List of women writers (M–Z)


 * See also Lists of women writers by nationality.

This is a list of notable women writers.

Abbreviations: b. (born), c. (circa), ch. (children's), col. (columnist), es. (essayist), fl. (flourished), Hc. (Holocaust), mem. (memoirist), non-f. (non-fiction), nv. (novelist), pw. (playwright), wr. (writer), TV (television), YA (young adults')

Ma–Mc

 * Rozena Maart (b. 1962, South Africa), poet & fiction wr. in English
 * Sharon Maas (b. 1951, Guyana/England), nv.
 * Catherine Maberly (1805–1875, Ireland/England), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Lindiwe Mabuza (1938–2021, South Africa), poet & academic
 * Aifric Mac Aodha (b. 1979, Ireland), poet
 * Dorothy Macardle (1889–1958, Ireland), nv., pw. & historian
 * Bridget G. MacCarthy (1904–1993, Ireland), wr. & academic
 * Ethna MacCarthy (1903–1959, Ireland), poet & pediatrician
 * Mary Stanislaus MacCarthy (1849–1897, Ireland), poet, educator & nun
 * Rose Macaulay (1881–1958, England), wr.
 * Maria Antonietta Macciocchi (1922–2007, Italy), wr. & politician
 * Doireann MacDermott (b. 1923, Ireland), wr. & philologist
 * Ann-Marie MacDonald (b. 1958, Canada/Newfoundland), nv., pw. & actor
 * Betty MacDonald (1908–1958, United States), wr.
 * Charlotte Macdonald (living, New Zealand), historian
 * Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald (1864–1922, Canada) poet, ch. wr., ss. wr. & non-f. wr.
 * Helen Macdonald (b. 1970, England), wr., naturalist & academic
 * Lilou Macé (b. 1977, France/United States), wr.
 * Mirta Macedo (1939–2012, Uruguay), social wr.
 * Gwendolyn MacEwen (1941–1987, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & poet
 * Rebecca Macfie (living, New Zealand), non-f. wr. & col.
 * Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015, England/Kenya), poet & nv.
 * Ana Maria Machado (b. 1941, Brazil), ch. wr.
 * Gilka Machado (1893–1980, Brazil), poet & activist
 * Maria Clara Machado (1921–2001, Brazil), pw. & ch. wr.
 * Dorothea Macheiner (b. 1943, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv., poet & pw.
 * Elisabeth MacIntyre (1916–2004, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Louise Mack (1870–1935, Australia), poet & nv.
 * Catherine Julia Mackay (1864–1944, New Zealand), cookery wr.
 * Jessie Mackay (1864–1938, New Zealand), poet & animal rights activist
 * Margaret Mackay (1802–1887, Scotland), wr. & hymn wr.
 * Shena Mackay (b. 1944, Scotland), nv.
 * Dorothea Mackellar (1885–1968, Australia), poet & fiction wr.
 * Anna Mackenzie (b. 1963, New Zealand), fiction & YA wr.
 * Serena Mackesy (b. 1960s, England), nv.
 * Mary Mackey (b. 1945, United States), nv., poet & academic
 * Mary Mackie (b. early 1940s, England), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Marisa Mackle (b. c. 1973, Ireland), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Patricia MacLachlan (1938–2022, United States), ch. nv.
 * Mary MacLane (1881–1929, Canada/Newfoundland/United States), wr.
 * Hester Maclean (1859–1932, Australia/New Zealand), nursing wr. & autobiographer
 * Charlotte MacLeod (1922–2005, Canada/Newfoundland/United States), nv. & mystery wr.
 * Della Campbell MacLeod (ca. 1884 – ?, United States), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Eleanor MacMahon (1864–1956, Ireland/England), nv.
 * Kathleen MacMahon (living, Ireland), wr. & broadcaster
 * Sarah Broom Macnaughtan (1864–1916, Scotland), nv.
 * Máire MacNeill (1904–1987, Ireland), folklorist
 * Debbie Macomber (b. 1948, United States), nv.
 * Katharine Sarah Macquoid (1824–1917, England), nv. & travel wr.
 * Rina Macrelli (1929–2020, Italy), screenwriter & es.
 * Catherine Mary MacSorley (1848–1929, Ireland), YA & religious wr.
 * Marie MacSweeney (living, Ireland), poet & fiction wr.
 * Okky Madasari (b. 1984, Indonesia), nv., es. & ch. wr.
 * Deirdre Madden (b. 1960, Ireland), nv.
 * Heidrun E. Mader (b. 1977, Germany), non-fiction
 * Ruth Mader (b. 1974, Austria/Austria-Hungary), screenwriter
 * Naomi Long Madgett (1923–2020, United States), poet
 * Malika Madi (b. 1967, Belgium), nv. in French
 * Maga Magazinović (1882–1968, Serbia), wr.
 * Perihan Mağden (b. 1960, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), nv.
 * Audrey Magee (living, Ireland), nv.
 * Melba Padilla Maggay (b. 1950, Philippines), wr. & social anthropologist
 * Kellie Magnus (b. 1970, Jamaica), ch. & parenting wr.
 * Guðrún Kristín Magnúsdóttir (b. 1939, Iceland), ch. & nature wr.
 * Þórunn Elfa Magnúsdóttir (1910–1995, Iceland), nv.
 * Sindiwe Magona (b. 1943, South Africa), fiction wr. & autobiographer in English
 * Nilah Magruder (living, United States), wr.
 * Akka Mahadevi (c. 1130–1160, India), poet
 * Sabrina Mahfouz (living, England), poet & pw
 * Han Mahlsook (한말숙, b. 1931, Korea), nv.
 * Bríd Mahon (1922–2008, Ireland), nv. & folklorist
 * Florence Mahoney (b. 1929, Gambia), wr. & historian
 * Mahsati Ganjavi (c. 1089 – post-1159, Iran/Persia), poet
 * Margaret Mahy (1936–2012, New Zealand), ch. & YA wr.
 * Circe Maia (b. 1939, Uruguay), poet & es.
 * Jennifer Maiden (b. 1949, Australia), poet
 * Ruth Maier (1920–1942, Austria/Austria-Hungary), diarist & Hc. victim
 * Chantal Maillard (b. 1951, Spain), poet & philosopher
 * Ella Maillart (1903–1997, Switzerland), travel wr. in French
 * Antonine Maillet (b. 1929, Canada/Newfoundland), nv., pw. & scholar
 * Barbara York Main (1929–2019, Australia), arachnologist
 * Marie Majerová (1882–1967, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), fiction wr.
 * Marianne Majerus (b. 1956, Luxembourg), garden wr.
 * Clementina Laura Majocchi (1866–1945, Italy), poet & wr.
 * Maria Majocchi (1864–1917, Italy), wr. & poet
 * Megha Majumdar (b. 1987/1988, India), nv.
 * Tilottama Majumdar (b. 1966, India), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Svetlana Makarovič (b. 1939, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet & YA wr.
 * Jean Said Makdisi (b. 1940, Palestine), non-f. wr.
 * Barbara Makhalisa (b. 1949, Zimbabwe), nv. & editor
 * Anju Makhija (living, India/Canada/Newfoundland), poet, pw. & col.
 * Angela Makholwa (living, South Africa), fiction wr.
 * Miyako Maki (牧美也子, b. 1935, Japan), manga creator
 * Eudokia Makrembolitissa (c. 1021–1096, Byzantium), poet in Greek & empress
 * Desanka Maksimović (1898–1993, Serbia), poet
 * Rima Maktabi (b. 1977, Lebanon), col. Ad
 * Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (b. 1960s, Uganda), fiction wr.
 * Ana María Llona Málaga (b. 1936, Peru), poet
 * Ezza Agha Malak (b. 1942, Lebanon/France), nv., poet & critic
 * Natalia Malakhovskaia (b. 1948, Soviet Union/Austria/Austria-Hungary), feminist wr.
 * Battista Malatesta (c. 1384–1448, Italy), poet
 * Geneviève-Françoise Randon de Malboissière (1746–1766, France), poet, pw. & naturalist
 * Emilie Monson Malcolm (c. 1830–1905, England/New Zealand), domestic wr.
 * Wanda Malecka (1800–1860, Poland), poet & nv.
 * Rosie Malek-Yonan (b. 1965, Assyria), nv. & actor
 * Oriel Malet (Lady Auriel Rosemary Malet Vaughan, 1923–2014, England), nv. & biographer
 * Amita Malik (1921–2009, India), critic
 * Nicole Malinconi (b. 1946, Belgium), fiction wr. in French
 * Gitta Mallasz (1907–1992, Hungary), wr. of dialogues
 * Ana Caro de Mallén (1590–1646, Spain), poet & pw.
 * Nathalie Mallet (living, Canada/Newfoundland), science fiction & fantasy wr.
 * Françoise Mallet-Joris (1930–2016, Belgium), nv. & es. in French
 * Heather Mallick (b. 1959, Canada/Newfoundland), col., wr. & lecturer
 * Clare Mallory (1913–1991, New Zealand), ch. wr.
 * Bodil Malmsten (1944–2016, Sweden), poet & nv.
 * Amina Mama (b. 1958, Scotland/Nigeria), social wr.
 * Tatiana Mamonova (b. 1943, Soviet Union/Russia), poet & politician
 * Angela Manalang-Gloria (1907–1995, Philippines), poet in English
 * Becky Manawatu (b. 1982, New Zealand), nv. & col.
 * Laura Beatrice Mancini (1821–1969, Italy), poet
 * Emily St. John Mandel (b. 1979, Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Lisa Mandel (b. 1977, France), comics book wr.
 * Zindzi Mandela (1960–2020, South Africa), poet
 * Nadezhda Mandelstam (1899–1980, Russia/Soviet Union), mem.
 * Jane Mander (1887–1949, New Zealand/England), nv. & col.
 * Slavka Maneva (1934–2010, Yugoslavia/North Macedonia), ch. wr. & poet
 * Edda Manga (b. 1969, Sweden), historian of ideas
 * Richmal Mangnall (1769–1820, England), schoolbook wr.
 * Anne Marie Mangor (1781–1865, Denmark), cookery wr.
 * Rani Manicka (living, Malaysia/England), nv.
 * Salmi Manja (b. 1937, Malaysia), fiction wr.
 * Irshad Manji (b. 1968, Uganda/United States), religious wr.
 * Delarivier Manley (c. 1670–1724, England), nv., pw. & pamphleteer
 * Edna Manley (1900–1987, England/Jamaica), sculptor & diarist
 * Rachel Manley (b. 1955, Jamaica/Canada/Newfoundland), poet & fiction wr.
 * Alana Mann (fl. 2000s, Australia), wr. on food
 * Erika Mann (1905–1969, Germany), wr., screenwriter & actor
 * María Emma Mannarelli (b. 1954, Peru), non-f. wr., historian, professor
 * Eeva-Liisa Manner (1921–1995, Finland), poet & pw.
 * Catherine Gray, Lady Manners (1766–1852, Ireland/England), poet
 * Emily Manning (Australie, 1845–1890, Australia), poet & col.
 * Mary Manning (1905–1999, Ireland/United States), nv., pw. & critic
 * Olivia Manning (1908–1980, England), nv.
 * Ruth Manning-Sanders (1886–1988, Wales/England), poet, wr. & ch. wr.
 * Kiran Manral (b. 1971, India), nv. & parenting wr.
 * Chris Mansell (b. 1953, Australia), poet
 * Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923, New Zealand/England), fiction wr.
 * Eduarda Mansilla (1834–1892, Argentina), nv., pw. & critic
 * Fadhma Aït Mansour, (c. 1882–1967, Algeria), poet & singer
 * Latifa Ben Mansour (b. 1950, Algeria/France), nv., linguist & psychoanalyst
 * Alicia Catherine Mant (1788–1869, England/Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Lisa Mantchev (living, United States), fantasy nv.
 * Hilary Mantel (1952—2022, England), fiction wr., mem. & es.; Wolf Hall
 * Réka Mán-Várhegyi (b. 1979, Russia/Hungary), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Sarah Ladipo Manyika (b. 1968, Nigeria/England), fiction wr. & es.
 * Gianna Manzini (1896–1974, Italy), fiction wr.
 * Mokbula Manzoor (1938–2020, India/Bangladesh), nv. & wr.
 * Lee Maracle (1950–2021, Canada/Newfoundland), poet, nv. & storyteller
 * Carmen Marai (Carmen María Bassa Rodríguez, living, Chile), poet & nv.
 * Dacia Maraini (b. 1936, Italy), nv., pw. & poet
 * Faustina Maratti (c. 1679–1745, Italy), poet & painter
 * Maria Mercè Marçal (1952–1998, Spain), poet & wr. in Catalan
 * Jane Marcet (1769–1858, England), salonnière & popular science wr.
 * Melina Marchetta (b. 1965, Australia), nv.
 * Andrea Marcolongo (b. 1987, Italy), es. & wr.
 * Emilie Maresse-Paul (1838–1900, Trinidad), feminist
 * Inés Marful (b. 1961, Spain), nv. & literature wr.
 * Anna Margolin (1887–1952, Russia/United States), Yiddish poet
 * Silvana De Mari (b. 1953, Italy), nv.
 * Juliet Marillier (b. 1948, New Zealand/Australia), nv. & YA writer
 * Guadalupe Marín (1895–1983, Mexico), nv. & model
 * Katarina Marinčič (b. 1968, Slovenia), fiction wr. & literary historian
 * Lucrezia Marinella (1571–1653, Italy), poet & wr.
 * Alexandra Marinina (b. 1957, Soviet Union/Russia), fiction wr.
 * María Mariño (1907–1967, Spain), wr.
 * Kamala Markandaya (1924–2004, India), nv.
 * Beryl Markham (1902–1986, England/Kenya), aviator & wr.
 * Liza Marklund (b. 1962, Sweden), nv.
 * Maria Markova (b. 1982, Soviet Union/Russia), poet
 * Daphne Marlatt (b. 1942, Canada/Newfoundland), poet
 * Olga Marlin (b. 1934, United States/Kenya), autobiographer
 * E. Marlitt (1825–1887, Germany), nv.
