| 100% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | Author and journalist who wrote “The Case for Reparations” (2014) |
| 51% | JASONREYNOLDS | 13 | Author who has written "Ghost," "Patina," and other novels for kids in the middle school years: 2 wds. |
| 50% | NAOMI | 5 | Author Klein who wrote last year's "On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal" |
| 49% | SARA | 4 | Bareilles who wrote the music and lyrics for "Waitress" |
| 49% | SONDHEIM | 8 | Stephen who wrote the music and lyrics for "Sweeney Todd" |
| 48% | SARA | 4 | Bareilles who wrote the music and lyrics for Broadway's "Waitress" |
| 47% | MIRANDAJULY | 11 | Author and filmmaker who wrote “The First Bad Man” |
| 47% | CARTLAND | 8 | English author Barbara, who wrote "The Wicked Marquis", and is referenced in the Guinness World Records for most novels published in a year |
| 47% | SIDNEYSHELDON | 13 | American author who wrote "If Tomorrow Comes", and won an Academy Award for "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer": 2 wds. |
| 46% | SHEL | 4 | Silverstein who wrote the words and music for Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" |
| 46% | ISHIGURO | 8 | Author Kazuo who wrote “Klara and the Sun,” set in a dystopian future in which children are genetically engineered for academic excellence (March, 2021) |
| 46% | ENO | 3 | Brian who wrote the score for "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" |
| 46% | GRACEPALEY | 10 | Author and activist who wrote, “It is the poet’s responsibility to learn the truth from the powerless” |
| 46% | SARABAREILLES | 13 | "Love Song" singer who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical "Waitress": 2 wds. |
| 46% | SARA | 4 | Singer Bareilles who wrote and composed the music for Broadway's "Waitress" |
| 45% | DOLLYPARTON | 11 | "Jolene" singer who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical "9 to 5": 2 wds. |
| 45% | ALAN | 4 | Menken who wrote the music for "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" |
| 45% | GREEN | 5 | John ___, American author and YouTuber who wrote the best-selling novel "Paper Towns" |
| 45% | MIA | 3 | Soccer great Hamm who wrote "Go for the Goal" and "Winners Never Quit!" |
| 45% | ROALD | 5 | Author Dahl who wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" |
| 45% | TARTT | 5 | Author who won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction |
| 45% | CYNDILAUPER | 11 | "Time After Time" singer who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical "Kinky Boots": 2 wds. |
| 44% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 44% | SARABAREILLES | 13 | Singer/songwriter who wrote music and lyrics for the stage adaptation of "Waitress" (2 wds.) |
| 44% | AYNRAND | 7 | Author who wrote "Anyone who fights for the future, lives in it today" |
| 43% | PYLE | 4 | Journalist who wrote the 1943 book "Here Is Your War" |
| 43% | SARABAREILLES | 13 | Singer-songwriter who wrote music and lyrics for the stage adaptation of the film "Waitress" (2 wds.) |
| 43% | RUDYARDKIPLING | 14 | English author who wrote the children's literature at 18- and 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 43% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author who wrote the novel "Ramona and Her Mother" (2 wds.) |
| 43% | NICCIFRENCH | 11 | Pseudonymous writing team who authored thrillers Beneath the Skin and Killing Me Softly |