| 100% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | Author who received the Nobel Prize in Literature on the basis of her first six novels, all featured in this puzzle |
| 39% | IVOANDRIC | 9 | Author of 1945 novel The Bridge on the Drina; 1961 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 39% | ANNIEERNAUX | 11 | Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature who described her prose in the novel “Les Armoires Vides” as “brutally direct, working-class and sometimes obscene” (October, 2022) |
| 38% | NIELS | 5 | First name of Danes Jerne and Finsen, who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 81 years apart |
| 36% | ANDREGIDE | 9 | French author of 1909 novel Strait is the Gate; 1947 Nobel Prize in Literature winner |
| 36% | KNUTHAMSUN | 10 | *Norwegian author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920 |
| 36% | GIDE | 4 | Andre —, French author of 1909 novel Strait is the Gate; 1947 Nobel Prize in Literature winner |
| 35% | TONI | 4 | Morrison who has received the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 35% | EDITHWHARTON | 12 | 13-Across and 25-Across writer who was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in Literature, for her 1920 novel "The Age of Innocence" (2 wds.) |
| 34% | HANKANG | 7 | Winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, whom Hernan Diaz praised for her “unique ear for the rumors of history” (October, 2024) |
| 34% | ALICEMUNRO | 10 | Short-story author who announced her retirement from writing in 2013, the same year she won the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 34% | KAZUO | 5 | "Never Let Me Go" author ___ Ishiguro who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2017 |
| 34% | ORHAN | 5 | "My Name is Red" author ___ Pamuk who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006 |
| 34% | HAROLDPINTER | 12 | British author of "The Birthday Party" who won the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature: 2 wds. |
| 33% | KAZUOISHIGURO | 13 | British author of "Never Let Me Go" who won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature : 2 wds. |
| 32% | TONI | 4 | First name of the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 32% | PASTERNAK | 9 | Boris —, author of 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago; 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature winner |
| 32% | DDT | 3 | Paul Muller received the Nobel prize in '48 for discovering the high efficiency of this now banned pesticide |
| 31% | ALICEMUNRO | 10 | Canadian short-story author who won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 31% | DYLAN | 5 | Singer Bob who won the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 31% | ALICEMUNRO | 10 | Canadian short story author who won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature: 2 wds. |
| 31% | MUNRO | 5 | Canadian writer Alice who won the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 31% | BARACK | 6 | "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" author who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 |
| 30% | NADINE | 6 | ___ Gordimer, South African writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 30% | VICTORFLEMING | 13 | Director of the eight starred films in this puzzle, who was born on 2/23/1889 |
| 30% | PAZ | 3 | Octavio ___, Mexican poet who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990 |
| 30% | MORRISON | 8 | First Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 30% | GBSHAW | 6 | *1925 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 30% | DYLAN | 5 | 2016 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 30% | DARIOFO | 7 | 1997 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature |