Mary Davys (1674–1732), Irish novelist and playwright.
- Laura Day (born 1959), American writer of self-help books.
- Maria Dąbrowska (1889–1965) Polish writer
- Shobha De (born 1947), Indian journalist and novelist. Starry Nights
- Aurora de Albornoz (1926–1990), Spanish poet.
- Claude de Bectoz (fl. mid-16th c.), French writer and philosopher
- Teresa de Cartagena (born c. 1425), Spanish religious writer.
- Claude Catherine de Clermont (1543–1603), French scholar and courtier
- Hélisenne de Crenne (real name Marguerite Briet, c. 1510–post 1552), French novelist, letter writer and translator
- Ana de Jesús (1545–1621), Spanish writer, poet and nun.
- Mazo de la Roche (1885–1961), Canadian novelist in English. Jalna series
- Christine de Pizan (1363–c. 1430), Venetian poet writing in French.
- Florencia del Pinar (15th c.), Spanish poet.
- Pamela Dean (born 1953), American novelist. Tam Lin
- Kathryn Deans, Australian children's writer.
- Françoise d'Eaubonne (1920–2005), French feminist essayist and science fiction novelist. ecofeminism
- E. M. Delafield (1890–1943), English novelist and memoirist.
- Lucy Delaney (c. 1830 – c. 1890), American memoirist.
- Mary Delaney (1700–1788), English letter-writer and Bluestocking.
- Lucie Delarue-Mardrus (1874–1945), French poet, novelist and journalist.
- Ella Cara Deloria (1888–1971), American ethnographer, Sioux oral historian and novelist.
- Enid Derham (1882–1941), Australian poet.
- Regina Derieva (born 1949), Russian poet and writer
- Anita Desai (born 1937), Indian novelist. In Custody
- Kiran Desai (born 1971), Indian novelist. The Inheritance of Loss
- Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786–1859), French poet.
- Anne Desclos (writing as Dominique Aury and Pauline Réage, 1907–1998), French journalist and novelist.
- Antoinette du Ligier de la Garde Deshoulières (1638–1694), French poet.
- Virginie Despentes (born 1969), French novelist.
- Babette Deutsch (1895–1982), American poet, critic, translator, and novelist.
- Ashapoorna Devi (1909–1995), Bengali novelist and poet.
- Mahasweta Devi (born 1926), Bengali-Indian journalist and novelist.
- Caroline Dexter (1819–1884), English-Australian feminist journalist.
- Dhuoda (c. 803–c. 843), Frankish moralist writing in Latin. Liber Manualis
- Kate DiCamillo (born 1964), American children's author.
- Emily Dickinson (1830–1886), American poet.
- Joan Didion(born 1934), American journalist, essayist and novelist.
- Annie Dillard (born 1945), American nonfiction writer, poet, essayist and novelist. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
- Blaga Dimitrova (1922–2003), Bulgarian poet and former Vice President of Bulgaria.
- Isak Dinesen (1885–1962), Danish novelist. Out of Africa
- Diane Di Prima (born 1934), American poet.
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (born 1956). Indian-American poet, novelist and short story writer. The Mistress of Spices
- Lady Florence Dixie (1855–1905), Scottish feminist travel writer, war correspondent and novelist.
- Assia Djebar (born 1936), Algerian novelist, translator and filmmaker.
- Valentina Dmitryeva (1859–1947), Russian/Soviet writer. Hveska, the Doctor's Watchman
- Rosemary Dobson (born 1920), Australian poet.
- Mary Mapes Dodge (1831–1905), American children's writer. Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates
- Berlie Doherty (born 1943), English novelist, poet, playwright, screenwriter and children's writer.
- Hilde Domin (1909–2006), German poet.
- Emma Donoghue (born 1969), Irish-Canadian novelist. Hood
- Doris Dörrie (born 1955), German novelist and film director.
- Lyubov Dostoyevskaya (1869–1926), Russian writer. The Emigrant
- Sarah Doudney (1841–1926), English children's writer and poet.
- O. Douglas, pen name of Anna Buchan (1877–1948), Scottish novelist.
- Maro Douka (born 1947), Greek novelist.
- Sara Douglass (Sara Warneke) (born 1957), Australian fantasy novelist. The Axis Trilogy
- Rita Dove (born 1952), American poet. Thomas and Beulah
- Unity Dow (born 1959), Botswana human rights activist and novelist.
- Margaret Drabble (born 1939), English novelist and biographer. The Millstone
- Judith Drake (late 17th century), English feminist essayist.
- Ingeborg Drewitz (1923–1986), German playwright and novelist
- Celia Dropkin (1887–1956), Berorussian-American Yiddish-language poet.
- Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797–1848), German poet.
- Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955), Scottish poet and playwright; first female and first Scottish Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom
- Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989), English novelist. Rebecca
- Marilyn Dumont (born 1955), First Nations Canadian poet.
- Sarah Dunant (born 1950), English genre novelist. The Birth of Venus
- Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875–1935), American poet, journalist and political activist.
- Lois Duncan (born 1934), American young adult thriller writer. I Know What You Did Last Summer
- Elaine Dundy (1931–2008), American journalist, novelist and biographer.
- Dương Thu Hương (born 1947), Vietnamese dissident and novelist. Paradise of the Blind
- Rachel Blau DuPlessis (born 1941), American poet and essayist, known as a feminist critic and scholar.
- Mary Durack (1913–1994), Australian historical novelist and children's writer.
- Claire de Duras (1777–1828), French novelist. Ourika
- Marguerite Duras (Marguerite Donnadieu) (1914–1996), French novelist, playwright and screenwriter. L'Amant, Hiroshima mon amour
- Karen Duve (born 1961), German novelist and story writer.
- Guerguina Dvoretzka, Bulgarian poet and journalist.
E
- Edith Maude Eaton, a.k.a. Sui Sin Far (1865–1914), Chinese-English-Canadian novelist.
- Winnifred Eaton, a.k.a. Watanna Onoto (1875–1954), Chinese-English-Canadian-American novelist and short story writer.
- Margareta Ebner, (1291–1351), German diarist and mystic.
- Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916), Austrian novelist.
- Leigh Eddings (1939–2007), American fantasy novelist.
- Emily Eden (1797–1869), English novelist and poet.
- Maria Edgeworth (1767–1849), English-born Irish novelist. Castle Rackrent
- Egeria (Aetheria) (fl. AD 381–4), Gallic pilgrim and correspondent writing in Latin.
- Barbara Ehrenreich (born 1941), American feminist, socialist and political activist.
- Marianne Ehrenström (1773–1867), Swedish writer.
- Roza Eldarova (born 1923), Soviet writer and politician writing in Russian.
- Elephantis ((fl. late 1st c. BC), Greek erotic poet.
- George Eliot (born Marian Evans, 1819–1880), English novelist and poet. The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Middlemarch
- Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine (in German: Liselotte von der Pfalz, 1652–1722), German correspondent.
- Elizabeth F. Ellet (1818–1877), American writer, historian and poet.
- Elizabeth Elstob (1683–1756), English feminist scholar and translator.
- Diamela Eltit (born 1949), Chilean novelist.
- Lynn Emanuel (born 1949), American poet.
- Buchi Emecheta (born 1944), Nigerian novelist. The Bride Price
- Claudia Emerson (born 1957), American poet; won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
- Carol Emshwiller (born 1921), American novelist and short story writer.
- Dorothe Engelbretsdotter (1634–1716), Norway's first recognized female author.
- Isobel English (1920–1994), English novelist. Every Eye
- Enchi Fumiko (Fumi Ueda, 1905–1986), Japanese playwright, novelist and short story writer.
- Marian Engel (1933–1985), Canadian novelist.
- Nora Ephron (born 1941), American film director, producer, screenwriter and novelist.
- Louise Erdrich (born 1954), American novelist, poet and children's writer.
- Erinna (Ἤριννα, fl. c. 600 BC), Greek poet.
- Anastasia Eristavi-Khoshtaria (1868–1951), Georgian novelist.
- Annie Ernaux (born 1940), French novelist and autobiographer.
- Florbela Espanca (1894–1930), Portuguese poet.
- Nataly von Eschstruth (1860–1939), German novelist
- Laura Esquivel (born 1950), Mexican novelist. Like Water for Chocolate
- Clarissa Pinkola Estés (born 1945), American poet.
- Eleanor Estes (1906–1988), American children's writer. The Moffats, Ginger Pye
- Parvin E'tesami (1907–1941), Persian poet of Iran
- Janet Evanovich (born 1943), American novelist. Stephanie Plum series
- Augusta Jane Evans (1835–1909), American novelist.
- Mari Evans (born 1923), American poet, playwright and children's writer.
- Matilda Jane Evans (Maud Jean Franc, 1827–1886), Australian novelist.
- Juliana Horatia Ewing (1841–1885), English children's writer.
F
- Diane Fahey (born 1945), Australian poet.
- Diane Fanning, American true crime author and novelist.
- Ursula Fanthorpe (born 1929), English poet.
- Nancy Farmer (born 1941), American young adult and children's novelist. The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
- Penelope Farmer (born 1939), English children's novelist. Charlotte Sometimes
- Forough Farrokhzad (1935–1967), Iranian poet and film director.
- Margaretta Faugères (1771–1801) American poet.
- Jesse Redmon Fauset (1882–1961), American poet, essayist and novelist. Plum Bun
- Else Feldmann (1884–1942), Austrian playwright, poet and novelist.
- Edna Ferber (1885–1968), American novelist and playwright. Show Boat
- Charlene "Charlie" Fern (born 1968), American speechwriter to Laura Bush.
- Fanny Fern (1811–1872), American columnist, humorist, novelist, and children's writer. Ruth Hall
- Roberta Fernández, American novelist, scholar, critic and arts advocate.
- Renée Ferrer de Arréllaga (born 1944), Paraguayan poet and novelist.
- Susan Edmonstoune Ferrier (1782–1854), Scottish novelist.
- Rachel Field (1894–1942), American novelist, poet, and children's writer. Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
- Helen Fielding (born 1958), English novelist. Bridget Jones's Diary
- Sarah Fielding (1710–1768), English novelist.
- Celia Fiennes (1662–1741), English travel writer.
- Sia Figiel (born 1967), Samoan poet and novelist.
- Adelaide Filleul (1761–1836), French novelist.
- Anne Finch (Countess of Winchilsea, 1661–1720), English poet.
- Annie Finch (born 1956), American poet, translator and critic
- M. F. K. Fisher (1908–1992), American food writer.
- Penelope Fitzgerald (1916–2000), English novelist, poet, essayist and biographer.
- Louise Fitzhugh (1928–1974), American author and illustrator of children's books. Harriet the Spy
- Fannie Flagg (born 1944), American screenwriter and novelist. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
- Marieluise Fleißer (1901–1974), German playwright.
- Marjorie (Marjory) Fleming (1803–1811), Scottish child diarist and poet.
- Zénaïde Fleuriot (1829–1890), French novelist.
- Lynn Flewelling (born 1958), American novelist. Nightrunner
- Winifred Foley (1914–2009), English autobiographer.
- Mary Hallock Foote (1847–1938), American novelist.
- Jolán Földes (1902–1963), Hungarian novelist.
- Esther Forbes (1891–1967), American novelist and children's writer. Johnny Tremain
- Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force (1654–1724), French novelist and poet.
- Olga Forsh (1873–1961), Russian/Soviet writer. Palace and Prison
- Margaret Forster (born 1938), English novelist and biographer.
- Hannah Webster Foster (1758–1840), American novelist. The Coquette
- Karen Joy Fowler (born 1950), American novelist and short story writer.
- Janet Frame (1924–2004), New Zealand novelist and autobiographer.
- Marie de France (fl. 12th century), poet in Anglo-Norman French
- Annie Francé-Harrar (1886–1971), Austrian writer and scientist.
- Suzanne Francis (born 1959), English fantasy author.
- Julia Franck (born 1970), German novelist.
- Veronica Franco (1546–1591), Italian poet and courtesan.
- Louise von François (1817–1893), German novelist.
- Anne Frank (Anna, 1929–1945), German-born Dutch diarist. The Diary of a Young Girl
- Miles Franklin (1879–1954), Australian feminist writer. My Brilliant Career
- Antonia Fraser (born 1932), English genre novelist and biographer. Mary, Queen of Scots, Quiet as a Nun
- Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852–1930), American novelist and short story writer.
- Elizabeth Wynne Fremantle (1778–1857), English diarist.
- Gayleen Froese (born 1972), Canadian mystery novelist and songwriter.
- Eva Margareta Frölich (1650–1692), Swedish writer.
- Margaret Fuller (1810–1850), American feminist journalist.
- Mary Eliza Fullerton (1868–1946), Australian feminist poet, short story writer, journalist and novelist.
- Alice Fulton (born 1952), American author, poet.
- Cornelia Funke (born 1958), German children's writer. The Thief Lord, Inkworld trilogy
- Bilkisu Funtuwa, Nigerian novelist.
G
- Ekaterine Gabashvili (1851–1938), Georgian feminist novelist.
- Frances Dana Barker Gage (1808–1884), American writer, poet, reformer, feminist and abolitionist.
- Mary Gaitskill (born 1954), American essayist, novelist and short story writer.
- Zona Gale (1874–1938), American novelist and playwright.
- Mavis Gallant (born 1922), Canadian-French short story-writer.
- Tess Gallagher (born 1943), American poet, essayist, novelist, and playwright.
- Karina Galvez (born 1964), Ecuadorian poet.
- Jane Gardam (born 1928), British author of children's and adult fiction.
- Helen Garner (born 1942), Australian novelist and journalist. The Children's Bach
- Constance Garnett (1861–1946), English translator from Russian
- Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865), English novelist and biographer. Cranford
- Whitney Gaskell (born 1972), American novelist.
- Nathalie Gassel (born 1964), Belgian feminist writer.
- Pauline Gedge (born 1945), Canadian genre novelist.
- Elizabeth George (born 1949), American mystery novelist. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
- Margaret George (born 1943), American historical novelist.
- Amy Gerstler (born 1956), American poet.
- Gertrud von Helfta (1256–c. 1302), saint and mystic writing in Latin.
- Amélie Gex (1835–1883), French poet and writer in French and Franco-Provençal.
- Kaye Gibbons (born 1960), American novelist. Ellen Foster
- Stella Gibbons (1902–1989), English novelist, journalist and short story writer. Cold Comfort Farm
- Ellen Gilchrist (born 1935), American novelist, short story writer, and poet.
- ElizaBeth Gilligan, American fantasy novelist.
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935), American sociologist, author, poet and lecturer for social reform. Herland
- Mary Gilmore (1865–1962), Australian socialist poet and journalist.
- Nikki Giovanni (born 1943), African American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator.
- Diane Glancy (born 1941), American poet, novelist and playwright.
- Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945), American novelist.
- Susan Glaspell (1876–1948), American novelist and playwright.
- Madeline Gleason (1903–1979), American poet and dramatist.
- Louise Glück (born 1943), American poet; 42nd US Poet Laureate
- Emma Goldman (1869–1940), Lithuanian-American anarchist writer.
- Claire Goll (1890–1977), German-born poet and novelist writing in German and French.
- Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda (1814–1873), Cuban novelist, playwright and poet. Sab
- Allegra Goodman (born 1967), American novelist.
- Nadine Gordimer (born 1923), South African writer, political activist and Nobel Prize in literature laureate.
- Catherine Gore (1799–1861), British novelist and dramatist.
- Hedwig Gorski (born 1949), American performance poet and an avant-garde artist.
- Hiromi Goto (born 1966), Canadian novelist.
- Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793), French journalist during the Revolution.
- Posie Graeme-Evans (born 1952), English-Australian historical novelist and screenwriter.
- Agnieszka Graff (born 1970), Polish feminist academic writer and essayist.
- Françoise de Graffigny (1695–1758), French novelist and playwright.
- Sue Grafton (born 1940), American mystery novelist. Kinsey Millhone series ("A" Is for Alibi etc.)
- Jorie Graham (born 1950), American poet.
- Anna Katharine Green (1846–1935), American mystery novelist. Marked "Personal"
- Debora Greger (born 1949), American poet and visual artist.
- Linda Gregg (born 1942), American poet.
- Simonetta Greggio (born 1961), Italian-born novelist writing in French.
- Lady Gregory (1852–1932), Irish folklore revivalist and playwright.
- Catharina Regina von Greiffenberg (1633–1694), Austrian poet.
- Elizabeth Griffith (c. 1727–1793), Irish dramatist, fiction writer, essayist, and actress.
- Martha Grimes (born 1931), American mystery novelist. Richard Jury series
- Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837–1914), American anti-slavery activist and poet.
- Angelina Weld Grimke (1880–1958), American journalist and poet.
- Eliza Griswold (born 1973), American journalist and poet.
- Claudine Guérin de Tencin (1682–1749), French literary patron and novelist.
- Guðrún Helgadóttir (born 1935), Icelandic children's writer.
- Judith Guest (born 1936), American novelist and screenwriter. Ordinary People
- Pernette Du Guillet (c. 1520–1545), French poet.
- Guji, Princess of Joseon (died 1489), Korean writer, poet and dancer.
- Karoline von Günderrode (1780–1806), German poet.
- Eileen Gunn (born 1945), American short story writer and editor.
- Elizabeth Gunn, American mystery novelist.
- Susannah Gunning (c. 1740–1800), English novelist
- Elena Guro (1877–1913), Russian Futurist writer. The Little Camels of the Sky
- Emma Jane Guyton (1825–1887), English novelist and editor
- Beth Gylys (born 1964), American poet and professor.
H
- Maria Hack (1777–1844), English children's writer.
- Marilyn Hacker (born 1942), American poet, translator and critic.
- Jessica Hagedorn (born 1949), Filipino American poet, playwright and novelist.
- Ida, Countess of Hahn-Hahn (1805–1880), German novelist.
- Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (born 1938), American novelist and playwright.
- Gisèle Halimi (born 1927), French-Tunisian feminist essayist.
- Anna Maria (Mrs S. C.) Hall (1800–1881), Irish novelist.
- Radclyffe Hall (1880–1943), English novelist.
- Anne, Lady Halkett (1623–1699), English memoirist and religious essayist.
- Marion Rose Halpenny English Equestrian Writer and author of the pioneering book British Racing and Racecourses.
- Virginia Hamilton (1936–2002), American children's novelist. M. C. Higgins, the Great
- Beatrice Hammer (born 1963), French novelist and children's writer.
- Judith Hand (born 1940), American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter.
- Nathalie Handal, French-American poet and playwright of Palestinian descent.
- Sophie Hannah (born 1971), English poet and novelist. Little Face
- Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965), American playwright. A Raisin in the Sun
- Thea von Harbou (1888–1954), German novelist and screenwriter.
- Joy Harjo (born 1951), American poet.
- Frances Harper (1825–1911), American poet and novelist. Iola Leroy
- Alice Harriman (1861–1925), American poet, and publisher. A Man of Two Countries, Wilt Thou Not Sing.
- Carla Harryman (born 1952), American poet, essayist, and playwright; associated with the Language poets.
- Petra Hartmann (born 1970), German journalist, novelist and children's writer.
- Gwen Harwood (1920–1995), Australian poet and librettist.
- Mihri Hatun (died 1506), female Ottoman poet.
- Marlen Haushofer (1920–1970), Austrian novelist and children's author.
- Eliza Haywood (1693–1756), English novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and translator.
- Shirley Hazzard (born 1931), American novelist, non-fiction and short-story writer.
- Bessie Head (1937–1986), Botswanan novelist, journalist and short story writer.
- Anne Hébert (1916–2000), Canadian poet and novelist. Kamouraska
- Jennifer Michael Hecht (born 1965), American poet, historian, philosopher and author.
- Allison Hedge Coke (born 1958), American poet and writer.
- Ursula Hegi (born 1946), German American novelist.
- Lyn Hejinian (born 1941), American poet, essayist, translator and publisher
- Héloïse d’Argenteuil (c. 1101–1164), French scholar and abbess writing in Latin.
- Lillian Hellman (1905–1984), American playwright.
- Felicia Hemans (1793–1835), English-born Welsh poet writing in English.
- Beth Henley (born 1952), American playwright and screenwriter.
- Emmy Hennings (1885–1948), German poet and performer.