 * Nilgün Marmara (1958–1987, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), poet
 * Jeanne Marni (1854–1910, France), nv. & pw.
 * Monika Maron (b. 1941, Germany), es. & political wr.
 * Leïla Marouane (b. 1960, Algeria/France), nv.
 * Ana Marija Marović (1815–1887, Serbia), poet & painter
 * Susan Lowndes Marques (1907–1993, England/Portugal), travel wr.
 * Anne de Marquets (b. c. 1533–1588, France), poet & nun
 * Manuela Antonia Márquez García-Saavedra (1844–1890, Peru), wr., poet
 * Paula Contreras Márquez (1911–2008, Spain), nv. & wr.
 * Paz Márquez-Benítez (1894–1983, Philippines), fiction wr. & editor
 * Ellen Marriage (1865–1946, England), translator
 * Janice Marriott (b. 1946, England/New Zealand), ch. & YA wr., poet & gardener
 * Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982, New Zealand), mystery wr.
 * Selina Tusitala Marsh (b. 1971, New Zealand), poet & academic
 * Catherine Marshall (1914–1983, United States), nonfiction & fiction wr.
 * Paule Marshall (1929–2019, United States), nv.
 * Una Marson (1905–1965, Jamaica), radio producer & poet
 * Patricia De Martelaere (1957–2009, Belgium), philosopher & es. in Flemish
 * Esperanza Brito de Martí (1932–2007, Mexico), col.
 * Catherine Edith Macauley Martin (1847–1937, Australia), nv.
 * Faith Martin (living, England), thriller wr.
 * Harriet Evans Martin (died 1846, Ireland), nv.
 * Harriet Letitia Martin (1801–1891, England/Ireland), nv.
 * Mary Letitia Martin (1815–1850, Ireland/Belgium), nv.
 * Ros Martin (b. 1960s, England), pw., poet & activist
 * Violet Florence Martin (1862–1915, Ireland), co-wr. of fiction
 * Agnès Martin-Lugand (b. 1979, France), nv.
 * Harriet Martineau (1802–1876, England), nv. & theorist
 * Nela Martínez (1912–2004, Ecuador), political wr. & activist
 * Sanjuana Martínez (b. 1963, Mexico), social analyst
 * Susana Martinez-Conde (b. 1969, Spain), science wr.
 * Raquel Martínez-Gómez (b. 1973, Spain/Uruguay), nv.
 * Tânia Martins (b. 1957, Brazil), poet
 * Moa Martinson (1890–1964, Sweden), nv. & es.
 * Kati Marton (b. 1949, Hungary/United States), political wr.
 * Olga Martynova (b. 1962, Soviet Union/Germany), poet, es. & nv.
 * Margaret Maruani (1954–2022, Tunisia/France), wr.
 * Cissy van Marxveldt (1889–1948, Netherlands), ch. wr.
 * Barbara Masekela (b. 1941, South Africa), poet & activist in English
 * Mohale Mashigo (b. 1983, South Africa), nv. & songwriter in English
 * Lebogang Mashile (b. 1979, South Africa), actor, wr. & poet
 * Emma Mashinini (1929–2017, South Africa), autobiographer in English & politician
 * Dorota Masłowska (b. 1983, Poland), nv. & pw.
 * Amelia Gere Mason (1831–1923 United States), es. & author
 * Bobbie Ann Mason (b. 1940, United States), fiction wr., es. & critic
 * Judi Ann Mason (1955–2009, United States), pw. & screenwriter
 * María Josefa Massanés (1811–1887, Spain), poet in Catalan & Spanish
 * Janine Massard (b. 1939, Switzerland), fiction & non-f. wr. in French
 * Renée Massip (1907–2002, France), nv.
 * Ursula Masson (1945–2008, Wales), wr. & academic
 * Dada Masiti (c. 1810s–15 July 1919) poet
 * Olga Masters (1919–1986, Australia), fiction wr. & col.
 * Jenny Mastoraki (b. 1949, Greece), poet & translator
 * Ángeles Mastretta (b. 1949, Mexico), fiction wr. & mem.
 * Kāterina Mataira (1932–2011, New Zealand), exponent of Maori
 * Julijana Matanović (b. 1959, Yugoslavia/Croatia), fiction wr.
 * Pilar Mateos (b. 1942, Spain), ch. wr.
 * Beverly Matherne (b. 1946, United States), wr. & poet
 * Petra Mathers (b. 1945, Germany/United States), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Mary Mathew (1724–1777, Ireland), diarist
 * Sarah Mathew (c. 1805–1890, England/New Zealand), diarist
 * Peta Mathias (living, New Zealand), food wr.
 * Nicole-Claude Mathieu (1937–2014, France), anthropologist & feminist
 * Manana Matiashvili (b. 1978, Georgia (Caucasus)), poet & philologist
 * Maria Matios (b. 1959, Ukraine), poet & nv.
 * Kopano Matlwa (b. 1985, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Sanami Matoh (真東砂波, b. 1969, Japan), manga creator
 * Chiara Matraini (1515–1604, Italy), poet & prose wr.
 * Larisa Matros (b. 1938, Soviet Union/United States), philosopher & fiction wr.
 * Nina Matsumoto (b. 1984, Japan/Canada/Newfoundland), cartoonist & nv.
 * Temari Matsumoto (松本テマリ, living, Japan), manga creator & illustrator
 * Akemi Matsunae (松苗あけみ, b. 1956, Japan), manga creator
 * Akimoto Matsuyo (秋元松代, 1911–2001, Japan), pw. & scriptwriter
 * Dalene Matthee (1938–2005, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Olga Elena Mattei (b. 1933, Puerto Rico/Comoros), poet
 * Tina Matthews (b. 1961, New Zealand), ch. & YA wr. & illustrator
 * Gill Matthewson (living, New Zealand), wr. on architecture
 * Christobel Mattingley (1931–2019, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Ellen Mattson (b. 1962, Sweden), fiction wr.
 * Ana María Matute (1925–2014, Spain), nv.
 * Genoveva Matute (1915–2009, Philippines), fiction wr. in Tagalog
 * Caitlín Maude (1941–1982, Ireland), poet & activist
 * Mary Fawler Maude (1819-1913, England), religious wr. & hymn wr.
 * Neža Maurer (b. 1930, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet & ch. & YA writer
 * Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989, England), fiction wr.
 * Zenta Mauriņa (1897–1978, Latvia), biographer & fiction wr. in Latvian & German
 * Novella Matveyeva (1934–2016, Soviet Union/Russia), poet, screenwriter & pw.
 * Vera Matveyeva (1945–1976, Soviet Union), poet & songwriter*
 * Sophie Dora Spicer Maude (1854–?, United Kingdom), wr. & nv.
 * Constantia Maxwell (1886–1962, Ireland), historian & academic
 * Marina Ama Omowale Maxwell (living, Trinidad), pw. & poet
 * Megan Maxwell (b. 1965, Spain), romance nv.
 * Julia Harris May (1833–1912, United States), poet
 * Muriel May (1897–1982, New Zealand), wr.
 * Patricia Mayayo (born 1967, Spain), non-f. wr.
 * Jane Mayhall (1918–2009, United States), poet
 * Katherine Mayfield (born 1958, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Antonia Maymón (1881–1959, Spain), anarchist wr. & nv.
 * Olga Maynard (1913–1994, Brazil/United States), non-f. wr.
 * Cath Mayo (living, New Zealand), fiction, ch. & YA wr. & musician
 * DeBarra Mayo (b. 1953, United States), fitness wr.
 * Eleanor Mayo (1920–1981, United States), nv.
 * Rosa Mayreder (1858–1938, Austria/Austria-Hungary), feminist wr.
 * Friederike Mayröcker (1924–2021, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet & pw.
 * Katarina Mazetti (b. 1944, Sweden), wr.
 * Alice La Mazière (1880–1962, France), non-f. wr.
 * Margaret Mazzantini (b. 1961, Italy), wr. & actor
 * Melania Mazzucco (b. 1966, Italy), screenwriter & nv.
 * Penda Mbow (b. 1955, Senegal), historian & activist
 * Rose Mbowa (1943–1999, Uganda), pw. & academic
 * Imbolo Mbue (b. 1981, Cameroon), fiction wr.
 * Mary Rootes Thornton McAboy (1815–1892, United States), poet
 * Constance Jane McAdam (Constance Clyde, 1872–1951, Australia), wr. & suffragette
 * Rachel McAlpine (b. 1940, New Zealand), poet, pw. & nv.
 * Maxine McArthur (b. 1962, Australia), science fiction wr.
 * Joan McBreen (b. 1947, Ireland), poet
 * Bunny McBride (b. 1950, United States), wr. & anthropologist
 * Eimear McBride (b. 1976, Ireland), nv.
 * Kate McCabe (living, Ireland), nv.
 * Lida Rose McCabe (1865–1938, United States), author, journalist, lecturer
 * Nell McCafferty (b. 1944, Ireland), pw. & campaigner
 * Anne McCaffrey (1926–2011, United States), science fiction nv.
 * Felicity McCall (living, Ireland), nv., pw. & non-f. wr.
 * Mary McCallum (b. 1961, Zambia/New Zealand), fiction wr., es. & poet
 * Mary McCarthy (1912–1989, United States), nv., critic & mem.
 * Mary McCarthy (b. 1946, United States), screenwriter
 * Mary McCarthy (1951–2013, Ireland), nv. and critic
 * Mary Eunice McCarthy (1899–1969, United States), pw. & screenwriter
 * Karen McCarthy Woolf (b. 1966, England), poet
 * Sue McCauley (b. 1941, New Zealand), fiction & screenwriter & pw.
 * Shirla R. McClain (1935–1997, United States), educator
 * Jen McClanaghan (living, United States), poet
 * Letitia McClintock (1835–1917, Ireland), nv. & story collector
 * Nellie McClung (1873–1951, Canada/Newfoundland), feminist, wr. & activist
 * Joanna McClure (b. 1930, United States), poet
 * Lyn McConchie (b. 1946, New Zealand), fiction & ch. wr. & poet
 * Annie Virginia McCracken (1868–?, United States), ss. wr.
 * Elizabeth McCracken (b. 1966, United States), nv. & editor
 * Georgiana Huntly McCrae (1804–1890, Australia), diarist & painter
 * Sharyn McCrumb (b. 1948, United States), fiction wr.
 * Jenny McCudden (living, Ireland), non-f. wr., poet & col.
 * Carson McCullers (1917–1967, United States), nv.
 * Colleen McCullough (1937–2015, Australia), nv.
 * Carolyn McCurdie (b. 1947, England/New Zealand), YA and fiction wr. & poet
 * Alice McDermott (b. 1953, United States), fiction wr.
 * Mary McDermott (fl. 1832, Ireland), poet
 * Mary McDonagh (b. 1849, Ireland/United States), poet
 * Mercia MacDermott (1927–2023, England), wr. & historian
 * Rosaleen McDonagh (living, Ireland), pw. & activist
 * Jill McDonald (1927–1982, New Zealand/England), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Nan McDonald (1921–1974, Australia), poet & editor
 * Melanie McFadyean (1950–2023, England), journalist, broadcaster & lecturer
 * Ella May McFadyen (1887–1976, Australia), poet & ch. wr.
 * Fiona McFarlane (b. 1978, Australia), nv.
 * Shona McFarlane (1929–2001, New Zealand), non-f. wr.
 * Katharine McGee (America), YA wr.
 * Phyllis McGinley (1905–1978, United States), ch. wr. & poet
 * Michelle McGrane (b. 1974, Zimbabwe), poet
 * Fiona McGregor (b. 1965, Australia), wr. & artist
 * Medbh McGuckian (b. 1950, Northern Ireland), poet
 * Maura McHugh (living, Ireland), fiction wr., pw. & screenwriter
 * Siobhán McHugh (living, Ireland/Australia), wr. & documentary maker
 * Lisa McInerney (b. 1981, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Ami McKay (b. 1968, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & pw.
 * Edith McKay (1891–1963, Australia), fiction wr.
 * Suzy McKee Charnas (1939–2023, United States), nv. & short story wr.
 * Alecia McKenzie (living, Jamaica), YA wr.
 * Elizabeth McKenzie (b. 1958, United States), wr. & editor
 * Patricia A. McKillip (1948–2022, United States), science fiction & fantasy wr.
 * Tamara McKinley (b. 1948, Australia), nv.
 * Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983, United States), col. & wr.
 * Emma McLaughlin (b. 1974, United States), nv.
 * Ella N. McLean, Countess Norraikow (1849-1913, Canada), non-f. wr.
 * Georgie A. Hulse McLeod (1827–1890, United States), nv. & ss. wr.
 * Rosemary McLeod (b. 1949, New Zealand), wr. on domestic skills
 * Pauline McLynn (b. 1962, Ireland), author & actor
 * Charlotte Elizabeth McManus (1850–1941, Ireland), historian & nv.
 * Emily Julian McManus (1865–1918, Canada), poet, author, and educator
 * Liz McManus (b. 1947, Ireland), nv. & politician
 * Rhyll McMaster (b. 1947, Australia), poet & nv.
 * Terry McMillan (b. 1951, United States), nv.
 * Linda McNabb (b. 1963, England/New Zealand), ch. & YA writer
 * Bertha McNamara (1853–1931, Australia), pamphleteer
 * Kit McNaughton (c. 1887–1953, Australia), diarist & nurse
 * Donna McNeil (1948, Germany/United States) wr
 * Esther Lord McNeill (1812–1907, United States), travel wr.
 * Janet McNeill (1907–1994, Ireland/England), nv. & pw.
 * Anna McPartlin (b. 1972, Ireland), nv.
 * Martha McPhee (b. 1965, United States), nv.
 * Cilla McQueen (b. 1949, England/New Zealand), poet
 * Dionyse McTair (b. 1950, Trinidad), poet
 * Dervla McTiernan (b. 1977, Ireland), crime wr.

Me–Mi

 * Richelle Mead (b. 1976, United States), nv.
 * L. T. Meade (1844–1914, Ireland), girls' writer
 * Teresa Meana Suárez (born 1952, Spain), feminist activist, teacher, philologist & non-f. wr.
 * Roisin Meaney (b. 1959, Ireland), nv.
 * A. Garland Mears (1842–1920, Ireland), nv.
 * Gillian Mears (1964–2016, Australia), fiction wr.
 * Meavenn (1911–1992, France), poet, nv. & pw. in Breton
 * Gwerful Mechain (fl. 1460–1500, Wales), poet
 * Mechthild of Magdeburg (c. 1207 – c. 1282–1294, Germany), mystic wr. in Low German
 * Marina Ripa di Meana (1941–2018, Italy), nv.
 * Saint Mechtilde of Hackeb. (1240/1241–1298, Germany), religious wr. in Latin
 * Máighréad Medbh (b. 1959, Ireland), wr. & poet
 * Elena Medel (b. 1985, Spain), poet
 * Nia Medi (living, Wales), nv. & actor
 * Susana Medina (b. 1966, England/Spain), wr. in Spanish & English
 * Paula Meehan (b. 1955, Ireland), poet & pw.
 * C. K. Meena (b. 1957, India), nv. & col.
 * Fatima Meer (1928–2010, South Africa), sociologist in English
 * Vonne van der Meer (b. 1952, Netherlands), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Meera (1498–1556, India), poet & mystic
 * K. R. Meera (b. 1970, India), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Selma Meerbaum-Eisinger (1924–1942, Romania/Germany), poet
 * Mariella Mehr (1947–2022, Switzerland), nv. in French
 * Marsha Mehran (1977–2014, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Rama Mehta (1923–1978, India), nv. & sociologist
 * Dora van der Meiden-Coolsma (1918–2001, Netherlands), col. & ch. wr.
 * Doeschka Meijsing (1947–2012, Netherlands), nv.
 * Cecília Meireles (1901–1964, Brazil), wr. & educator
 * Isa Meireles (c. 1932–2008, Portugal), ch. wr.
 * Elena Arizmendi Mejia (1884–1949, Mexico), wr. & autobiographer
 * Tsehay Melaku (b. c. 1952, Ethiopia), nv. in Amharic
 * Tamta Melashvili (b. 1979, Georgia (Caucasus)), nv.
 * Gaby Melian (b. 1969/1970, Argentina), wr.
 * Ekaterine Melikishvili (1854–1928, Georgia (Caucasus)), translator & ch. wr.
 * Melinno (fl. 2nd century BC, Ancient Greece), poet
 * Anastasia Melnichenko (b. 1984, Ukraine), social wr.
 * Rosita Melo (1897–1981, Argentina), poet & composer
 * Maile Meloy (b. 1972, United States), fiction wr.
 * Jean Meltzer (fl. 2000s), Jewish American wr.
 * Pauline Melville (b. 1948, Guyana/England), wr. & actor
 * Velma Caldwell Melville (1858–1924, United States), editor & wr.
 * Eva Menasse (b. 1970, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv. & col.
 * Rigoberta Menchú (b. 1959, Guatemala), political wr.
 * Jane Mendelsohn (b. 1965, United States), wr.
 * Charlotte Mendelson (b. 1972, England), nv. & editor
 * Concha Méndez (1898–1968, Spain), poet & pw.
 * Lucrecia Méndez (b. 1943, Guatemala), academic & critic
 * Mariana Cox Méndez (1871–1914, Chile), fiction wr. & es.
 * Armine Rhea Mendoza (living, Philippines), nv. in Tagalog
 * Juana Belén Gutiérrez de Mendoza (1875–1942, Mexico), activist & poet
 * Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza (1566–1614, Spain), religious poet
 * Margarita Robles de Mendoza (1896–1954, Mexico), wr. on motherhood
 * María Luisa Mendoza (1930–2018, Mexico), nv. & politician
 * Susan Mendus (b. 1951, Wales), political philosopher
 * Saida Menebhi (1952–1977, Morocco), poet & activist
 * Amparo Menendez-Carrion (b. 1949, Uruguay/Ecuador), political wr.
 * Maaza Mengiste (b. 1974, Ethiopia/United States), nv.
 * Teresa Meniru (1931–1994, Nigeria), YA & ch. wr.
 * Indu Menon (b. 1980, India), fiction wr., screenwriter & sociologist
 * A. L. Mentxaka (d. 2022, Ireland), modernist scholar
 * Wolla Meranda, (1863–1951, Australia), nv.
 * Martha Mercader (1926–2010, Argentina), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Antonieta Rivas Mercado (1900–1931, Mexico),
 * Tununa Mercado (b. 1939, Argentina), fiction wr. & es.
 * Sophie Mereau (1770–1806, Germany), nv. & poet
 * Courtney Sina Meredith (b. 1986, New Zealand), political wr. & pw.
 * Gwen Meredith (1907–2006, Australia), pw., scriptwriter & nv.
 * Louisa Meredith (1812–1895, Australia), non-f. wr., poet & nv.
 * Edna Merey-Apinda (b. 1976, Gabon), wr.
 * Kersti Merilaas (1913–1986, Estonia), poet & ch. wr.
 * Marguerite Merington (1875–1951, England/United States), pw. & fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Alda Merini (1931–2009, Italy), wr. & poet
 * Ana Merino (b. 1971, Spain), poet
 * Louise Meriwether (1923–2023, United States), nv. & es.
 * Fatema Mernissi (1940–2015, Morocco), sociologist
 * Helen Maud Merrill (1865–1943, United States), woman of letters & poet
 * Jenny B. Merrill (1854–193b. 19494, United States), educator, non-f. wr.
 * Catherine Merriman (living, Wales), fiction wr.
 * Nuray Mert (b. 1960, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), political scientist
 * Lina Meruane (b. 1970, Chile), wr. & academic
 * Sara Mesa (b. 1976, Spain), fiction wr. & poet
 * Elizabeth Messenger (1908–1965, New Zealand), cookery wr. & nv.
 * Maria Messina (1887–1944, Italy), social wr. & nv.
 * Claire Messud (b. 1966, United States), nv. & academic
 * Grace Metalious (1924–1964, United States), nv.
 * Antigone Metaxa-Krontera (1905–1971, Greece), ch. wr.
 * Joan Metelerkamp (b. 1956, South Africa), poet in English
 * Ida Mett (1901–1973, Russia/France), political wr.
 * Charlotte Mew (1869–1928, England), poet
 * Johanne Meyer (1838–1915, Denmark), suffragist & pacifist
 * Stephenie Meyer (b. 1973, United States), nv.
 * Miriam Meyerhoff (b. 1964, United States/New Zealand), sociolinguist
 * Alice Meynell (1847–1922, England), critic & poet
 * Esther Meynell (1878–1955, England), wr. & historian
 * Isabel Meyrelles (b. 1929, Portugal/France), poet & sculptor
 * Malwida von Meysenbug (1816–1903, Germany), political wr. & mem.
 * Samar Samir Mezghanni (b. 1988, Tunisia), ch. wr.
 * Malika Mezzane (born 1960), Moroccan poet and novelist
 * Nontsizi Mgqwetho (fl. 1920s, South Africa), poet in isiXhosa
 * Máire Mhac an tSaoi (1922–2021, Ireland), poet, wr. and scholar
 * Gcina Mhlophe (b. 1958, South Africa), storyteller in 4 languages
 * Mian Mian (棉棉, b. 1970, China), fiction wr.
 * Hanny Michaelis (1922–2007, Netherlands), poet
 * Karin Michaëlis (1872–1950, Denmark), fiction & ch. wr. & autobiographer
 * Anne Michaels (b. 1958, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & poet
 * Concha Michel (1899–1990, Mexico), pw., songwriter & activist
 * Natacha Michel (b. 1941, France), nv. & critic
 * Margarita Michelena (1917–1998, Mexico), poet & critic
 * Sólrún Michelsen (b. 1948, Faroe Islands), fiction & ch. wr. & poet
 * Michitsuna's mother (藤原道綱母, 935–995, Japan), poet
 * Veronica Micle (1850–1889, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Romania), poet
 * Agnes Miegel (1879–1964, Germany), col., wr. & poet
 * Helene Migerka (1867–1928, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet & prose wr.
 * Cécile Miguel (1921–2001, Belgium), poet, pw. & nv. in French
 * Annabel Miguelena (b. 1984, Panama), fiction wr.
 * Aksinia Mihaylova (b. 1963, Bulgaria), poet & translator
 * Jasmina Mihajlović (b. 1960, Serbia), wr. & critic
 * Jo Mihaly (1902–1989, Germany), diarist, nv. & dancer
 * Mitsukazu Mihara (三原ミツカズ, b. 1970, Japan), manga wr. & artist
 * Mira Mihelič (1912–1985, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), nv.
 * Ene Mihkelson (1944–2017, Estonia), poet & nv.
 * Sevda Mikayilova (b. 1953, Azerbaijan), poet & philologist
 * Kato Mikeladze (1878–1942, Georgia (Caucasus)/Soviet Union), commentator
 * Marja-Leena Mikkola (b. 1939, Finland), wr.
 * Jung Mi-kyung (정미경, 1960–2017, Korea), nv.
 * Karlo Mila (b. 1974, New Zealand), poet
 * Farzaneh Milani (b. 1947, Iran/Persia/United States), scholar & wr.
 * Jana Milčinski (1920–2007, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), science & ch. wr.
 * Grace Mildmay (1552–1620, England), diarist
 * Dorothy Miles (1931–1993, Wales), poet & activist for deaf
 * Josephine Miles (1911–1985, United States), poet & critic
 * Leda Mileva (1920–2013, Bulgaria), wr. & diplomat
 * Princess Milica of Serbia (c. 1335–1405, Serbia), poet
 * Ognjenka Milićević (1927–2008, Serbia), theater wr.
 * María del Carmen Millán (1914–1882, Mexico), literature scholar
 * Selena Millares (b. 1963, Spain), poet & nv.
 * Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950, United States), poet
 * Betty Miller (1910–1965, Ireland), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Caroline Pafford Miller (1903–1992, United States), nv.
 * Grażyna Miller (1957–2009, Poland/Italy), poet & translator into Italian
 * Isabel Miller (1924–1996, United States), nv.
 * Dora Richards Miller (1842-1914, United States/England/Denmark), author and educator
 * Elizabeth Miller (1878–1961, United States), nv.
 * Jeannette Miller (1944, Dominican Republic), poetry, short story, novel.
 * Kara Miller (living, Jamaica/England), screenwriter
 * Kirsten Miller (b. 1973, United States), nv. in English
 * Leslie Adrienne Miller (b. 1956, United States), poet
 * Madeline Miller (b. 1978, United States), nv.
 * Minnie Myrtle Miller (1842–1882, United States), wr.
 * Rebecca Miller (b. 1962, United States), nv. & wr.
 * Ruth Miller (1919–1969, South Africa), poet & pw. in English
 * Mărgărita Miller-Verghy (1865–1953, Romania), fiction wr.
 * Kate Millett (1934–2017, United States), feminist
 * Arthenia J. Bates Millican (1920–2012, United States), poet and fiction wr.
 * Alice Milligan (1865–1953, Ireland), poet & wr.
 * Anna Millikin (1764 – post-1849, Ireland), nv.
 * Sarah Millin (1889–1968, South Africa), fiction wr. & autobiographer in English
 * Lia Mills (living, Ireland), nv.
 * Anchee Min (閔安琪, b. 1957, Chile/United States), nv. & memoir wr.
 * Denise Mina (b. 1966, Scotland), crime wr. & pw.
 * Marijane Minaberri (1926–2017), France/Basque Country, wr.
 * Haruka Minami (南かずか, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Kanan Minami (水波風南, b. 1979, Japan), manga creator
 * Bridget Minamore (b. 1991, England), poet, journalist, critic
 * Else Holmelund Minarik (1920–2012, Denmark/United States), ch. wr.
 * Marga Minco (1920–2023, Netherlands), wr. & Hc. survivor
 * Liliana Díaz Mindurry (b. 1953, Argentina), poet & fiction wr.
 * Kazuya Minekura (峰倉かずや, b. 1975, Japan), manga creator
 * Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir (b. 1976, Iceland), nv.
 * Laura Mintegi (b. 1955, Spain), nv. & es. in Basque
 * Mirabai (c. 1498 – c. 1547, India), poet
 * Ana Miranda (b. 1951, Brazil), nv.
 * Mir-Jam (1887–1952, Serbia), nv.
 * Heidi Safia Mirza (b. 1958, England), non-f. wr.
 * Shazia Mirza (living, Pakistan/England), col. & comedian
 * Jane Misme (1865–1935, France), col. & feminist
 * Jaishree Misra (living, India/England), nv.
 * Gabriela Mistral (Lucila Godoy Alcayaga, 1889–1957, Chile), poet; Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Diana Mitchell (1932–2016, Zimbabwe), political wr.
 * Dreda Say Mitchell (b. 1965, England), nv. & col.
 * Elma Mitchell (1919–2000, Scotland), poet
 * Elyne Mitchell (1913–2002, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Gladys Mitchell (1901–1983, England), mystery nv.
 * Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949, United States), col. & nv.; Gone with the Wind
 * Susan Mitchell (b. 1944, United States), poet, es. & translator
 * Susan Langstaff Mitchell (1866–1926, Ireland), writer, satirist & poet
 * Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999, Scotland), nv. & poet
 * Jessica Mitford (1917–1996, England/United States), wr. & rights activist
 * Mary Russell Mitford (1787–1855, England), nv. & pw.; Our Village
 * Nancy Mitford (1904–1973, England), nv. & correspondent; The Pursuit of Love
 * Antonija Mitrović (living, Serbia/New Zealand), computer scientist
 * Mitsukazu Mihara (三原ミツカズ, b. 1970, Japan), manga creator
 * Suzue Miuchi (美内すずえ, b. 1951, Japan), manga creator
 * Shion Miura (三浦しをん, b. 1976, Japan), nv.
 * Kim Mi-wol (김미월, b. 1977, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Miyamoto Yuriko (宮本百合子, 1899–1951, Japan), fiction wr., critic & activist
 * Minae Mizumura (水村 美苗, b. 1951, Japan/United States), nv., critic & es.
 * Hideko Mizuno (水野英子, b. 1939, Japan), manga creator
 * Junko Mizuno (水野純子, b. 1973, Japan), manga creator
 * Setona Mizushiro (水城せとな, b. 1971, Japan), manga creator

Mj–My

 * Barbara Catharina Mjödh (1738–1776, Finland), poet
 * Alice-Leone Moats (1908–1989, Mexico), non-f. wr.
 * Azadeh Moaveni (b. 1976, Iran/Persia/United States), wr.
 * Janet Mock (b. 1983, United States), wr., rights activist & wr.
 * Béláné Mocsáry (1845–1917, Hungary), travel wr.
 * Drusilla Modjeska (b. 1946, Australia), wr. & editor
 * Moelona (Elizabeth Mary Jones, 1877–1953, Wales), nv., ch. wr. & translator
 * Moero or Myro (3rd century BC, Ancient Greece), poet
 * Lottie Moggach (living, England), nv.
 * Moh Youn-sook (모윤숙, 1910–1999, Korea), poet
 * Nadifa Mohamed (b. 1981, Saint Lucia/England), nv.
 * Baisali Mohanty (b. 1994, India), wr., col. & dancer
 * Elaine Mokhtefi (b. 1928, United States/France), mem. & col.
 * Ana María Moix (1947–2014, Spain), poet & fiction wr.
 * Tze Ming Mok (莫志明, b. 1978, China/New Zealand), fiction wr. & social commentator
 * Malika Mokeddem (b. 1949, Algeria), fiction wr.
 * Natalia Molebatsi (living, South Africa), poet in English
 * Mary Louisa Molesworth (1839–1921, England), ch. nv.
 * Rena Molho (b. 1946, Greece), historian
 * Ursule Molinaro (1916–2000, France/United States), fiction wr., pw. & visual artist
 * Empar Moliner (b. 1966, Spain), wr. in Catalan
 * Grace Mera Molisa (1947–2002, Vanuatu), poet, politician & activist
 * Atukuri Molla (1440–1530, India), poet
 * Herdis Møllehave (1936–2001, Denmark), wr. & social worker
 * Dorothy Molloy (1942–2004, Ireland/Spain), poet, col. & artist
 * Frances Molloy (1947–1991, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Marion Molteno (b. 1944, South Africa), nv. & education wr. in English
 * Eva Moltesen (1871–1934, Finland/Denmark), fiction & political wr. & lexicographer
 * Margareta Momma (1702–1772, Sweden), political wr.
 * Lília Momplé (b. 1935, Mozambique), fiction wr.
 * María Olivia Mönckeberg (b. 1944, Chile), es. & academic
 * Pérrine Moncrieff (1893–1979, England/New Zealand), conservationist & ornithologist
 * Patrocinio de Biedma y la Moneda (1858–1927, Spain), poet & nv.
 * Aleksandra Monedzhikova (1889–1959, Bulgaria), geographer & historian
 * Aja Monet (b. 1987, United States), poet, wr. & activist
 * Libuše Moníková (1945–1998, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Germany), wr. in German
 * Mary Monck (c. 1677–1715, Ireland/England), poet & beauty
 * Jenn Monroe (b. 1970, United States), poet & editor
 * Beatrice Monroy (b. 1953, Italy), fiction wr. & nv.
 * Dolors Monserdà (1845–1919, Spain), poet, pw. & es.
 * Pilar Burgués Monserrat (b. 1958, Andorra), fiction wr.
 * Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762, England), poet, diarist & correspondent
 * Hilda Montaire (1922–2004, Philippines), fiction wr. in Cebuana
 * Stephanie de Montalk (b. 1945, New Zealand), poet & biographer
 * Danila Comastri Montanari (b. 1948, Italy), nv.
 * Roza Montazemi (c. 1921–2009, Iran/Persia), cookery wr.
 * Dora Montefiore (1851–1933, Australia), poet, autobiographer & suffragist
 * Ana Montenegro (1915–2006, Brazil), wr., poet & activist
 * Sofía Montenegro (b. 1954, Nicaragua), social researcher
 * Mayra Montero (b. 1952, Cuba/Puerto Rico), fiction wr. & col.
 * Rosa Montero (b. 1951, Spain), fiction wr.
 * Graciela Montes (b. 1947, Argentina), ch. wr. & translator
 * Maria Montessori (1870–1952, Italy), education wr.
 * Florence Montgomery (1843–1923, England), ch. wr.
 * Frances Trego Montgomery (1858 – 1925), American children's book writer
 * Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr. & poet; Anne of Green Gables
 * Ruth Montgomery (1912–2001, United States), nv.
 * Selena Montgomery, pseudonym of Stacey Abrams (b. 1973, United States), nv.
 * Amy Monticello (b. 1982, United States), es. & non-f. wr.
 * Isabelle de Montolieu (1851–1932, Switzerland), nv. in French
 * Federica Montseny (1905–1994, Spain), nv. & es.
 * María de Montserrat (1913–1995, Uruguay), fiction wr.
 * Teresa Wilms Montt (Tebal, 1893–1921, Chile), wr. & poet
 * Susanna Moodie (1803–1885, Canada/Newfoundland), diarist, nv. & poet
 * Anne Moody (1940–2015, United States), autobiographer
 * Moon Chung-hee (문정희, b. 1947, Korea), poet
 * Marente de Moor (b. 1972, Netherlands), nv. & col.
 * Alison Moore (b. 1971, England), nv.
 * C. L. Moore (1911–1987, United States), fantasy wr.
 * Lisa Moore (b. 1964, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Lorrie Moore (b. 1957, United States), fiction wr.
 * Marianne Moore (1887–1972, United States), poet
 * Ruth Moore (1903–1989, United States), fiction wr. & poet
 * Elizabeth Moorhead (c. 1865–1955, United States), fiction wr.
 * Finola Moorhead (b. 1947, Australia), nv., pw. & poet
 * Hortensia von Moos (1659–1715, Switzerland), scholar & medic
 * Shani Mootoo (b. 1957, Trinidad/Canada/Newfoundland), wr., artist & video maker
 * Magdalena Mora (1952–1981, Mexico), scholar & social wr.
 * Terézia Mora (b. 1971, Hungary/Germany), nv. & critic in German
 * Barbara Moraff (b. 1939, United States), poet
 * Cherrie Moraga (b. 1952), poet, pw. & es.
 * Adelaida García Morales (1945–2014, Spain), fiction wr.
 * Aurora Levins Morales (b. 1954, Paraguay), es., poet & fiction wr.
 * Karly Gaitán Morales (b. 1980, Nicaragua), wr. on film
 * María Luz Morales (1889–1980, Spain), wr.
 * Giuliana Morandini (1938–2019, Italy), social wr. & nv.
 * Elsa Morante (1912–1985, Italy), nv.
 * Maria Moravskaya (1890–1947, Russia/United States), poet & critic
 * Ann Moray (1909–1981, Ireland/United States), nv. & singer
 * Yolanda Morazzo (1928–2009, Cape Verde), poet
 * Marta Morazzoni (b. 1950, Italy), nv.
 * Dea Trier Mørch (1941–2001, Denmark), travel & social wr. & artist
 * Diana Mordasini (living, Senegal/Switzerland), col.
 * Elinor Mordaunt (1872–1942, Australia/England), wr. & traveler
 * Pamela Mordecai (b. 1942, Jamaica/Canada/Newfoundland), poet, fiction wr. & scholar
 * Hannah More (1745–1833, England), moralist, poet & pw.
 * Helga Moreira (b. 1950, Paraguay), poet
 * Nancy Morejón (b. 1944, Cuba), poet & es.
 * Isabel Morel (1885–?, Chile), wr. & activist
 * Mary L. Moreland (1859–1918, United States), minister, evangelist, suffragist, wr.
 * María Victoria Moreno (1939–2005, Spain), ch. & YA wr. in Galician
 * Virginia R. Moreno (1925–2021, Philippines), poet & pw.
 * C. E. Morgan (b. 1976, United States), wr.
 * Elaine Morgan (1920–2013, Wales), pw. & anthropologist
 * Elena Puw Morgan (1900–1973, Wales), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Sydney, Lady Morgan (c. 1781–1859, Ireland/England), nv. & poet
 * Erin Morgenstern (b. 1978, United States), artist & nv.
 * Irmtraud Morgner (1933–1990, Germany), nv.
 * Sally Morgan (b. 1951, Australia), wr. & artist
 * Liane Moriarty (b. 1966, Australia), nv.
 * Sinead Moriarty (b. c. 1871, Ireland/England), nv.
 * Milk Morinaga (森永みるく, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Akiko Morishima (森島明子, b. 1973, Japan), manga creator
 * Tama Morita (森田たま, 1894–1970, Japan), es.
 * Yunna Morits (b. 1937, Soviet Union/Russia), poet & activist
 * Yoko Moriwaki (森脇瑤子, 1932–1945, Japan), diarist & Hiroshima victim
 * Margarita Morozova (1873–1958, Russia), mem.
 * Lisa Morpurgo (1923–1998, Italy), astrologer & nv.
 * Isabella di Morra (c. 1520–1545/1546), poet
 * Edita Morris (1902–1988, Sweden/United States), fiction wr. & mem.
 * Jan Morris (James Morris, 1926–2020, Wales/England), historian & travel wr.
 * Mary McGarry Morris (b. 1943, United States), nv.;
 * Meaghan Morris (b. 1950, Australia), cultural wr.
 * Myra Morris (1893–1966, Australia), poet, nv. & ch. wr.
 * Paula Morris (b. 1965, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Sharon Morris (living, Wales), poet & lecturer
 * Toni Morrison (1931–2019, United States), nv., ch. wr.; 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Di Morrissey (b. 1943, Australia), nv.
 * Donna Morrissey (b. 1956, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & screenwriter
 * Sinéad Morrissey (b. 1972, Northern Ireland), poet
 * Sally Morrison (b. 1946, Australia), biographer & fiction wr.
 * Honoré Willsie Morrow (1880–1940, United States), nv., ss. wr.
 * Petra Morsbach (b. 1956, Germany), nv.
 * Penelope Mortimer (1918–1999, Wales/England), nv.
 * Nelle Morton (1905–1987, United States), theologian and rights leader
 * Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (b. 1975, England), non-f
 * Stefania Mosca (1957–2009, Venezuela), wr.
 * Myriam Moscona (b. 1955, Mexico/Canada/Newfoundland), academic & poet in Ladino & Spanish
 * Claudia Moscovici (b. 1969, Romania/United States), nv. & critic
 * Hannah Moscovitch (b. 1978, Canada/Newfoundland), pw.
 * Marie Moser (b. 1948, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Miriam Mosessohn (1839–1920, Russia/Lithuania), Hebraist
 * Ottessa Moshfegh (b. 1981, United States), fiction wr. & es.
 * Minoo Moshiri (living, Iran/Persia), critic & es.
 * Tatyana Moskvina (1958–2022, Soviet Union/Russia), col., nv. & film critic
 * Mieke Mosmuller (b. 1951, Netherlands), nv. & physician
 * Mary Moss (1864–1914, United States), nv. & es.
 * Rose Moss (b. 1937, South Africa/United States), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Sarah Moss (b. 1975, England), wr. & academic
 * Thylias Moss (b. 1954, United States), poet, ch. nv. & pw.
 * Kate Mosse (b. 1961, England), fiction wr. & broadcaster
 * Ahlam Mosteghanemi (b. 1953, Algeria), nv.
 * Natasha Mostert (living, South Africa/England), nv.
 * Nadežka Mosusova (b. 1928, Serbia), non-f. wr.
 * Isabella Motadinyane (1963–2003, South Africa), poet & actor in several languages
 * Yukiko Motoya (本谷有希子, b. 1979, Japan), nv. & pw.
 * Capucine Motte (b. 1971, Belgium), woman of letters in French
 * Chantal Mouffe (b. 1943, Belgium), political theorist in French & English
 * Touhfat Mouhtare (living, Comoros), wr.
 * Daphne Pochin Mould (1920–2014, England/Ireland), non-f. wr.
 * Julia Moulden (b. 1956, Canada/Newfoundland), non-f. wr. & speechwr.
 * Jeanine Moulin (1912–1998, Belgium), poet & scholar
 * Martha Moulsworth (1577–1646, England), poet & autobiographer
 * Maria Lacerda de Moura (1887–1945, Brazil), anarcho-feminist wr.
 * Kenizé Mourad (b. 1939, France), nv.
 * Teresa Moure (b. 1969, Spain), es., nv. & ch. wr. in Galician
 * Doula Mouriki (1934–1991, Greece), art historian
 * Granaz Moussavi (b. 1976, Iran/Persia/Australia), poet
 * Melissa Moustakis (fl. 2000s, USA), short story writer
 * Elizabeth Moutzan-Martinegou (1801–1832, Greece), poet, pw. & economist
 * Mary Braidwood Mowle (1827–1857, England/Australia), diarist
 * Ana Gloria Moya (1954–2013, Argentina), nv.
 * Isabel Moya (1961–2018, Cuba), communications professor
 * Esther Moyal (1878–1948, Lebanon), Jewish wr. & feminist
 * Elizabeth Moynihan (1929–2023, USA), historian and writer
 * Fiona Mozley (b. 1988, England), nv. & medievalist
 * Milena Mrazović (1863–1927, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Yugoslavia), wr. in Serbian
 * Zorica Mršević (b. 1954, Serbia), wr. on gender rights
 * Ingy Mubiayi (b. 1972, Egypt/Italy), wr.
 * Cristina Mucci (b. 1949, Argentina), wr.
 * Muddupalani (fl. mid-18th century, India), poet & nun
 * Chitra Mudgal (b. 1943, India), nv.
 * Lisel Mueller (1924–2020, Germany/United States), poet
 * Amélia Muge (b. 1952, Mozambique/Portugal), lyricist & singer
 * Micere Githae Mugo (1942–2023, Kenya), pw., poet & activist
 * Hazel de Silva Mugot (b. 1947, Kenya), nv. & academic
 * Nezihe Muhiddin (1889–1958, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), political wr.
 * Luise Mühlbach (1814–1873, Germany), nv.
 * Hermynia zur Mühlen (1883–1951, Austria/Austria-Hungary/England), nv.
 * Doris Mühringer (1920–2009, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet & fiction & ch. wr.
 * Willa Muir (1890–1970, Scotland), wr.
 * Hercilia Fernández de Mujía (1860–1929, Bolivia), wr. & poet
 * María Josefa Mujía (1812–1888, Bolivia), poet
 * Bharati Mukherjee (1940–2017, India/United States), fiction wr.
 * Lena Mukhina (1924–1991, Soviet Union), teenage diarist
 * Luise Mühlbach (1814–1873, Germany), nv.
 * Hermynia zur Mühlen (1883–1951, Austria/Austria-Hungary/England), nv.
 * Kathleen Mulchrone (1895–1973, Ireland), Celtic scholar
 * Elisabeth Mulder (1904–1987, Spain), poet & critic
 * Lale Müldür (b. 1956, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), poet & fiction wr.
 * Wendy Mulford (b. 1941, Wales), poet & feminist
 * Clara Mulholland (1849–1934, Ireland), nv., pw., ch. wr.
 * Rosa Mulholland (1841–1921, Ireland), nv., poet & pw.
 * Val Mulkerns (1925–2018, Ireland), fiction wr. & col.
 * Harryette Mullen (b. 1953, United States), poet, fiction wr. & scholar
 * Henrietta Müller (1846–1906, Chile/England), activist & theosophist
 * Herta Müller (b. 1953, Romania/Germany), nv. & poet; 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Inge Müller (1925–1966, Germany), poet, ch. wr. & radio pw.
 * Melissa Müller (b. 1967, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv. & biographer
 * Sheila Mulloy (1922–2013, Ireland), wr. & historian
 * Margaret Mulvihill (b. 1954, Ireland), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Khadija Mumtaz (b. 1955, India), nv., es. & physician
 * Hilda Mundy (1912–1980, Bolivia), wr., poet, journalist
 * Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (b. 1964, Romania), political wr. & pw.
 * Zorica Jevremović Munitić (b. 1948, Serbia), pw. & literary historian
 * Estefanía Muñiz (b. 1974, Spain), screenwriter, poet & critic
 * Angelina Muñiz-Huberman (b. 1936, Mexico), fiction wr. & poet
 * Claudine Muno (b. 1979, Luxembourg), wr.
 * Isabel Gómez Muñoz (b. 1959, Chile), poet
 * Isabel Muñoz-Caravaca (1838–1915, Spain), education wr.
 * Rosabetty Muñoz (b. 1960, Chile), poet & academic
 * Alice Munro (1931–2024, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.; 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Johanne Münter (1844–1921, Denmark), wr. & rights activist
 * Rose Marie Muraro (1930–2014, Brazil), sociologist & feminist wr.
 * Kiyoko Murata (村田喜代子, b. 1945, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Sayaka Murata (村田沙耶香, b. 1979, Japan), nv.
 * Yuka Murayama (村山由佳, b. 1964, Japan), nv.
 * Iris Murdoch (1919–1999, Ireland/England), nv. & philosopher; The Sea, the Sea
 * Nina Murdoch (1890–1976, Australia), biographer, travel wr. & poet
 * Weronika Murek (b. 1989, Poland), pw., short story wr.
 * Mary Noailles Murfree (1850–1922, United States), fiction wr.
 * Michela Murgia (b. 1972, Italy), nv.
 * Verónica Murguía (b. 1960, Mexico), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Anna Murià (1904–2002, Spain), fiction & ch. wr. & es.
 * Rosario Murillo (b. 1951, Nicaragua), poet
 * Mayumi Muroyama (室山まゆみ, b. 1955, Japan) and Mariko Muroyama (室山真里子, b. 1957, Japan), joint manga creators
 * Sallyann J. Murphey (living, England/United States), nv.
 * Agnes G. Murphy (1865–1931, Ireland/England), col. & biographer
 * C. E. Murphy (b. 1973, United States), wr.
 * Dervla Murphy (1931–2022, Ireland), touring cyclist & travel wr.
 * Elaine Murphy (living, Ireland), pw.
 * Jill Murphy (1949–2021, England), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Kathleen M. Murphy (1879–1963, Ireland), poet
 * Margaret Murphy (b. 1959, England), crime wr.
 * Maura Murphy (1928–2005, Ireland/England), autobiographer
 * Edmée Pardo Murray (b. 1965, Mexico), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Ena Murray (1936–2015, South Africa), nv. & poet in Afrikaans
 * Nora J Murray (1888–1955, Ireland), poet & schoolteacher
 * Pauli Murray (1910–1985, United States), activist, lawyer, poet & mem.
 * Sally-Ann Murray (b. 1961, South Africa), poet & nv. in English
 * Shirley Murray (1931–2020, New Zealand), hymn wr.
 * Joanna Murray-Smith (b. 1962, Australia), pw., screenwriter & nv.
 * Sudha Murty (b. 1950, India), wr. & educator
 * Eugénie Musayidire (b. 1952, Rwanda/Germany), wr.
 * Inga Muscio (b. 1966, United States), wr.
 * Susan Musgrave (b. 1951, Canada/Newfoundland), poet & ch. wr.
 * Małgorzata Musierowicz (b. 1945, Poland), ch. & YA wr.
 * Carol Muske-Dukes (b. 1945, United States), poet, nv. & academic
 * Seema Mustafa (b. 1955, India), wr. & politician
 * Sugawara no Takasue no musume (菅原孝標女, c. 1008–post-1059, Japan), diarist
 * Dagmar von Mutius (1919–2008, Germany), wr.
 * Charlotte Mutsaers (b. 1942, Netherlands), wr. & painter
 * Margaret Mutu (living, New Zealand), wr. on Maori
 * Mwana Kupona (died c. 1865, Kenya), poet
 * Beverle Graves Myers (b. 1951, United States), mystery wr.
 * Elizabeth Myers (1912–1947, UK), novelist, short story writer
 * Agatha Lovisa de la Myle (1724–1787, Germany/Finland), poet & writer in German & Latvian
 * Alva Myrdal (1902–1976, Sweden), sociologist

Na–Ng

 * Na Hye-sok (나혜석, 1896–1948, Korea), poet, educator & painter
 * Asma Nabeel (1970s–2021, Pakistan), screenwriter & poet
 * Farida Nabourema (b. 1990, Togo), wr. & activist
 * Borbála Nádasdy (b. 1939, Hungary/France), nv. & cookery wr.
 * Sofia Nădejde (1856–1946, Romania), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Constance Naden (1858–1889, England), poet & philosopher
 * Azar Nafisi (b. 1948, Iran/Persia), wr. & academic; Reading Lolita in Tehran
 * Ai Nagai (b. 1951, Japan), pw. & director
 * Angela Nagle (b. 1984, Ireland), academic & non-f. wr.
 * Maria de Naglowska (1883–1936, Russia/Switzerland), poet & occultist
 * Beverley Naidoo (b. 1943, South Africa/England), ch. wr.
 * Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia (1673–1716, Russia), pw.
 * Vera Nazarian (b. 1966, Soviet Union), nv.
 * Kishwar Naheed (b. 1940, India/Pakistan), poet & ch. wr.
 * Alice Nahon (1896–1933, Belgium), poet in Flemish
 * Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949, India), poet & activist
 * Anita Nair (b. 1966, India), nv.
 * Carolina Nairne (1766–1845, Scotland), songwriter
 * Cheng Naishan (程乃珊, 1946–2013, China), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Layal Najib (1983–2006, Lebanon), col. & war victim
 * Afsaneh Najmabadi (b. 1946, Iran/Persia), historian & gender theorist
 * Marie von Najmajer (1844–1904, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv., poet & pw.
 * Rieko Nakagawa (中川李枝子, b. 1935, Japan), ch. wr.
 * Aya Nakahara (中原アヤ, b. 1973, Japan), manga creator
 * Kyoko Nakajima (中島京子, b. 1964, Japan), nv. & es.
 * Hisaya Nakajo (中条比紗也, b. 1973, J., manga creator
 * Hikaru Nakamura (中村光, b. 1984, Japan), manga creator
 * Yoshiki Nakamura (仲村佳樹, b. 1969, Japan), manga creator
 * Midori Nakano (中野翠, b. 1946, Japan), col. & es.
 * Nakatsukasa (中務, 912–991, Japan), poet
 * Kei Nakazawa (中沢けい, Japan), fiction wr. & academic
 * Bahiyyih Nakhjavani (living, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Anna Nakwaska (1781–1851, Poland), mem., nv. & ch. wr.
 * Zofia Nałkowska (1884–1954, Poland), nv. & pw.
 * Beverley Nambozo (living, Uganda), poet, fiction wr. & biographer
 * Suniti Namjoshi (b. 1941, India), poet & fable wr.
 * Glaydah Namukasa (living, Uganda), fiction & YA wr.
 * Madlen Namro (living, Poland), mem.
 * Glaydah Namukasa (living, Uganda), nv. & midwife
 * Kiriko Nananan (魚喃キリコ, b. 1972, Japan), manga creator
 * Meera Nanda (b. 1954, India/United States), religious wr. & science historian
 * Rebecca Nandwa (living, Kenya), ch. wr.
 * Elizabeth Nannestad (b. 1956, New Zealand), poet
 * Heo Nanseolheon (허초희, 1563–1589, Korea), poet
 * Claire Julie de Nanteuil (1834–1897, France), child wr.
 * Elma Napier (1892–1973, Scotland/Dominica), wr. & politician
 * Susan Napier (b. 1954, New Zealand), nv.
 * Rafaela Chacón Nardi (1926–2001, Cuba), poet & educator
 * Ruth Narramore (1923–2010, United States), wr., editor & musician
 * Mary Nash (b. 1947, Ireland), historian
 * Thirza Nash (1885–1962, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Octavia Nasr (b. 1966, Lebanon), col.
 * Emily Nasrallah (1931–2018, Lebanon), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Taslima Nasrin (b. 1962, India), nv., poet & es.
 * Khurshidbanu Natavan (1832–1897, Azerbaijan), poet in Azerbaijani & Persian
 * Badam Natawan (1924–1988, India/Pakistan), wr.
 * Sheila Natusch (1926–2017, New Zealand), natural history wr. & illustrator
 * Benedikte Naubert (1752–1819, Germany), nv.
 * Jerónima Nava y Saavedra (1669–1727, New Kingdom of Granada), autobiographer & Catholic religious
 * Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549, France), poet, pw. & fiction wr.
 * Marysa Navarro (b. 1934, Spain), es.
 * Ofelia Domínguez Navarro (1894–1976, Cuba), wr. & activist
 * Gloria Naylor (1950–2016, United States), nv.
 * Sarwat Nazir (living, Pakistan), fiction wr., screenwriter & pw.
 * Bongi Ndaba (b. 1972, South Africa), TV wr. & pw. in English
 * Marie NDiaye (b. 1967, France), nv. & pw.
 * Mariama Ndoye (b. 1953, Senegal/Tunisia), fiction wr.
 * Emma Neale (b. 1969, New Zealand), nv. & poet
 * Mary Anna Needell (1830–1922, England), nv.
 * Barbara Neely (1941–2020, United States), nv.
 * Ada Negri (1870–1945, Italy), poet & nv.
 * María Negroni (b. 1951, Argentina), poet & wr.
 * Samira Negrouche (b. 1988, Algeria), poet, wr. & physician
 * Lino Nelisi (b. 1952, Niue/New Zealand), wr. in Pacific languages
 * Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875–1935, United States), poet, col. & activist
 * Esther Nelson (1810–1843, Isle of Man), poet
 * Marina Nemat (b. 1965, Iran/Persia/Canada/Newfoundland), mem.
 * Božena Němcová (1820–1862, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Hungary), Czech Revival wr.
 * Cristina Nemerovschi (b. 1980, Romania), nv.
 * Irène Némirovsky (1903–1942, Ukraine/France), nv.
 * Mary Edith Nepean (1876–1960, Wales), nv.
 * Salomėja Nėris (1904–1945, Lithuania/Soviet Union), poet
 * Adalgisa Nery (1905–1980, Brazil), poet & prose wr.
 * E. Nesbit (1858–1924, England), ch. fiction wr.
 * Bára Nesvadbová (b. 1975, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), wr. & col.
 * Guadalupe Nettel (b. 1973, Mexico), fiction wr. & es.
 * Friederike Caroline Neuber (1697–1760, Germany), pw. & actor
 * Jill Neville (1932–1997, Australia), nv., pw. & poet
 * Kate Newmann (b. 1965, Ireland), poet
 * Aimee Nezhukumatathil (b. 1974, United States), poet & es.
 * Juliana Makuchi Nfah-Abbenyi (living, Cameroon), wr. & academic
 * Clara Ng (b. 1973, Indonesia), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Lauretta Ngcobo (1931–2015, South Africa), nv. & es. in English

