| 100% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Horror writer whose stories are the basis for the Hulu series "Castle Rock": 2 wds. |
| 53% | TESSGERRITSEN | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Rizzoli & Isles" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 52% | DIANAGABALDON | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Outlander" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 52% | KATHYREICHS | 11 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Bones" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 47% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "Gone Girl": 2 wds. |
| 47% | ELMORELEONARD | 13 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "Get Shorty": 2 wds. |
| 46% | THOMASHARRIS | 12 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "The Silence of the Lambs": 2 wds. |
| 46% | OTISWILLIAMS | 12 | Only surviving original member of 34-Across, whose memoir is the basis for 19-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | CSLEWIS | 7 | *Deceased writer whose work was the basis for a hit 2005 film |
| 42% | ELMORELEONARD | 13 | Crime writer whose 1990 novel is the inspiration for 13-Down: 2 wds. |
| 40% | SEANANMCGUIRE | 13 | Writer whose "Middlegame" was a finalist for the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel (2 wds.) |
| 40% | CHILIPEPPERS | 12 | The Red Hot ___, the funk rock band that Flea - whose birthday it is today - plays bass for: 2 wds. |
| 38% | STEPHENCOLBERT | 14 | CBS "The Late Show" host whose show was nominated for a 2020 Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Talk Series (2 wds.) |
| 38% | MEGWHITE | 8 | American musician who was the drummer for rock duo The White Stripes: 2 wds. |
| 38% | DIANECOOK | 9 | American writer whose debut novel, "The New Wilderness," was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize (2 wds.) |
| 38% | KAMERONHURLEY | 13 | Writer whose "The Light Brigade" was a finalist for the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel (2 wds.) |
| 37% | AVNIDOSHI | 9 | American writer whose debut novel, "Burnt Sugar," was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize (2 wds.) |
| 37% | BRANDONTAYLOR | 13 | American writer whose debut novel, "Real Life," was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize (2 wds.) |
| 37% | OLEMISS | 7 | Nickname for a Southern university whose teams are the Rebels: 2 wds. |
| 37% | ORR | 3 | Mary whose short story "The Wisdom of Eve" was the basis for 1950's "All About Eve" |
| 37% | KILLINGFLOOR | 12 | Debut novel by 25-Across that was the basis for the first season of "Reacher" (2 wds.) |
| 37% | LABOHEME | 8 | Opera by Puccini that is the basis for the film "Rent" (2 wds) |
| 37% | JHUMPALAHIRI | 12 | Short-story writer whose "Interpreter of Maladies" won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2 wds.) |
| 37% | DUSTINDIAMOND | 13 | "Saved by the Bell" actor whose surname is a place for baseball: 2 wds. |
| 37% | VWBUG | 5 | Classic car whose official name is the Beetle, for short: 2 wds. |
| 36% | TED | 3 | Nebula- and Hugo-winning writer Chiang whose short story "Story of Your Life" is the basis of the film "Arrival" |
| 36% | JOHNOLIVER | 10 | HBO "Last Week Tonight" host whose show won the 2020 Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Talk Series (2 wds.) |
| 36% | RICHARDCASTLE | 13 | Writer who was the title character in a 2009-2016 crime series: 2 wds. |
| 36% | TESSGERRITSEN | 13 | Writer whose novels inspired the "Rizzoli & Isles" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 36% | SETHMEYERS | 10 | NBC "Late Night" host whose show was nominated for a 2020 Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Talk Series (2 wds.) |