- Luise Hensel (1798–1876), German religious writer and poet.
- Heo Nanseolheon (1563–1589), Korean female poet of the mid-Joseon dynasty.
- Mary Sidney Herbert (1561–1621), English poet, translator, and patron.
- Judith Hermann (born 1970), German story writer.
- M. Miriam Herrera, American author and poet.
- Karen Hesse (born 1952), American children's novelist. Out of the Dust
- Dorothy Hewett (1923–2002), Australian feminist poet, novelist, librettist and playwright
- Eleanor Hibbert (1906–1993), English historical novelist (countless pseudonyms). Murder Most Royal
- Patricia Highsmith (1921–1995), American crime novelist and short story writer. Strangers on a Train
- Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), German mystic, playwright and poet writing in Latin. Scivias
- Lorna Hill (1902–1991), English children's novelist.
- Hilda Hilst (1930–2004), Brazilian poet, playwright and novelist
- S. E. Hinton (born 1948), American children's novelist. The Outsiders
- Hồ Xuân Hương (1772–1822), Vietnamese poet born at the end of the Lê Dynasty
- Laura Z. Hobson (1900–1986), American novelist.
- Karla Höcker (1901–1992), German novelist and biographer.
- Nina Kiriki Hoffman (born 1955), American novelist and short story writer.
- Barbara Hofland (1770–1844), English children's writer and poet.
- Linda Hogan (born 1947), American poet, novelist and short story writer.
- Constance Holme (1880–1955), English novelist and playwright.
- Winifred Holtby (1898–1935), English novelist and journalist.
- Bell Hooks (born 1952), American feminist academic.
- Ellen Sturgis Hooper (1812–1848), American poet, member of the Transcendental Club
- Pauline Hopkins (1859–1930), American novelist, journalist and playwright.
- Marya Hornbacher (born 1974), American author and freelance journalist.
- Janette Turner Hospital (born 1942), Australian novelist and short story writer.
- Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, American author of Farewell to Manzanar.
- Julia Ward Howe (1819–1910), American abolitionist, social activist, and poet, most famous as the author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".
- Fanny Howe (born 1940), American poet, novelist, and short story writer.
- Susan Howe (born 1937), American poet, scholar, essayist and critic; closely associated with the Language poets.
- Ada Verdun Howell (1902–1981), Australian American poet.
- Anna Mary Howitt (1824–1884), English writer and feminist.
- Mary Howitt (1799–1888), English poet and children's writer. The Spider and the Fly
- Hrotsvith von Gandersheim (c. 935–c. 1002), German dramatist and poet writing in Latin.
- Huang E (aka Huang Xiumei) (1498–1569), Chinese poet of the Ming dynasty.
- Huarui Furen (fl. mid-10th c.), Chinese poet.
- Ricarda Huch (1864–1947), German historian, novelist and poet.
- Frieda Hughes (born 1960), English poet and painter
- Constance Hunting (1925–2006), American poet and publisher.
- Fannie Hurst (1885–1968), American novelist.
- Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960), American novelist.
- Nancy Huston (born 1953), Canadian novelist and essayist writing in French and English.
- Lucy Hutchinson (1620–1681), English biographer.
- Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997), English-Kenyan memoirist and journalist.
- Hypatia (ca. AD 350/70–415), Greek philosopher and mathematician.
I
- Nilima Ibrahim (1921–2002), Bangladeshi writer (details missing).
- Elizabeth Inchbald (1753–1821), English novelist, actress, and dramatist. Lovers' Vows, A Simple Story
- Rachel Ingalls (born 1940), American novelist. Mrs. Caliban
- Jean Ingelow (1820–1897), English poet.
- Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir (born 1942), Icelandic poet.
- Sylvia Iparraguirre (born 1947), Argentine novelist.
- Lady Ise (c. 875–c. 938), Japanese poet.
- Ise no Taiu or Taifu (early 11th c.), Japanese poet.
- Molly Ivins (born 1944), American columnist.
- Princess Iwa (4th or 5th c.), Japanese poet.
- Izumi Shikibu (born c. 976), Japanese poet.
J
- Helen Hunt Jackson (1830–1885), American novelist. Ramona
- Shelley Jackson (born 1963), Filipino American novelist, short story writer and essayist. Patchwork Girl
- Shirley Jackson (1916–1965), American novelist and short story writer. "The Lottery"
- Harriet Jacobs (1813–1897), American memoir writer. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
- Josephine Jacobsen (1908–2003), American poet, short story writer, and critic; 21st US Poet Laureate
- Frances Jacson (1754–1842), English novelist.
- Rona Jaffe (1932–2005), American novelist. The Best of Everything
- Svava Jakobsdóttir (1930–2004), Icelandic playwright and short story writer.
- Alice James (1848–1892), American diarist.
- P. D. James (born 1920), English mystery novelist. Cover Her Face
- Anna Brownell Jameson (1794–1860), Irish-born English writer on art and literature.
- Elizabeth Janeway (1913–2005), American novelist.
- Éva Janikovszky (1926–2003), Hungarian author of children's books.
- Tama Janowitz (born 1957), American novelist, short story writer and screenwriter. Slaves of New York
- Lisa Jarnot (born 1967), American poet
- Elfriede Jelinek (born 1946), Austrian playwright, novelist and Nobel Prize winner.
- Gish Jen (born 1956), American writer.
- Elizabeth Jennings (1926–2001), English poet
- Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), American novelist and short story writer.
- Geraldine Jewsbury (1812–1880), English novelist
- Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (born 1927), German-English-Indian-American novelist and screenwriter. Heat and Dust, A Room with a View, Howards End
- Jindeok of Silla (fl. 647–654), Korean poet and queen.
- Empress Jitō (645–702), Japanese poet and empress.
- Rita Joe (born 1932), Canadian poet.
- Georgia Douglas Johnson (1877–1966), American poet.
- Helene Johnson (1906–1995), American poet.
- Pauline Johnson (1861–1913), Canadian poet.
- Mary Johnston (1870–1936), American novelist.
- Diana Wynne Jones (born 1934), British novelist, primarily of fantasy.
- Sandy Jones (born 1943), American parenting writer.
- Erica Jong (born 1942), American novelist. Fear of Flying
- Ingrid Jonker (1933–1965), South African poet.
- Kishi Joō (929–985), Japanese poet.
- June Jordan (1936–2002), American poet, essayist, journalist, novelist, librettist and autobiography writer.
- Irena Jordanova (born 1980), Macedonian author.
- Jenny Joseph (born 1932), English poet.
- Heidi Julavits (born 1968), American journalist and novelist.
- Julian of Norwich (1342–1416), English mystic.
- Miranda July (born 1974), American writer and performance artist.
- Susannah Willard Johnson (1729–1810), American memoirist.
K
- Sheema Kalbasi (born 1972), Iranian poet, producer, critic, blogger and human rights advocate.
- Julie Kane (born 1952), American poet, scholar and editor; Louisiana Poet Laureate 2011–2013.
- Anna Louisa Karsch (1722–1791), German poet and letter writer.
- Lady Kasa (early 8th c.), Japanese poet.
- Marie Luise Kaschnitz (1901–1974), German novelist and poet.
- Kassia (810–pre-865), Byzantine poet and composer writing in Greek.
- Gina Kaus (1893–1985), Austrian novelist and screenwriter.
- Julia Kavanagh (1824–1877), Irish novelist.
- Annie Keary (1825–1879), English novelist and poet.
- Antigone Kefala (born 1935), Australian poet and prose-writer of Greek-Romanian heritage.
- Helen Keller (1880–1968), American lecturer, essayist, and autobiography writer. Light in my Darkness
- Gene Kemp (born 1926), English children's writer.
- Margery Kempe (c. 1373–1438), English autobiographer and mystic.
- Margaret Kennedy (1896–1967), English novelist. The Constant Nymph
- Judith Kerr (born 1923), German-born English children's writer in English.
- Irmgard Keun (1905–1982), German novelist.
- Vénus Khoury-Ghata (born 1937), Lebanese-French writer; former Miss Beirut.
- Nadezhda Khvoshchinskaya (1824–1889), Russian novelist. The Boarding School Girl
- Sue Monk Kidd (born 1948), American writer. The Secret Life of Bees
- Emelihter Kihleng, first Micronesian poet to publish a collection in English.
- Anne Killigrew (1660–1685), English poet.
- Dorothy Kilner (1755–1836), English children's writer.
- Ronyoung Kim (1926–1987), Korean American writer.
- Jamaica Kincaid (born 1949), Antiguan American novelist. Annie John
- Grace King (1852–1932), American short story writer and historian.
- Tabitha King (born 1949), American novelist.
- Barbara Kingsolver (born 1955), American novelist, poet, short story writer and essayist.
- Sarah Kirsch (born 1935), German poet and translator.
- Anne Knight (1792–1860), English children's writer.
- Maxine Hong Kingston (born 1940), Chinese American novelist and academic.
- Karin Kiwus (born 1942), German poet.
- Carolyn Kizer (born 1925), American poet.
- Annette Kolb (1870–1967), German writer
- Alexandra Kollontai (1872–1952), Russian/Soviet writer and important political figure. A Great Love
- Gertrud Kolmar (1894–1943), German poet.
- Anna Komnene (1083–1183), Byzantine chronicler and emperor's daughter writing in Greek, Alexiad
- Amalia Wilhelmina Königsmarck (1663–1740), Swedish noble, known as a dilettante artist (painter), amateur actor, and poet
- Maria Konopnicka (1842–1910), Polish novelist, poet, translator and essayist.
- Lina Kostenko (born 1930), Ukrainian poet.
- Elizabeth Kostova (born 1964), American novelist. The Historian
- Helene Kottannerin (fl. 1430s), Hungarian memoirist writing in German.
- Sofia Kovalevskaya (1859–1891), Russian writer and major mathematician. Nihilist Girl
- Hanna Krall (born 1937) Polish writer, novelist, journalist.
- Julia Kristeva (born 1941), Bulgarian-French critic, philosopher and novelist.
- Uma Krishnaswami (born 1956), children's writer.
- Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir (born 1949), Icelandic novelist.
- Agota Kristof (born 1935), Hungarian novelist writing in French.
- Maxine Kumin (born 1925), American poet and children's novelist.
- Joanne Kyger (born 1934), American poet; tied to the poets of Black Mountain, the San Francisco Renaissance, and the Beat generation.
- Jean Kwok, Chinese American novelist.
L
- Mercedes Lackey (born 1950), American fantasy novelist.
- Madame de La Fayette (1634–1693), French novelist. La Princesse de Clèves
- Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940), Swedish novelist and children's novelist, and 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature-winner.
- Sinikka Laine (born 1945), Finnish writer of young adult literature.
- Jhumpa Lahiri (born 1967), Bengali American short story writer and novelist. The Namesake
- Laila Lalami (born 1968), Moroccan American journalist, essayist and novelist. Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits
- Lalleshwari (aka Lalla, Lal Ded or Lal Arifa) (1320–1392), Mystic and poet; creator of the mystic poetry called vatsun, the earliest compositions in the Kashmiri language.
- Lady Caroline Lamb (1785–1828), English novelist.
- Mary Lamb (1764–1847), co-author with her brother Charles Lamb.
- Alice Elinor Lambert (1886–1981), American romance novelist.
- Anne Lamott (born 1954), political activist, progressive and author of several novels and works of non-fiction.
- Leena Lander (born 1955), Finnish novelist.
- Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L., 1802–1838), English poet and novelist.
- Margaret Landon (1903–1993), American novelist. Anna and the King of Siam
- Jane Lane (1905–1978), British historical novelist and biographer.
- Katja Lange-Müller (born 1951), German novelist.
- Elisabeth Langgässer (1899–1950), German poet and novelist.
- Eve Langley (1908–1974), Australian novelist.
- Aemilia Lanyer (1569–1645), English poet.
- Alda Lara (1930–1962), Angolan poet.
- Lucy Larcom (1824–1893), millgirl, frequent contributor to the Lowell Offering, published four books of poetry in her lifetime.
- Claudia Lars (1899–1974), Salvadoran poet.
- Nella Larsen (1891–1964), American novelist and short story writer.
- Sophie von La Roche (1730–1807), German novelist.
- Else Lasker-Schüler (1869–1945), German poet and playwright.
- Yulia Latynina (born 1966), Russian writer. The Insider
- Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian poet and novelist.
- Margaret Laurence (1926–1987), Canadian novelist and short story writer. The Stone Angel
- Christine Lavant (1915–1973), Austrian poet and novelist.
- Mary Lavin (1912–1996), Irish novelist and short story writer.
- Emily Lawless (1845–1913), Irish novelist and poet.
- Layla al-Akhyaliyya (7th c.), Arab poet.
- Emma Lazarus (1849–1887), best known for her poem The New Colossus (inscribed on the Statue of Liberty)
- Jane Leade (1624–1704), English mystic.
- Louisa Leaman (born 1976), English writer on education.
- Mary Leapor (1722–1746), English poet.
- Violette Leduc (1907–1972), French novelist and autobiographer.
- Ursula K. Le Guin (born 1929), American science fiction and children's novelist, poet and essayist. Earthsea, Ekumen
- Harper Lee (born 1926), American novelist. To Kill a Mockingbird
- Harriet Lee (1757–1851), English novelist and playwright.
- Muna Lee (1895–1965), American poet and translator.
- Sophia Lee (1750–1824), English playwright and novelist.
- Tanith Lee (born 1947), British novelist, poet, and screenwriter.
- Gertrud von Le Fort (1876–1971), German novelist, poet and essayist.
- Joy Leftow American poet.
- Tuija Lehtinen (born 1954), Finnish children's writer and novelist.
- Leena Lehtolainen (born 1964), Finnish crime writer.
- Rebecca Lenkiewicz (born 1968), English playwright.
- Katerina Lemmel (1466–1533), German letter-writer and nun.
- Madeleine L'Engle (born 1918), American novelist and children's novelist. A Wrinkle in Time
- Sue Lenier (born 1957), English poet and playwright.
- Ellen Lenneck (1851–1880), German novelist and story writer.
- Anna Maria Lenngren (1754–1817), Swedish writer, poet, feminist, translator and salonist.
- Charlotte Lennox (1720–1804), English novelist, poet, and dramatist.
- Donna Leon (born 1942), American-Italian mystery novelist.
- Ellen Lenneck (Helene Weichardt, 1851–1880), German author of novels and novellas.
- Charlotte Lennox (1730–1804), American-born English writer and poet.
- Doris Lessing (born 1919), English-Zimbabwean novelist. Canopus in Argos
- Meridel Le Sueur (1900–1996), American journalist and novelist.
- Octavia Walton Le Vert (1811–1877), American writer.
- Denise Levertov (1923–1997), English American poet and essayist.
- Aurora Levins Morales (born 1954), U.S. Puerto Rican essayist, poet and fiction writer.
- Andrea Levy (born 1956), English novelist.
- Fanny Lewald (1811–1889), German novelist and feminist.
- Alethea Lewis (1749–1827), English novelist.
- Janet Lewis (1899–1998), American novelist.
- Li Qingzhao (1084–1151), Chinese poet of the Song Dynasty.
- Mechtilde Lichnowsky (1879–1958), German poet, playwright and essayist.
- Erika Liebman (1738–1803), Swedish poet and academic.
- Antoinette du Ligier de la Garde Deshoulières (1638–1694), French poet.
- Rosa Liksom (born 1958), Finnish short story writer, novelist and children's writer.
- Suzanne Lilar (1901–1992), Belgian playwright, essayist and novelist writing in French.
- Lin Huiyin (1904–1955), Chinese architect and writer.
- Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002), Swedish children's novelist. Pippi Longstocking
- Elizabeth Linington (1921–1988), American mystery novelist.
- Kelly Link (born 1969), American short story writer and editor.
- Clarice Lispector (1920–1977), Brazilian novelist. The Passion According to G.H.
- Dorothy Livesay (1909–1996), Canadian poet.
- Liz Lochhead (born 1947), Scottish poet and dramatist.
- Mirra Lokhvitskaya (1869–1905), Russian poet.
- Anita Loos (1888–1981), American screenwriter, playwright and novelist. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (book)
- Josefina Lopez (born 1969), Chicana playwright,screenwriter and novelist Real Women Have Curves
- Audre Lorde (1934–1992), American poet.
- Emilie Loring (1864–1951), American romance novelist.
- Isabel Losada, British writer, actress, singer, dancer, and television producer.
- Amy Lowell (1874–1925), American poet.
- Lois Lowry (born 1937), American children's novelist. Number the Stars, The Giver
- Mina Loy (1882–1966), English poet and artist.
- Dulce María Loynaz (1902–1997), Cuban poet and novelist.
- Clare Booth Luce (1903–1987), American editor, playwright and journalist.
- Jane Lumley (1537–1578), English translator.
- Ulla-Lena Lundberg (born 1947), Finland-Swedish author.
- Alison Lurie (born 1926), American novelist and academic. Foreign Affairs
M
- Rose Macaulay (1881–1958), The Towers of Trebizond
- Gwendolyn MacEwen (1941–1987), Canadian novelist and poet.
- Serena Mackesy (born 1960s), English novelist and journalist
- Mary Mackey (born 1945), American novelist, poet and academic.
- Patricia MacLachlan (born 1938), American children's novelist. Sarah, Plain and Tall
- Mary MacLane (1881–1929), controversial Canadian-American writer.
- Charlotte MacLeod (1922–2005), Canadian/American novelist and mystery writer.
- Akka Mahadevi (12th c.), Indian poet writing in Old Kannada.
- Mahsati Ganjavi (c. 1089–post-1159), Persian poet.
- Jennifer Maiden (born 1949), Australian poet.
- Eudokia Makrembolitissa (c.1021–1096), Byzantine poet and empress writing in Greek.
- Rosie Malek-Yonan Assyrian novelist, actor and filmmaker.
- Gitta Mallasz (1907–1992), Hungarian author of esoteric dialogues.
- Françoise Mallet-Joris (born 1930), Belgian-French novelist and essayist.
- Nathalie Mallet, Canadian science fiction and fantasy writer.
- Richmal Mangnall (1769–1820), English schoolbook writer. Mangnall's Questions
- Delarivier Manley (c. 1670–1724), English novelist, playwright, and political pamphleteer.
- Erika Mann (1905–1969), German writer, screenwriter and actress
- Eeva-Liisa Manner (1921–1995), Finnish poet, playwright and translator.
- Olivia Manning (1908–1980), English novelist. Fortunes of War
- Ruth Manning-Sanders (1886–1988), British poet and author best known for her series of children's books.
- Chris Mansell (born 1953), Australian poet and publisher.
- Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923), New Zealand-English short story writer.
- Lee Maracle (born 1950), Canadian poet, novelist and storyteller.
- Anna Margolin (1887–1952), Russian-American Yiddish-language poet.
- Daphne Marlatt (born 1942), Canadian poet
- E. Marlitt (Eugenie John, 1825–1877), German novelist.
- Monika Maron (born 1941), German essayist and political writer.
- Anne de Marquets (c. 1533–1588), French poet.
- Ellen Marriage (1865–1946), English translator of Balzac's novels.
- Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), New Zealand mystery writer. Roderick Alleyn
- Paule Marshall (born 1929), American novelist.
- Harriet Martineau (1802–1876), English social theorist
- Judi Ann Mason (1955–2009) American playwright, screenwriter, journalist, producer "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit"
- Bobbie Ann Mason (born 1940), American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and critic. In Country
- Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989), English novelist and short story writer. Rebecca
- DeBarra Mayo (born 1953), American bodybuilder and fitness writer.
- Eleanor Mayo (1920–1981), American novelist.
- Bunny McBride (born 1950), American writer, journalist, and anthropologist
- Anne McCaffrey (1926–2011), American science fiction novelist. Dragonriders of Pern
- Mary McCarthy (author) (1912–1989), American novelist, critic and memoir writer.
- Sharyn McCrumb (born 1948), American novelist and short story writer.
- Carson McCullers (1917–1967), American novelist. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
- Phyllis McGinley (1905–1978), American author of children’s books and poetry.
- Patricia A. McKillip (born 1948), American sci-fi and fantasy writer.
- Emma McLaughlin (born 1974), American novelist.
- Terry McMillan (born 1951), American novelist. Waiting to Exhale
- Richelle Mead (born 1976), American novelist. Vampire Academy
- Gwerful Mechain (fl. 1460–1500), Welsh poet.
- Mechthild of Magdeburg (c. 1207–c. 1282/94), German mystic writing in Low German.
- Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn (1240/41–1298), German religious writer in Latin.
- Selma Meerbaum-Eisinger (1924–1942), Romanian-born German poet.
- Cecília Meireles (1901–1964), Brazilian writer and educator.
- Eva Menasse (born 1970), Austrian novelist and journalist.
- Sophie Mereau (1770–1806), German novelist and poet.
- Alda Merini (1931–2009), Italian writer and poet.
- Fatema Mernissi (born 1940), Moroccan feminist academic.
- Grace Metalious (1924–1964), American novelist. Peyton Place
- Stephenie Meyer (born 1973), American novelist of The Host and Twilight Saga
- Alice Meynell (1847–1922), English feminist essayist, critic and poet.
- Malwida von Meysenbug (1816–1903), German political writer and memoirist.
- Charlotte Mew (1869–1928), English poet. The Farmer's Bride
- Máire Mhac an tSaoi (born 1922), Irish language scholar, poet, writer and academic.
- Michitsuna no Haha (c. 935–995), Japanese diarist.
- Agnes Miegel (1879–1964), German journalist, writer and poet.
- Jo Mihaly (1902–1989), German diarist, novelist and dancer.
- Grace Mildmay (1552–1620), English diarist.
- Josephine Miles (1911–1985), American poet and literary critic.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950), American poet.
- Caroline Pafford Miller (1903–1992), American novelist.
- Grażyna Miller (1957–2009), Polish poet, writer, translator.
- Kirsten Miller (born 1973), American novelist. Kiki Strike series
- Leslie Adrienne Miller (born 1956), American poet.
- Anchee Min (born 1957), Chinese American novelist and memoir writer. Red Azalea
- Mirabai (aka Meera, Meera Bai) (c. 1498 – c. 1547), Hindu mystical poet.
- Gabriela Mistral (Lucila Godoy Alcayaga) (1889–1957), Chilean poet, educator, diplomat, and feminist; first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- Gladys Mitchell (1901–1983), English mystery novelist.
- Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949), American journalist and novelist. Gone with the Wind
- Susan Mitchell (born 1944), American poet, essayist and translator
- Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), Scottish novelist and poet.
- Mary Russell Mitford (1787–1855), English novelist and dramatist. Our Village
- Nancy Mitford (1904–1973), English novelist, biographer and letterwriter. The Pursuit of Love, Love in a Cold Climate
- Minae Mizumura (born 1951), U.S. educated Japanese novelist, critic, essayist.
- Moero or Myro (3rd c. BC), Greek poet.
- Mary Louisa (Mrs) Molesworth (1839–1921), English children's novelist.
- Grace Mera Molisa (1947–2002), ni-Vanuatu politician, poet and campaigner for women's equality.
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), English poet, essayist, diarist, and letter-writer.
- Florence Montgomery (1843–1923), English children's writer.
- Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942), Canadian novelist, short story writer and poet. Anne of Green Gables
- Ruth Montgomery (1912–2001), American journalist, novelist and psychic.
- Susanna Moodie (1803–1885), Canadian diarist, novelist, children's novelist and poet.
- Anne Moody (born 1940), American autobiographer. Coming of Age in Mississippi
- Lorrie Moore (born 1957), American short story writer.
- Marianne Moore (1887–1972), American poet.
- Ruth Moore (1903–1989), American novelist, poet and short story writer.
- Barbara Moraff (born 1939), American poet of the Beat generation.
- Cherrie Moraga (born 1952) Chicana poet, playwright and essayist.
- Ann Moray (1909–1981), Irish-American novelist and singer.
- Hannah More (1745–1833), English moralist, poet, and playwright.
- Sydney, Lady Morgan (1781–1859), Irish novelist. The Wild Irish Girl
- Irmtraud Morgner (1933–1990), German novelist.
- Jan Morris (born James Morris, 1926), Welsh historian and travel writer.
- Mary McGarry Morris (born 1943), American novelist, finalist - National Book Award and Pen/Faulkner Award. Vanished
- Toni Morrison (born 1931), American novelist, children's novelist and 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature winner. Beloved
- Penelope Mortimer (1918–1999), Welsh-English novelist.
- Thylias Moss (born 1954), American poet, children's novelist and playwright.
- Julia Moulden (born 1956), Canadian non-fiction writer and speechwriter.
- Lisel Mueller (born 1924), German-born American poet.
- Bharati Mukherjee (born 1940), Indian American novelist and short story writer. Jasmine
- Lale Müldür (born 1956), Turkish poet and writer
- Harryette Mullen (born 1953), American poet, short story writer, and literary scholar
- Herta Müller (born 1953), Romanian-born German novelist, poet and essayist. Nobel Prize winner
- Inge Müller (1925–1966), German poet.
- Alice Munro (born 1931), Canadian short story writer. Dance of the Happy Shades
- Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973–1014 or 1025), Japanese novelist and poet. The Tale of Genji
- Iris Murdoch (1919–1999), Irish-English novelist and philosopher. The Sea, the Sea
- Mary Noailles Murfree (1850–1922), American novelist and short story writer.
- Rosario Murillo (born 1951), Nicaraguan poet.
- C. E. Murphy (born 1973), American author.
- Margaret Murphy (born 1959), British crime novelist. The Dispossessed, Now You See Me
- Inga Muscio (born 1966), American writer. Cunt: A Declaration of Independence
- Susan Musgrave (born 1951), Canadian poet and children's writer.
- Małgorzata Musierowicz (born 1945), Polish writer, author of many stories and novels for children and teenagers.
- Carol Muske-Dukes (born 1945), American poet, novelist, essayist, critic, and professor; California Poet Laureate.
- Beverle Graves Myers (born 1951), American mystery novelist and short story writer.
N
- Constance Naden (1858–1889), English poet and philosopher.
- Sarojini Naidu (aka The Nightingale of India) (1879–1949), child prodigy, Indian independence activist and poet.
- Carolina Nairne (1766–1845), Scottish songwriter.
- Nakatsukasa (912–991), Japanese poet.
- Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, Persian novelist.
- Taslima Nasrin (born 1962), Bengali doctor, novelist and poet and essayist. Lajja
- Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549), French poet, playwright and short story writer. Heptameron
- Benedikte Naubert (1752–1819), German historical novelist.
- Gloria Naylor (born 1950), American novelist. The Women of Brewster Place
- Irène Némirovsky (1903–1942), Ukrainian-born novelist writing in French.
- Adalgisa Nery (1905–1980), Brazilian poet, novelist, journalist and politician.
- E. Nesbit (1858–1924), English children's novelist and short story writer. Five Children and It
- Friederike Caroline Neuber (1697–1760), German playwright and actress.
- Aimee Nezhukumatathil (born 1974), Asian American poet and essayist.
- Lorine Niedecker (1903–1970), American poet; only woman associated with the Objectivist poets.
- Charlotte Niese (1854–1935), German writer and poet.
- Audrey Niffenegger (born 1963), American novelist and artist.
- Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), English nurse, statistician and feminist.
- Anaïs Nin (1903–1977), French eroticist, critic and diarist. Henry and June
- Anna de Noailles (1876–1933), French-born Romanian writer in French.
- Ingrid Noll (born 1935), German novelist.
- Oodgeroo Noonuccal (aka Kath Walker) (1920–1993), Australian poet, political activist, artist and educator.
- Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht (1718–1763), Swedish poet, feminist and salon hostess.
- Clara Nordström (1886–1962), Swedish-born novelist writing in German.
- Kathleen Norris (1880–1966), American novelist.
- Caroline Norton (1808–1877), English author, social reformer and feminist.
- Nossis (fl. c. 300 BC), Greek epigrammist and poet.
- Amélie Nothomb (born 1967), Belgian novelist.
- Alice Notley (born 1945), American poet.
- Helga M. Novak (born 1935), German poet and political writer.
- Mary Novik (born 1945), Canadian novelist.
- Princess Nukata (c. 630–690), Japanese poet of the Asuka period.
- Julia Nyberg (1784–1854), Swedish poet and songwriter.
O
- Ann Oakley (born 1944), English feminist academic and novelist.
- Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), American novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright and critic. We Were the Mulvaneys
- Charlotta Öberg (aka Lotta Öberg) (1818–1856), Swedish poet.
- Edna O'Brien (born 1930), Irish novelist and short story writer.
- Kate O'Brien (1897–1974), Irish novelist and playwright.
- Silvina Ocampo (1903–1994), Argentine poet and short story writer.
- Flannery O'Connor (1925–1964), American novelist and short story writer.
- Julia O'Faolain (born 1932), Irish novelist.
- Grace Ogot (born 1930), Kenyan novelist and short story writer.
- Nnedi Okorafor (born 1974), Nigerian American novelist and short story writer.
- Sofi Oksanen (born 1977), Finnish novelist and playwright.
- Princess Ōku (661–702), Japanese poet.
- Sharon Olds (born 1942), American poet.
- Margaret Oliphant (1828–1897), Scottish novelist. Phoebe, Junior
- Mary Oliver (born 1935), American poet.
- Tillie Olsen (1913–2007), American feminist novelist and short story writer.
- Mary Devenport O'Neill (1898–1957), Irish poet and dramatist.
- Ono no Komachi (825–900), Japanese poet.
- Amelia Opie (1769–1853), English novelist.
- Mary Oppen (1908–1990), American activist, artist, photographer, poet and writer.
- Baroness Orczy (1865–1947), Hungarian-born English novelist, translator, and illustrator. The Scarlet Pimpernel
- Mathilda d'Orozco (aka Mathilda Montgomery-Cederhjelm) (1796–1863), Swedish (originally Spanish-Italian) noble and salonist, composer, poet, writer, singer, amateur actress and harpsichordist
- Eliza Orzeszkowa (1841–1910), Polish writer.
- Maggie O'Sullivan (1908–1990), British poet, performer and visual artist associated with the British Poetry Revival
- Alice Oswald (born 1966), English poet.
- Ōtomo no Sakanoe no Iratsume (c. 700–750), Japanese poet.