Ni–Nz

 * Brenda Niall (b. 1930, Australia), biographer & critic
 * Cláir Ní Aonghusa (b. 1953, Ireland), nv. & poet
 * Colette Nic Aodha (b. 1967, Ireland), poet & wr.
 * Giulia Niccolai (1934–2021, Italy), poet & nv.
 * Síle Ní Chéileachair (1924–1985, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Dairena Ní Chinnéide (b. 1969, Ireland), poet
 * Caitríona Ní Chléirchín (living, Ireland), wr. & academic
 * Jill Nicholls (living, England), filmmaker & journalist
 * Christine Nicholls (b. 1943, Kenya/England), lexicographer
 * Marjory Nicholls (1890–1930, New Zealand), poet & educator
 * Grace Nichols (b. 1950, Guyana/England), poet
 * Josephine R. Nichols (1838–1897, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Joyce Nicholson (1919–2001, Australia), wr.
 * Mavis Nicholson (1930–2022, Wales), wr. & broadcaster
 * Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill (c. 1743 – c. 1800, Ireland), poet
 * Nuala Ní Chonchúir (b. 1970, Ireland), wr. & poet
 * Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin (b. 1942, Ireland), poet & academic
 * Annemarie Ní Churreáin (living, Ireland), poet
 * Paige Nick (living, South Africa), nv. & col. in English
 * Nuala Níc Con Iomaire (died 2010, Ireland), pw., poet & artist
 * Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (b. 1952, Ireland), poet
 * Máire Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh (c. 1702 – c. 1795, Ireland), poet
 * Éilís Ní Dhuibhne (b. 1954, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Ciara Ní É (living, Ireland), poet & wr.
 * Lorine Niedecker (1903–1970, United States), poet
 * Aīda Niedra (1899–1972, Latvia), nv. & poet
 * Marlene van Niekerk (b. 1954, South Africa), nv. in Afrikaans
 * Henriette Nielsen (1815–1900, Denmark), pw. & nv.
 * Charlotte Niese (1854–1935, Germany), wr. & poet
 * Sandra Rodríguez Nieto (living, Mexico), wr. on crime
 * Audrey Niffenegger (b. 1963, United States), nv. & artist
 * Zehra Nigah (b. 1937, India/Pakistan), poet & scriptwriter
 * Nigâr Hanım (1856–1918, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), poet
 * Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh (b. 1984, Ireland), poet
 * Áine Ní Ghlinn (living, Ireland), poet, pw. & ch. wr.
 * Máiréad Ní Ghráda (1896–1971, Ireland), poet & pw.
 * Doireann Ní Ghríofa (b. 1981, Ireland), poet
 * Sorcha Ní Ghuairim (1911–1976, Ireland), wr. & singer
 * Lady Nijō (後深草院二条, 1258–post-1307, Japan), poet & mem.
 * Maria Nikolaeva (b. 1971, Soviet Union/Russia), wr. on yoga
 * Milena Nikolova (b. 1984, Bulgaria), poet & wr.
 * Deborah Niland (b. 1950, Australia), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Elly Niland (b. 1954, Guyana/England), poet, pw. & educator
 * Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire (1774 – c. 1848, Ireland), poet
 * Bríd Ní Mhóráin (b. 1951, Ireland), poet
 * Jenny Nimmo (b. 1944, Wales), ch. wr. & nv.
 * Anaïs Nin (1903–1977, France), eroticist, critic & diarist
 * Anupama Niranjana (1934–1991, India), fiction & non-f. wr. & physician
 * Ailís Ní Ríain (b. 1974, Ireland), pw. & composer
 * Esther Nirina (1932–2004, Malaysia), poet
 * Siobhán Ní Shúilleabháin (1928–2013, Ireland), pw. & wr.
 * Kanako Nishi (西加奈子, b. 1977, Japan), fiction & ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Keiko Nishi (西炯子, b. 1966, Japan), manga creator
 * Yoshiko Nishitani (西谷祥子, b. 1943, Japan), manga creator
 * Ana María Martínez de Nisser (1812–1872, Comoros), wr. & soldier
 * Rosa Nissán (born 1939, Mexico), wr.
 * Niu Yingzhen (8th century, China), poet
 * Sister Nivedita (1867–1911, England), wr.
 * Ketty Nivyabandi (b. 1978, Burundi), poet & activist
 * Marie Nizet (1859–1922, Belgium), poet in French
 * Lela B. Njatin (b. 1963, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), fiction wr. & artist
 * Rebeka Njau (b. 1932, Kenya), pw. & nv.
 * Nkiru Njoku (b. c. 1980, Nigeria), screenwriter
 * Michelle Nkamankeng (b. c. 2008, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Anna de Noailles (1876–1933, Romania/France), wr. in French
 * Ellen Kyle Noel (1815–1873, Ireland/Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Noh Cheonmyeong (노천명, 1912–1957, Korea), poet
 * Florence Noiville (b. 1961, France), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Cynthia Reed Nolan (1908–1976, Australia), nv. & travel wr.
 * Ingrid Noll (b. 1935, Germany), nv.
 * Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker, 1920–1993, Australia), poet, activist & educator
 * Saskia Noort (b. 1967, Netherlands), crime wr.
 * Kerstin Norborg (b. 1961, Sweden), wr. & poet
 * Cecily Norden (1918–2011, South Africa), wr. in English on horse riding
 * Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht (1718–1763, Sweden), poet & salonnière
 * Clara Nordström (1886–1962, Sweden/Germany), nv. in German
 * Lise Nørgaard (1917–2023, Denmark), es. & fiction wr.
 * Regine Normann (1867–1939, Norway), fiction wr.
 * Dagmar Normet (1921–2008, Estonia), wr. & pw.
 * Kathleen Norris (1880–1966, United States), nv.
 * Marlene Norst (1930–2010, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Australia), linguist & educator
 * Marisela Norte (living, United States), poet & wr.
 * Gail North-Saunders (b. 1944, Bahamas), historian & archivist
 * Andre Norton (1912–2005, United States), fiction wr.
 * Caroline Norton (1808–1877, England), wr., reformer & feminist
 * Eva Norvind (1944–2006, Norway/Mexico), screenwriter
 * Julian of Norwich (1342–1416, England), mystic
 * Nossis (fl. c. 300 BC, Ancient Greece), epigrammist & poet
 * Christine Nöstlinger (1936–2018, Austria/Austria-Hungary), ch. wr.
 * Amélie Nothomb (b. 1966, Belgium), nv. in French
 * Alice Notley (b. 1945, United States), poet
 * Joanne Nova (living, Australia), science wr. & speaker
 * Helga M. Novak (1935–2013, Germany), poet & wr.
 * Anna Novakov (b. 1959, Serbia), art historian & critic
 * Mary Novik (b. 1945, Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Lili Novy (1885–1958, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Yugoslavia), poet in Slovenian
 * Perpétue Nshimirimana (b. 1961, Burundi), wr.
 * Mpho 'M'atsepo Nthunya (fl. 1990s, Lesotho), autobiographer
 * Liz Nugent (b. 1967, Ireland), nv.
 * Princess Nukata (額田王, fl. 7th century, Japan), poet
 * Elizabeth Nunez (b. c. 1944, Trinidad/United States), nv. & academic
 * Patricia Alvarado Nuñez (Pm/United States), screenwriter
 * Minni Nurme (1917–1994, Estonia), nv. & poet
 * Sevinj Nurugizi (b. 1964, Azerbaijan), ch. wr.
 * Martina Nwakoby (b. 1937, Nigeria), ch. wr. & nv.
 * Flora Nwapa (1931–1993, Nigeria), nv.
 * Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (b. 1976, Nigeria), nv. & es.
 * Julia Nyberg (1784–1854, Sweden), poet & songwriter
 * Monica Arac de Nyeko (b. 1979, Uganda), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Saigū no Nyōgo (霧賀ユキ, 929–985, Japan), poet
 * Colette Nys-Mazure (b. 1939, Belgium), poet & pw. in French
 * Carita Nyström (1940–2019, Finland), wr. & poet in Swedish
 * Sekai Nzenza (living, Zimbabwe), wr. & critic

