| 100% | GRISHAM | 7 | John who authored 17-Across and 42-Across |
| 56% | KARENBLIXEN | 11 | Danish author who wrote 17-Across and 30-Across under the pen name Isak Dinesen (2 wds.) |
| 55% | ERNESTHEMINGWAY | 15 | Author of 17 and 63 Across |
| 53% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 53% | BILLIEEILISH | 12 | "Bad Guy," 17-Across, and 42-Across singer who won Best New Artist at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards (2 wds.) |
| 52% | LOUISAMAYALCOTT | 15 | Author who created the characters named by the starts of 17-, 24-, 49- and 61-Across |
| 52% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Author born 9/21/1947 who penned the starts of 17-, 24-, 38- and 52-Across |
| 52% | BETJEMAN | 8 | John —, British poet who authored 1966 collection High and Low |
| 51% | ELMERFUDD | 9 | Archenemy of Bugs Bunny ... who might say things like 17-, 24-, 32-, 42- and 51-Across |
| 49% | JENNYLHOWE | 10 | Author of 14-Across and 42-Across (3 wds.) |
| 48% | GREEN | 5 | John ___, American author and YouTuber who wrote the best-selling novel "Paper Towns" |
| 48% | CLANTON | 7 | Fictional Mississippi town where 17-Across and 42-Across are set |
| 48% | FIVETOOLPLAYERS | 15 | Term for people who can do all the actions at the starts of 17-, 22-, 35-, 42- and 48-Across |
| 48% | ALPHABETQUARTET | 15 | There's one in 17-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 48% | CARNEGIE | 8 | Author of 17-, 37- and 61-Across |
| 46% | DISAPPEARED | 11 | Faded away, and what happened in 17-, 26-, and 42-Across? |
| 46% | PARFORTHECOURSE | 15 | Average ... or a literal hint to 17-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 46% | MICHAELJFOX | 11 | Actor who played 17-Across and 28-/29-Across: 3 wds. |
| 46% | VET | 3 | November honoree who can be found in the middle of 17, 29, 46, and 62 Across |
| 46% | CORDCUTTER | 10 | Cable TV unsubscriber, and a hint to 17-, 28- and 42-Across |
| 46% | TWENTYQUESTIONS | 15 | Game suggested by the first words of 17-, 25- and 42-Across |
| 46% | PICKYPICKYPICKY | 15 | "So particular!" … or, in different senses, like 17-, 32- and 42-Across? |
| 46% | FOODFIGHT | 9 | Cafeteria combat epitomized by the actions in 17-, 36-, and 42-Across? |
| 46% | ORSONWELLES | 11 | Actor who directed 17-Across and played the title character: 2 wds. |
| 46% | NOMANISANISLAND | 15 | John Donne quote disproved by 17-, 25- and 43-Across? |
| 45% | JHUMPA | 6 | With 27-Across, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner who wrote 17-Across and 36-Across |
| 45% | GEORGEORWELL | 12 | British author of "1984" and 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 44% | CARPENTER | 9 | John who directed The Thing and Halloween |
| 44% | THEHIDDENAGENDA | 15 | What conspiracy theorists look for (as hinted at by 17-, 25- and 42-Across) |
| 44% | TOOCLEVERBYHALF | 15 | Overly inventive ... or a hint to the answers to 17-, 26- and 42-Across |