- Ouida (1839–1908), English novelist and short story writer. Under Two Flags
- Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791–1875), Japanese poet and calligrapher.
- Angelika Overath (born 1957), German author and journalist.
- Emine Sevgi Özdamar (born 1956), Turkish-born German novelist and playwright.
- Cynthia Ozick (born 1928), American critic and novelist.
P
- Ruth Padel (born 1946), British poet, a non-fiction author known for her poetry criticism and nature writing
- Isabel Pagan (c. 1740–1821), Scottish poet.
- Karen A. Page (born 1962), American food writer.
- Camille Paglia (born 1947), American feminist essayist. Sexual Personae
- Charlotte Painter (born 1926), American novelist and writer.
- Marina Palei (born 1955), Russian writer. Rendezvous
- Grace Paley (1922–2007), American short story writer, poet and activist.
- Nettie Palmer (1885–1964), Australian poet, essayist and literary critic
- Kirsti Paltto (born 1947), Sámi playwright, short story and children's literature writer.
- Pamphile of Epidaurus (1st c. AD), Greek historian.
- Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928), English feminist activist, speaker and autobiography writer.
- Sylvia Pankhurst (1882–1960), English suffragist, poet; wrote Writ on Cold Slate, poems about her prison experience.
- Vera Panova (1905–1973), Soviet novelist and short story writer. Seryozha
- Emilia Pardo Bazán (1851–1921), Spanish essayist and novelist.
- Sara Paretsky (born 1947), American mystery novelist.
- Dorothy Parker (1893–1967), American poet, critic and short story writer.
- Adele Parks (born 1969), English fiction writer.
- Suzan-Lori Parks (born 1964), American playwright and screenwriter.
- Sophia Parnok (1885–1933), Russian Silver Age poet.
- Catherine Parr (born 1512), Queen of England from 1543–1547, spouse of King Henry VIII.
- Anne Parrish (1888–1957), American children's novelist.
- Sarah Willis Parton (Fanny Fern) (1811–1872), American novelist, columnist and children's short story writer.
- Vesna Parun (1922–2010), Croatian poet.
- Karolina Pavlova (1807–1893), Russian writer. A Double Life
- Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska (1891–1945), Polish poet.
- Marlys Pearson (born 1963), American gay romance writer and Lambda Award nominee, Also known as M.J. Pearson.
- Erica Pedretti (born 1930), Czechoslovakian-born Swiss writer in German.
- Kathleen Peirce (born 1956), American poet.
- Emily Pepys (1833–1877), English child diarist (1844–5)
- Elizabeth Peters (born 1927), American mystery novelist. Amelia Peabody
- Ellis Peters (1913–1995), Welsh-English mystery novelist, novelist, short story writer and translator. Brother Cadfael
- Julia Peterkin (1880–1961), American short story writer and novelist.
- Lyudmila Petrushevskaya (born 1938), Russian writer and dramatist. Immortal Love
- Ann Petry (1908–1997), American journalist, short story writer and novelist.
- Katherine Philips (1631–1664), English poet.
- Phintys (or Phyntis, 4th or 3rd c. BC), Greek philosopher.
- Karoline Pichler (also Caroline, 1769–1843), Austrian novelist. Agathocles
- Meredith Ann Pierce (born 1958), American fantasy writer.
- Tamora Pierce (born 1954), American children's novelist. Alanna of Trebond
- Marge Piercy (born 1936), American poet, novelist, and social activist.
- Ruth Pitter (1897–1992), English poet; first woman to receive the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1955.
- Mary Pix (1666–1709), English novelist and playwright.
- Christine de Pizan (1364–1430), Venetian feminist poet and rhetorician in French. The Book of the City of Ladies
- Alejandra Pizarnik (1936–1972), Argentine poet.
- Josefina Pla (1903–1999), Spanish poet, playwright, art critic, painter and journalist.
- Sylvia Plath (1932–1963), American poet, novelist, short story writer and essayist.
- Ann Plato (born c. 1820), American essayist.
- Karen Platt (fl. 2004–present), English gardening writer.
- Anne Plumptre (1760–1818), English translator and fiction, travel, and political writer.
- Aliénor de Poitiers (fl. late 15th c.), French writer on court etiquette.
- Elizabeth Polack (fl. 1830–1838), Anglo-Jewish playwright.
- Katha Pollitt (born 1949), American feminist poet, essayist and critic.
- Elizaveta Polonskaya (1890–1969), Russian Jewish poet, translator, and journalist
- Elizabeth Polwheele (1651–c. 1691), British playwright.
- Elena Poniatowska (born 1932), Polish-Mexican journalist, novelist and short story writer.
- Marie Ponsot (born 1921), American poet and essayist.
- Anna Maria Porter (1780–1832), English poet and novelist.
- Eleanor H. Porter (1868–1920), American children's writer. Pollyanna
- Jane Porter (1776–1850), English historical novelist and playwright.
- Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980), American journalist, essayist, story writer and novelist.
- Beatrix Potter (1866–1943), English children's writer and illustrator. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
- Emily Post (1873–1960), American journalist and novelist. Etiquette
- Halina Poświatowska (1935–1967), Polish poet.
- Dawn Powell (1896–1965), American novelist, playwright and short story writer.
- Rhoda Power (1890–1957), English educational and children's writer.
- Praxilla (5th c. BC), Greek poet.
- Paula von Preradović (1887–1951), Austrian story writer and poet.
- Katharine Susannah Prichard (1883–1969), Australian novelist, playwright and short story writer.
- Pauline Prior-Pitt, British poet.
- Amrita Pritam (1919–2005), considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist.
- Faltonia Betitia Proba (c. 306/15–c. 353/66), Roman poet in Latin.
- Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864), English poet.
- E. Annie Proulx (born 1935), American novelist, short story writer and journalist. The Shipping News
- Ptolemais of Cyrene, (3rd c. BC or later), Greek writer on music.
- Barbara Pym (1913–1980), English novelist. Quartet in Autumn
Q
R
- Rabia Balkhi (10th c.), Persian poet.
- Ann Radcliffe (1764–1823), English gothic novelist. The Mysteries of Udolpho
- Radegund (c. 520–586), Frankish princess and poet writing in Latin.
- Rajashree, Indian chick lit novelist. Trust Me
- Ayn Rand (1905–1982), Russian American novelist and philosopher. The Fountainhead; Atlas Shrugged
- Mary Randolph (1762–1828), American housekeeping book and cookbook author. The Virginia House-Wife.
- Jennifer Rankin (1941–1979), Australian poet and playwright.
- Ellen Raskin (1928–1984), American children's writer and illustrator. The Westing Game
- Claudia Rankine (born 1963), American poet and playwright.
- Elsa Rautee (1897–1987), Finnish poet.
- Dahlia Ravikovitch (1936–2005), Israeli poet, translator, and peace activist.
- Angela Rawlings (born 1978), Canadian poet, editor, and interdisciplinary artist.
- Angela Readman (born 1973), English poet.
- Pauline Réage (1907–1998), French erotic novelist. Story of O
- Elisa von der Recke (Elisabeth Recke, 1754–1833), German writer and poet from Courland.
- Jaclyn Reding (born 1966), American historical romance novelist.
- Ruth Reichl (born 1948), American food and memoir writer.
- Mirkka Rekola (born 1931), Finnish poet.
- Mary Renault (1905–1983), English historical novelist. Fire From Heaven, The Last of the Wine
- Ruth Rendell (born 1930), English mystery novelist. A Fatal Inversion
- Gabriele Reuter (1859–1941), German novelist, essayist and children's writer.
- Fanny zu Reventlow (Franziska, 1871–1918), political writer and feminist
- Jean Rhys (1890–1979), Dominican novelist. Wide Sargasso Sea
- Marie Jeanne Riccoboni (1714–1792), French novelist.
- Anne Rice (born 1941), American novelist. Vampire Chronicles
- Adrienne Rich (born 1929), American feminist poet.
- Dorothy Richardson (1873–1957), English novelist, poet, essayist and short story writer.
- Elizabeth Richardson (1576/7–1651), English religious writer
- Henry Handel Richardson (real name Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, 1870–1946), Australian novelist. The Fortunes of Richard Mahony
- Jutta Richter (born 1955), German author of children's and youth literature.
- Lola Ridge (1873–1941), anarchist poet and an influential editor of avant-garde, feminist, and Marxist publications.
- Laura Riding (1901–1991), American poet, critic, novelist, essayist and short story writer.
- Brigitte Riebe (also Laura Stern, born 1935), German novelist.
- Alifa Rifaat (1930–1996), Egyptian short story writer.
- Denise Riley (born 1948), English poet and philosopher.
- Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876–1958), American novelist, playwright, and poet. The Butler Did It
- Luise Rinser (1911–2002), German novelist, autobiographer and children's writer.
- Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919), English novelist.
- Nora Roberts (pen name J. D. Robb, born 1959), American romance and fantasy novelist. In Death series
- E. Arnot Robertson (1903–1961), English novelist.
- Lisa Robertson (born 1961), Canadian poet.
- Marilynne Robinson (born 1943), American novelist. Gilead
- Mary Robinson (1757–1800), English poet, novelist, and actress.
- Lucia St. Clair Robson birthdate missing. American novelist.
- Charlotte Roche (born 1978), English-born novelist in German. Feuchtgebiete
- Esther Rochon (born 1948), Canadian science fiction novelist.
- Ginny Rorby, American young adult novelist.
- Christina Rossetti (1830–1894), English poet. Goblin Market and Other Poems
- Judith Rossner (1935–2005), American novelist. Looking for Mr. Goodbar
- Anne Rouse (born 1954), American-British poet.
- Mary Rowlandson (1635–1711), American memoirist.
- J.K. Rowling (born 1965), English novelist. Harry Potter series.
- Susanna Rowson (1762–1824), British-American novelist, poet and playwright. Charlotte Temple, Lucy Temple
- Susanna Roxman, English writer and critic born in Sweden.
- Arundhati Roy (born 1961), Indian novelist. The God of Small Things
- Gabrielle Roy (1909–1983), Canadian novelist and journalist. The Tin Flute
- Pascale Roze (born 1954), French playwright and novelist.
- Bernice Rubens (1928–2004), Welsh novelist.
- Dina Rubina (born 1953), Russian writer. The Blackthorn
- Anneli Rufus, American journalist.
- Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980), American feminist poet.
- Joanna Russ (born 1937), American novelist, essayist, and short story writer.
- Gig Ryan (born 1956), Australian poet.
- Kay Ryan (born 1945), American poet and educator; 16th US Poet Laureate.
- Marah Ellis Ryan (1860–1934), American novelist specializing in western frontier and European-American Indian relationships.
S
- Nawal el-Saadawi (born 1931), Egyptian feminist writer, novelist, and short story writer.
- Nelly Sachs (1891–1970), German poet and playwright.
- Vita Sackville-West (1892–1962), writer, poet and gardener.
- Elif Safak (born 1971), Turkish writer.
- Françoise Sagan (1935–2004), French playwright, novelist, and screenwriter.
- Sarojini Sahoo (born 1956), Indian feminist writer, novelist and short story writer.
- Stéphanie Félicité du Crest de Saint-Aubin (1746–1830), novelist, playwright and children's writer.
- Pirkko Saisio (born 1949), Finnish author, actress and director.
- Lydie Salvayre (born 1948), French writer.
- Jessica Amanda Salmonson (born 1950), American novelist, essayist, editor, and short story writer.
- George Sand (1804–1876), French novelist and playwright. Indiana
- Sonia Sanchez (born 1934), American poet, playwright, and children's writer.
- Mari Sandoz (1896–1966), American novelist, biographer, and short story writer.
- Sappho (c. 630 – 570 BC), Greek poet.
- Dipti Saravanamuttu (born 1960), Sri Lankan-Australian poet and journalist.
- Nandini Sahu (born 1973), Indian English poet,critic and short story writer.
- Nathalie Sarraute (1900–1999), Russian-French novelist and essayist.
- May Sarton (1912–1995), Belgian American poet, novelist, and memoirist.
- Marjane Satrapi (born 1969), Iranian graphic novelist.
- Robin Sax (born c. 1971), American true crime author, commentator, and former prosecutor.
- Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957), English mystery novelist, translator, essayist, and short story writer. Whose Body?
- Oda Schaefer (1900–1988), German poet and journalist.
- Caroline Schelling (1763–1809), German essayist, critic and correspondent.
- Dorothea von Schlegel (1764–1839), German novelist and translator.
- Elke Schmitter (born 1961), German novelist.
- Jane Johnston Schoolcraft (1800–1842), American Indian writer of poetry and fiction.
- Elizabeth of Schönau (1129–1165), German visionary writing in Latin.
- Amalie Schoppe (1791–1858), German children's writer.
- Olive Schreiner (1855–1920), South African novelist, allegorist, and political writer.
- Ossip Schubin (real name Aloisia Kirschner, 1854–1934), Austrian novelist.
- Ann Scott (born 1965), French novelist.
- Cathy Scott, American true crime author, biographer, and journalist. The Killing of Tupac Shakur
- Jane Scott (c. 1779–1839), English theatre manager, performer, and playwright.
- Madeleine de Scudéry (1607–1701), French novelist.
- Molly Elliot Seawell (1860–1916), American essayist, novelist, and short story writer.
- Alice Sebold (born 1963), American novelist. The Lovely Bones
- Catharine Sedgwick (1789–1867), American novelist.
- Lisa See (born 1955), Chinese-American novelist. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
- Anna Seghers (1900–1983), German novelist. The Seventh Cross
- Comtesse de Ségur (1799–1874), Russian-French novelist.
- Diane Setterfield (born 1964), English novelist. The Thirteenth Tale
- Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné (1626–1696), French letter-writer
- Anna Seward (1747–1809), English poet.
- Anna Sewell (1820–1887), English novelist. Black Beauty
- Danzy Senna (born 1970), American novelist.
- Anne Sexton (1928–1974), American poet.
- Ippolita Maria Sforza (1446–1484), Italian writer also in Latin.
- Marietta Shaginyan (1888–1982), Soviet writer and political activist. Mess-Mend
- Ntozake Shange (born 1948), American playwright and novelist.
- Shangguan Wan'er (c. 664–710), Chinese poet and prose writer.
- Tatiana Shchepkina-Kupernik (1874–1952), Russian writer and dramatist. Deborah
- Alice Sheldon (1915–1987), American novelist and short story writer.
- Mary Shelley (1797–1851), English novelist. Frankenstein
- Nan Shepherd (1893–1981), Scottish novelist and poet
- Frances Sheridan (1724–1766), Irish novelist and playwright.
- Mary Martha Sherwood (1775–1851), English children's writer
- Carol Shields (1935–2003), American-Canadian novelist. The Stone Diaries
- Murasaki Shikibu (973–1025), Japanese novelist and poet. The Tale of Genji
- Shikishi Naishinnō (died 1201), Japanese poet.
- Aki Shimazaki (born 1954), Canadian novelist and translator.
- Sharon Shinn (born 1957), American novelist.
- Shirome (10th c.), Japanese poet.
- Maria Shkapskaya (1891–1952), Soviet poet and journalist
- Sei Shōnagon (965–1010), Japanese writer. The Pillow Book
- Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938), Pakistani novelist.
- Mary Sidney (1561–1621), English translator, playwright, and poet.
- Leslie Marmon Silko (born 1948), American novelist, poet, and short story writer.
- Ruth Simpson (1926–2008), American lesbian author, founder of first lesbian community center.
- Jo Sinclair (1913–1995), pen name of Ruth Seid, Jewish-American writer.
- May Sinclair (1862–1946), English novelist, poet, and short story writer.
- Johanna Sinisalo (born 1958), Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer.
- Edith Sitwell (1887–1964), English poet.
- Maj Sjöwall (born 1935), Swedish mystery novelist.
- Vendela Skytte (1608–1627), Swedish writer.
- Barbara Sleigh (1906–1982), children's writer and broadcaster, Carbonel series
- Jane Smiley (born 1949), American novelist.
- Ali Smith (born 1962), Scottish novelist.
- Amanda Smith (1837–1915), American evangelist and autobiographer.
- Betty Smith (1896–1972), American novelist. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
- Charlotte Turner Smith (1749–1806), English poet and novelist.
- Dodie Smith (1896–1990), English novelist and playwright. I Capture the Castle
- Doris Buchanan Smith (1934–2002), American children's novelist. A Taste of Blackberries
- Stevie Smith (1902–1971), English poet and novelist.
- Zadie Smith (born 1975), English novelist.
- Edith Södergran (1892–1923), Finland-Swedish poet.
- Somerville and Ross (Edith Somerville, 1858–1949, and Violet Florence Martin, 1862–1915, writing as Martin Ross), Irish novelists. The Irish R. M.
- Cathy Song (born 1955), American poet.
- Susan Sontag (1933–2004), American essayist and novelist.
- Muriel Spark (1918–2006), Scottish novelist. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
- Terry Spear, American urban fantasy romance and medieval romance novelist.
- Anne Spencer (1882–1975), American poet.
- Erica Spindler (1957), Romantic-Thrillers, Mystery
- Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (1835–1921), American mystery novelist, poet, and short story writer.
- Johanna Spyri (1827–1901), Swiss children's writer. Heidi
- Ilse von Stach (1879–1941), German playwright, novelist and poet.
- Madame de Staël (1766–1817), Swiss-French novelist.
- Jean Stafford (1915–1979), American novelist and short story writer.
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902), American feminist journalist and essayist.
- Freya Stark (1893–1993), British travel writer.
- Lilian Staveley (1878–1928), Christian writer and mystic whose works were published anonymously.
- Christina Stead (1902–1983), Australian novelist and short story writer.
- Danielle Steel (born 1947), American romance novelist.
- Flora Annie Steel (1847–1929), English novelist.
- Charlotte von Stein, (1742–1827), German dramatist and friend of Goethe.
- Gertrude Stein (1874–1946), American novelist, playwright, poet, librettist, and short story writer.
- Joanne Stepaniak (born 1954), American author of several vegan cookbooks and books on veganism.
- Maria W. Stewart (1803–1897), American feminist lecturer.
- Mary Stewart (born 1916), English mystery/romance novelist.
- Ruth Stone (born 1915), American poet.
- Alfonsina Storni (1892–1938), Argentinian poet.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1836), American novelist. Uncle Tom's Cabin
- Barbra Joan Streisand (1942), American screenwriter and songwriter.
- Hesba Stretton (1832–1911), English children's writer.
- Agnes Strickland (1796–1874), English history writer and poet.
- Eva Strittmatter (1930–2011), German poet and children's writer.
- Jan Struther (1901–1953), English hymn writer and novelist. Mrs. Miniver
- Lady Louisa Stuart (1757–1851), English writer of memoirs and letters.
- Sugawara no Takasue no musume (born 1008), Japanese diarist.
- Sulpicia the elder (fl. reign of Augustus, 63 BC–AD 14), Roman poet; Sulpicia the younger (fl. reign of Domitian, 81–96), Roman poet.
- Jacqueline Susann (1918–1974), American bestselling novelist.
- Bertha von Suttner (1843–1914), Austrian novelist and Nobel Prize winner.
- Anni Swan (1875–1958), Finnish author of children's books, journalist and translator.
- May Swenson (1913–1989), American poet and playwright.
- Magda Szabó (1917–2007), Hungarian novelist, poet, playwright. The Door
- Mária Szepes (1908–2007), Hungarian author of esoteric and science fiction novels.
- Wisława Szymborska (1923–2012), Polish poet.
T
- Princess Tajima (died 708), Japanese poet.
- Amy Tan (born 1952), American novelist. The Joy Luck Club
- Shelley Tanaka, Canadian nonfiction children's writer.
- Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957), Indian screenwriter and photographer.
- Cheryl Kaye Tardif (born 1963), Canadian suspense novelist. Whale Song
- Judith Tarr, (born 1955), American author. The Hound and the Falcon
- Donna Tartt (born 1963), American novelist.
- Ann Taylor (1782–1866), English poet and critic.
- Elizabeth Taylor, English novelist. At Mrs. Lippincote's
- Jane Taylor (1783–1824), English poet and novelist. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
- Susie Taylor (1848–1912), American teacher and memoir writer.
