| 100% | EDWARDALBEE | 11 | Author of the absurdist play "The Zoo Story": 2 wds. |
| 74% | SAMUELBECKETT | 13 | Author of the absurdist play "Waiting for Godot": 2 wds. |
| 71% | TOMSTOPPARD | 11 | Author of the absurdist play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead": 2 wds. |
| 57% | KARENRUSSELL | 12 | Author of the short-story collection "Orange World and Other Stories": 2 wds. |
| 52% | EMMATHOMPSON | 12 | Oscar-winning actress who plays P.L. Travers, author of the novel "Mary Poppins," in 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 52% | JAMESPATTERSON | 14 | Author of the Alex Cross mystery series: 2 wds. |
| 52% | MARYSHELLEY | 11 | 2017 drama in which Elle Fanning plays the title role, the author of "Frankenstein": 2 wds. |
| 51% | LOISLOWRY | 9 | Author of the children's book "The Giver": 2 wds. |
| 51% | RALPHELLISON | 12 | Author of the Harlem-set novel "Invisible Man": 2 wds. |
| 51% | EMILYHENRY | 10 | Author of the 2020 romance bestseller "Beach Read": 2 wds. |
| 51% | SHADOWMOON | 10 | Husband of the character played by 30a: 2 wds. |
| 51% | DANBROWN | 8 | Author of the novel "Inferno": 2 wds. |
| 50% | SOCIALNETWORK | 13 | "The ___," 2010 drama film based on the true story of Facebook's origins, with Justin Timberlake playing Sean Parker: 2 wds. |
| 50% | DANBROWN | 8 | "Colorful" author of the novel "The Da Vinci Code": 2 wds. |
| 49% | JUDYBLUME | 9 | Author of the children's book "Superfudge": 2 wds. |
| 49% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | Author of the Harlem-set novel "Jazz": 2 wds. |
| 49% | SIRISAAC | 8 | With 48-Across, author of the three laws of motion: 2 wds. |
| 49% | CUBAGOODING | 11 | Academy Award-winning actor from "Jerry Maguire", who plays the TV version of 14-Across in "American Crime Story" : 2 wds. |
| 49% | REBECCAYARROS | 13 | Best-selling author of the "Empyrean" "romantasy" series: 2 wds. |
| 48% | GEORGEORWELL | 12 | Author of the classic dystopian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four": 2 wds. |
| 48% | ALDOUSHUXLEY | 12 | Author of the classic dystopian novel "Brave New World": 2 wds. |
| 48% | ANTONCHEKHOV | 12 | Russian writer of the play "Uncle Vanya": 2 wds. |
| 48% | KENNETHCHOI | 11 | Actor who played Chester Ming on "The Wolf of Wall Street" and portrays the role of Judge Lance Ito in "American Crime Story" : 2 wds. |
| 48% | ERICCARLE | 9 | Author of the children's book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar": 2 wds. |
| 48% | LAURANUMEROFF | 13 | Author of the "If You Give ..." children's book series: 2 wds. |
| 48% | LIANEMORIARTY | 13 | Author of the novels "Nine Perfect Strangers" and 47-Across: 2 wds. |
| 48% | JOHNGREEN | 9 | Author of the bestsellers "Paper Towns" and "Everything Is Tuberculosis": 2 wds. |
| 48% | BRENEBROWN | 10 | Author of the best-selling self-help book "Daring Greatly": 2 wds. |
| 48% | KAZUOISHIGURO | 13 | "The Remains of the Day" author, knighted in 2018: 2 wds. |
| 47% | JOHNUPDIKE | 10 | Author of the Rabbit series who wrote the 1988 novel "S.": 2 wds. |