| 100% | ODETS | 5 | Playwright who wrote the screenplay for The Sweet Smell of Success |
| 54% | KASDAN | 6 | Lawrence who wrote the screenplay for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" |
| 52% | JOHNLITHGOW | 11 | "3rd Rock From the Sun" actor who won a Tony Award for "Sweet Smell of Success": 2 wds. |
| 49% | MARIOPUZO | 9 | American author of "The Godfather" who also wrote the screenplay for 1978 film "Superman": 2 wds. |
| 49% | JOHNSTEINBECK | 13 | American author of "The Grapes of Wrath" who also wrote the screenplay for "Viva Zapata!": 2 wds. |
| 48% | MAMET | 5 | David who wrote the screenplay for "The Verdict" |
| 48% | AARON | 5 | Sorkin who wrote the screenplay for the upcoming film "Steve Jobs" |
| 46% | JKROWLING | 9 | British novelist and creator of characters in 8a who also wrote the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them": 3 wds. |
| 46% | NORA | 4 | Ephron who wrote the screenplay for "When Harry Met Sally ..." |
| 46% | POE | 3 | Who wrote of "sorrow for the lost Lenore" |
| 45% | URIS | 4 | Novelist who wrote the screenplay for "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" |
| 44% | ODETS | 5 | Clifford who co-wrote "Sweet Smell of Success" |
| 41% | BRYANADAMS | 10 | "Summer of 69" artist who wrote the soundtrack for the film "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" alongside Hans Zimmer: 2 wds. |
| 41% | AGNEW | 5 | For whom Safire wrote the words "nattering nabobs of negativism" |
| 41% | NEIL | 4 | ___ Young, famed Canadian singer-songwriter of CSNY, who also wrote the score for the film "Dead Man" |
| 40% | ABBIE | 5 | Hoffman who wrote "Revolution for the Hell of It" |
| 40% | LEONI | 5 | Tea —, actress who played Rosemary Rose in 2009 film comedy The Smell of Success |
| 40% | PRINGLESCANDLE | 14 | Gift for someone who loves the smell of potato chips? |
| 40% | AUGUSTWILSON | 12 | Playwright of the month who wrote "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson": 2 wds. |
| 40% | AIMEE | 5 | Mann who wrote most of the songs for the movie "Magnolia" |
| 39% | SEAN | 4 | Irish playwright who wrote "The Shadow of a Gunman" |
| 39% | JOHN | 4 | ___ Patrick Shanley, American playwright who won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay for the romantic comedy "Moonstruck" |
| 39% | ROBREINER | 9 | Director of 33-Across who will write a foreword for the book by 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 39% | ERICHSEGAL | 10 | Author who co-wrote the screenplay for the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" |
| 39% | AGEE | 4 | Novelist James who co-wrote the screenplay for "The African Queen" |
| 38% | AROMA | 5 | Sweet smell of success, at a bakery |
| 38% | PINTER | 6 | Harold, playwright who wrote The Caretaker |
| 38% | SASHA | 5 | One of the daughters for whom the 2010 book "Of Thee I Sing" was written |
| 38% | SARABAREILLES | 13 | Singer/songwriter who wrote music and lyrics for the stage adaptation of "Waitress" (2 wds.) |
| 38% | DIDION | 6 | Joan who co-wrote the screenplay for the 1976 A Star Is Born |