- Nadezhda Teffi (1872–1952), Russian/Soviet writer. Close Friends
- Telesilla (fl. 510 BC), Greek poet.
- Olena Teliha (1906–1942), Ukrainian poet.
- Claudine Guérin de Tencin (1682–1748), French novelist.
- Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), Spanish nun, monastic reformer, and mystic.
- Josephine Tey (1896–1952), Scottish mystery novelist.
- Elizabeth Thomas (1770/71–1855), English Gothic novelist and religious poet.
- Hester Thrale (Mrs Piozzi, 1741–1821), English diarist and author. Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson
- Tibors de Sarenom (c. 1130–post-1198), French poet writing in Occitan.
- Olga Tokarczuk (born 1962), Polish writer.
- Tatyana Tolstaya (born 1951), Russian TV presenter, novelist, and essayist.
- Fatma Aliye Topuz (1862–1936), Turkish and Muslim novelist.
- Lucrezia Tornabuoni (1425–1482), Italian poet.
- Torfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir (1845–1918), Icelandic novelist and short story writer.
- Sarah Trimmer (1741–1810), English children's writer and critic.
- Frances Trollope (1779–1863), English novelist and travel writer. Domestic Manners of the Americans
- Joanna Trollope (born 1943), English novelist.
- Catherine Trotter (1679–1749), Scottish-English novelist, playwright, philosopher, and letterwriter.
- Trotula (11th–12th c.), Spanish writer on women's medicine writing in Latin.
- Sojourner Truth (1797–1883), American feminist.
- Marina Tsvetaeva (1892–1941), Russian poet.
- Evgenia Tur (1815–1892), Russian novelist and literary critic. Antonina
- Megan Whalen Turner (born 1965), American fantasy writer.
- Violet Tweedale (1862–1936), Scottish writer and poet.
- Anne Tyler (born 1941), American novelist.
U
- Jenny Uglow (born 1940s), British biographer.
- Uhwudong (died 1480), Korean writer, poet and dancer.
- Lesya Ukrainka (1871–1913), Ukrainian poet.
- Anya Ulinich (born 1973), Russian writer. Petropolis
- Regina Ullmann (1884–1961), Swiss poet writing in German.
- Lyudmila Ulitskaya (born 1943), Russian writer. Medea and Her Children
- Sigrid Undset (1882–1949), Norwegian novelist and 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature-winner. Kristin Lavransdatter
- Jane Urquhart (born 1949), Canadian novelist and poet. The Stone Carvers
- Kaari Utrio (born 1942), Finnish novelist. Isabella
V
- Celestine Vaite (born 1966), Tahitian novelist.
- Katri Vala (1901–1944), Finnish poet.
- Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (born 1969), American novelist, journalist and screenwriter.
- Luisa Valenzuela (born 1938), Argentinian novelist and short story writer.
- Rahel Varnhagen (1771–1833), German essayist and correspondent.
- Mariya Vilinska (1833–1907), Russian/Ukrainian novelist, and translator.
- Jennifer Vanasco (born 1971), American columnist and journalist.
- Lin Van Hek (1944), Australian novelist.
- Yvonne Vera (1964–2005), Zimbabwean novelist.
- Tatiana Vedenska (born 1976), Russian novelist.
- Anastasiya Verbitskaya (1861–1928), Russian novelist and dramatist. Keys to Happiness
- Lidia Veselitskaya (1857–1936), Russian novelist. Mimi's Marriage
- Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand (1697–1780), French correspondent.
- Clara Viebig (1862–1952), German novelist and playwright.
- Monica Vikström-Jokela (born 1960), Finnish-Swedish television script writer and author.
- Maruxa Vilalta (born 1932), Mexican playwright.
- Marie-Catherine de Villedieu (1640–1683), French playwright, novelist, and short story writer.
- Louise Leveque de Vilmorin (1902–1969), French novelist, poet, and journalist.
- Élisabeth Vonarburg (born 1947), French science fiction novelist.
- Marko Vovchok (1833–1907), Russian/Ukrainian writer. Ukrainian Folk Tales
- Julia Voznesenskaya (born 1940), Soviet/Russian writer. The Women's Decameron
- Jurgen Vsych (born 1966), American director and screenwriter.
W
- Elizabeth Wagele (born 1939), American author and cartoonist
- Diane Wakoski (born 1937), American poet.
- Alice Walker (born 1944), American novelist, short story writer, and poet. The Color Purple.
- Margaret Walker (1915–1998), American poet and novelist.
- Wallada bint al-Mustakfi (1001–1080), Andalusian poet writing in Arabic.
- Ania Walwicz (born 1951), Australian poet.
- Mary Augusta Ward (Mrs Humphrey Ward, 1851–1920), English novelist.
- Gertrude Chandler Warner (1890–1979), American children's writer.
- Susan Warner (1819–1885), American children's writer and songwriter.
- Wendy Wasserstein (1950–2006), American playwright.
- Sarah Waters (born 1966), Welsh-born novelist.
- Catherine Webb (born 1986), British novelist.
- Mary Webb (1881–1927), English novelist. Precious Bane
- Simone Weil (1909–1943), French mystic and philosopher.
- Hannah Weiner (1928–1997), American poet.
- Dorothy Wellesley (1889–1956), English poet
- Martha Wells (born 1964), American novelist.
- Eudora Welty (1909–2001), American novelist, short story writer, and photographer.
- Dorothy West (1907–1998), American novelist and short story writer.
- Jane West (1758–1852), English novelist, poet, playwright, and tract-writer.
- Rebecca West (1892–1983), British novelist, essayist, and travel writer. Black Lamb and Grey Falcon
- Anne Wharton (1659–1685), English poet.
- Edith Wharton (1862–1937), American novelist and short story writer. The Age of Innocence
- Leslie What (born 1955), American novelist and short story writer.
- Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784), American poet.
- Evelyn Whitaker (1857–1903), British novelist.
- Antonia White (1899–1980), English novelist and short story writer.
- Dorothy White (c. 1630–1686), English religious writer
- Ellen White (1827–1915), American evangelist and prophetess.
- Isabella Whitney (born c. 1540), English poet.
- Phyllis A. Whitney (born 1903), American mystery novelist.
- Anna Wickham (1884–1947), British poet.
- Elisabeth of Wied (pen name Carmen Sylva, 1843–1916), poet, playwright and queen consort of Romania.
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919), American poet
- Charlotte Wilder (1898–1980), American poet.
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), American children's writer. Little House on the Prairie
- Helen Maria Williams (1762–1827), English novelist and poet.
- Connie Willis (born 1945), Indian poet and short story writer.
- Kate Wilhelm (born 1928), American novelist and short story writer.
- Jacqueline Wilson (born 1945), English children's writer
- Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900), American novelist.
- Sarah Winnemucca (1841–1891), American lecturer and autobiographer.
- Jeanette Winterson (born 1959), English novelist.
- Jane Wiseman (c. 1682–1717), English poet and playwright.
- Monique Wittig (born 1935), French writer and feminist.
- Gabriele Wohlmann (born 1932), German novelist and story writer.
- Christa Wolf (1929–2011), German novelist, critic and essayist.
- Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), English novelist and feminist. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
- Jade Snow Wong (1922–2006), American ceramic artist and autobiographer.
- Nellie Wong (born 1934), Chinese-American feminist poet. Dreams in Harrison Railroad Park, The Death of Long Steam Lady
- Ellen (Mrs Henry) Wood (1814–1887), English novelist, East Lynne
- Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), English novelist and essayist. Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse
- Constance Fenimore Woolson (1840–1894), American novelist and short story writer.
- Dorothy Wordsworth (1771–1855), English poet and diarist.
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), English letter-writer.
- Judith Wright (born 1915), Australian poet.
- Mary Tappan Wright (1851–1916), American novelist and short story writer.
- Mary Wroth (1587–1652), English poet.
- Wu Zetian (624–705), Chinese poet, essayist and empress regnant.
- Elinor Wylie (1885–1928), American poet and novelist.
X
- Xiao Hong (1911–1942), Chinese novelist and short story writer.
- Xie Daoyun (pre-340–post-399), Chinese poet.
- Empress Xu (1362–1407), Chinese bibliographer and empress consort.
- Xu Hui (627–650), Chinese poet.
- Xue Tao (768–831), Chinese poet.
Y
- Hisaye Yamamoto (1921–2011), Japanese American short-story writer.
- Empress Yamato (fl. later 7th c.), Japanese poet.
- Wakako Yamauchi (born 1924), Japanese American writer.
- Ann Yearsley (1753–1806), English poet, novelist, and playwright.
- Anzia Yezierska (1883–1970), Polish American novelist and short-story writer.
- Charlotte M. Yonge (1823–1901), English novelist.
- Banana Yoshimoto (born 1964), Japanese novelist.
- Marguerite Yourcenar (1903–1987), Belgian novelist and essayist writing in French.
- Akiko Yosano (1878–1942), Japanese poet.
- Yu Xuanji (844–869 or 871), Chinese poet.
Z
- Helen Zahavi (born 1966), British writer. Dirty Weekend
- Gabriela Zapolska(1860–1921), Polish novelist, playwright, naturalist writer.
- María de Zayas y Sotomayor (1590–?), Spanish novelist.
- Eva Zeller (born 1923), German poet and novelist.
- Empress Zhangsun, (601–636), Chinese moralist. Examples for Women
- Vera Zhelikhovsky (1835–1896), Russian writer. The General's Will
- Zhu Shuzhen (c. 1135–1180), Chinese poet.
- Maria Zhukova (1804–1855), Russian writer. Evenings on the Karpovka
- Zhuo Wenjun (Wen Jun, 2nd c. BC), Chinese poet.
- Alice Zimmern (1855–1939), English writer and translator.
- Hedda Zinner (also Elisabeth Frank, 1905–1994), German political writer.
- Lydia Zinovieva-Annibal (1866–1907), Russian writer. The Tragic Menagerie
- Zitkala-Sa (1876–1938), American writer.
- Kathinka Zitz-Halein (1801–1877), German writer.
- Narcyza Żmichowska (1818–1876), Polish novelist and poet.
- Zuo Fen (c. 255–300), Chinese poet.
- Unica Zürn (1916–1970), German poet and painter.
- Fay Zwicky (born 1933), Australian poet and academic.
See also
External links