O

 * Ann Oakley (b. 1944, England), academic & nv.
 * Joyce Carol Oates (b. 1938, United States), fiction wr., poet & pw.
 * María Olimpia de Obaldía (1891–1985, Panama), poet
 * Kathy O'Beirne (1956–2019, Ireland), mem.
 * Achy Obejas (b. 1956, Cg), wr. & poet
 * Charlotta Öberg (also Lotta Öberg; 1818–1856, Sweden), poet
 * Clara Obligado (b. 1950, Argentina), fiction wr.
 * Trifonia Melibea Obono (b. 1982, Equatorial Guinea), nv. & political scientist
 * Téa Obreht (b. 1985, Serbia/United States), fiction wr.
 * Kathleen O'Brennan (1876–1948, Ireland), pw. & activist
 * Lily O'Brennan (1878–1948, Ireland), writer, pw. & activist
 * Princess Anka Obrenović (1821–1868, Serbia), Serbia's first woman wr.
 * Charlotte Grace O'Brien (1845–1909, Ireland), writer, philanthropist & plant collector
 * Edna O'Brien (b. 1930, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Frances O'Brien (1840–1883, Ireland), poet & nv.
 * Kate O'Brien (1897–1974, Ireland), nv. & pw.
 * Mary-Louise O'Callaghan (living, Australia), non-f. wr.
 * Silvina Ocampo (1903–1993, Argentina), poet, fiction wr. & pw.
 * Victoria Ocampo (1890–1979, Argentina), critic & autobiographer
 * Raquel Ochoa (b. 1980, Portugal), nv., biographer & travel wr.
 * Helen O'Clery (1910–2006, Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Elizabeth O'Conner' (Anne Willard, 1913–2000, Australia), nv.
 * Flannery O'Connor (1925–1964, United States), fiction wr.
 * Gemma O'Connor (b. 1940, Ireland), mystery wr.
 * Niamh O'Connor (fl. since 2000, Ireland), nv. & col.
 * Tyne O'Connell (b. 1960, England), nv.
 * Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014, Kenya), nv., pw. & ch. wr.
 * Mary Barry O'Delaney (1862–1947, Ireland), story-teller & poet
 * Cristina Odone (b. 1960, Kenya/England), nv. & col.
 * Jessie Fremont O'Donnell (1860–1897, United States), wr.
 * Martha B. O'Donnell (1836–1925, United States), newspaper and magazine editor and publisher
 * Mary O'Donnell (b. 1954, Ireland), nv., poet & educator
 * Mietta O'Donnell (1950–2001, Australia), food wr. & chef
 * Mary O'Donoghue (b. 1975, Ireland), fiction wr. & poet
 * Nannie Lambert Power O'Donoghue (1843–1940, Ireland), poet & wr.
 * Irina Odoyevtseva (1895/1901–1990, Soviet Union/Russia), poet, nv. & mem.
 * Taiwo Odubiyi (b. 1965, Nigeria), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Okwiri Oduor (b. 1988/1989, Kenya), wr.
 * Marie Conway Oemler (1879–1932, United States), nv.
 * Julia O'Faolain (1932–2020, Ireland/United States), fiction wr.
 * Nuala O'Faolain (1940–2008, Ireland), nv., critic & mem.
 * Maggie O'Farrell (b. 1972, Northern Ireland/England), nv. & mem.
 * Ursula O'Farrell (b. 1934, Ireland), psychologist
 * Jenny Offill (b. 1968, United States), nv. & editor
 * Catherine O'Flynn (b. 1970, England), fiction wr.
 * Nana Oforiatta Ayim (living, Ghana/Gold Coast), wr. & art historian
 * Barbara Ogier (1648–1720, Flanders), pw.
 * Anna Ogino (荻野アンナ, b. 1956, Japan), nv. & academic
 * Nina Ognianova (living, Bulgaria), activist
 * Vida Ognjenović (b. 1941, Serbia), pw. & wr.
 * Margaret Ogola (1958–2011, Kenya), nv.
 * Grace Ogot (1930–2015, Kenya), fiction wr.
 * Molara Ogundipe (1940–2019, Nigeria), poet, critic & non-f. wr.
 * P. A. Ogundipe (1927–2020, Nigeria), fiction wr. & mem.
 * Birgül Oğuz (b. 1981, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), fiction wr. & academic
 * Ellen Oh, (living, United States), author
 * Oh Jung-hee (오정희, b. 1947, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Oh Soo-yeon (오수연, b. 1964, Korea), fiction wr. & es.
 * Sheila O'Hagan (d. 2017, Ireland), poet
 * Mariko Ōhara (大原まり子, b. 1959, Japan), science fiction wr.
 * Pixie O'Harris (Rhona Olive Harris, 1903–1991, Wales), wr. & artist
 * Nanase Ohkawa (大川七瀬, b. 1967, Japan), manga creator
 * Jane Ohlmeyer (living, Northern Ireland/Ireland), historian & academic
 * Margaret Ó hÓgartaigh (1967–2014, Ireland), historian & biographer
 * Shinobu Ohtaka (大高忍, b. 1983, Japan), manga creator
 * Liisi Ojamaa (1972–2019, Estonia), poet & critic
 * Mirta Ojito (b. 1964, Cuba), wr. & col.
 * Yeo Ok (여옥, between 15th & 1st century BC, Korea), poet
 * Mari Okada (岡田麿里, b. 1976, Japan), screenwriter & manga creator
 * Reiko Okano (岡野 玲子, b. 1960, Japan), manga creator
 * Meral Okay (1959–2012, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), screenwriter
 * Kyoko Okazaki (岡崎京子, b. 1963, Japan), manga creator
 * Adelaide O'Keeffe (1776–1865, Ireland), poet & nv.
 * Chioma Okereke (living, Nigeria), poet & fiction wr.
 * Susan Moller Okin (1946–2004, New Zealand), political wr.
 * Julie Okoh (b. 1947, Nigeria), pw. & educator
 * Irenosen Okojie (living, Nigeria/England), fiction wr.
 * Nnedi Okorafor (b. 1974, Nigeria/United States), fiction wr.
 * Juliane Okot Bitek (b. 1966, Kenya/Uganda), poet
 * Ifeoma Okoye (b. c. 1937, Nigeria), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Chinelo Okparanta (b. 1981, Nigeria/United States), fiction wr.
 * Sofi Oksanen (b. 1977, Finland), nv. & pw.
 * Princess Ōku (大来皇女, 661–702, Japan), poet
 * Mary Karooro Okurut (b. 1954, Uganda), fiction wr.
 * Sevin Okyay (b. 1942, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), critic & col.
 * Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir (b. 1958, Iceland), art historian, nv. & poet
 * Susana Olaondo (b. 1953, Uruguay), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Sharon Olds (b. 1942, United States), poet
 * Annette K. Olesen (b. 1965, Denmark), screenwriter
 * Margaret Oliphant (1828–1897, Scotland), nv.
 * Ukamaka Olisakwe (b. 1982, Nigeria), fiction & screenwriter
 * Gloria Olive (1923–2006, United States/New Zealand), mathematician
 * Mary Oliver (1935–2019, United States), poet
 * Narelle Oliver (1960–2016), ch. wr. & artist
 * Marly de Oliveira (c. 1938–2007, Brazil), poet
 * Orlandina de Oliveira (b. 1943, Brazil/Mexico), social critic
 * Véronique Olmi (b. 1962, France), pw. & nv.
 * Ayodele Olofintuade (living, Nigeria), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Blanche Christine Olschak (1913–1989, Austria/Austria-Hungary), encyclopedist
 * Tillie Olsen (1913–2007, United States), feminist fiction wr.
 * Hagar Olsson (1893–1978, Finland), critic & pw. in Swedish
 * Linda Olsson (b. 1948, Sweden/New Zealand), nv. in Swedish & English
 * Lisa Olstein (b. 1972, United States), poet
 * Gilda Olvidado (b. 1957, Philippines), screenwriter & nv.
 * Nessa O'Mahony (living, Ireland), poet and wr.
 * Mary O'Malley (b. 1954, Ireland), poet
 * Bree O'Mara (1968–2010, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Kristín Ómarsdóttir (b. 1962, Iceland), nv., poet & pw.
 * Kathleen O'Meara (1839–1888, Ireland), nv. & biographer
 * Ghazal Omid (b. c. 1971, Iran/Persia/Canada/Newfoundland), autobiographer
 * Rita Omokha (living, United States), nonfiction
 * Yewande Omotoso (b. 1980, Barbados/South Africa), nv.
 * Emine Semiye Önasya (1864–1944, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), political & education wr.
 * Riku Onda (恩田陸, b. 1964, Japan), nv.
 * Heather O'Neill (b. 1973, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr., poet & screenwriter
 * Louise O'Neill (b. 1985, Ireland), YA nv.
 * Geraldine O'Neill (b. 1955, Scotland/Ireland), nv.
 * Mary Devenport O'Neill (1879–1967, Ireland), poet & pw.
 * Moira O'Neill (Agnes Shakespeare Higginson, 1864–1955, Ireland/Can), poet
 * Gabriela Onetto (b. 1963, Uruguay), poet & fiction wr.
 * Makena Onjerika (b. 1980s, Kenya), wr.
 * Fuyumi Ono (小野不由美, b. 1960, Japan), nv.
 * Hiromu Ono (小野弥夢, b. 1984, Japan), manga creator
 * Natsume Ono (オノナツメ, b. 1977, Japan), manga creator
 * Nuzo Onoh (b. 1962, Nigeria/England), horror wr.
 * Chibundu Onuzo (b. 1991, Nigeria), nv.
 * Osonye Tess Onwueme (b. 1955, Nigeria), pw., scholar & poet
 * Ifeoma Onyefulu (b. 1959, Nigeria), ch. wr. & nv.
 * Amelia Opie (1769–1853, England), nv. & biographer
 * Mary Oppen (1908–1990 United States), poet, wr. & artist
 * Meaghan Oppenheimer (b. 1986, US), screen wr.
 * Claudia Orange (b. 1938, New Zealand), historian
 * Baroness Orczy (1865–1947, Hungary/England), nv. & illustrator; The Scarlet Pimpernel
 * Patrice Ordas (1951–2019, France), nv. & comic wr.
 * Caitriona O'Reilly (b. 1973, Ireland), poet & critic
 * Emily O'Reilly (living, Ireland), col. & ombudsman
 * Margie Orford (b. 1964, England/South Africa), fiction, non-f. & ch. wr.
 * Doris Orgel (b. 1929, Austria/Austria-Hungary/England), ch. & non-f. wr. in English
 * Bukola Oriola (b. 1976, Nigeria/United States), col. & autobiographer
 * Iza Orjonikidze (1938–2010, Georgia (Caucasus)), poet & politician
 * Raisa Orlova (1918–1989, Soviet Union), mem.
 * Kate Orman (b. 1968, Australia), science fiction wr.
 * Margarita Ormotsadze (b. 1981, Ukraine), col., poet & wr.
 * Dorila Castell de Orozco (1845–1930, Uruguay), poet & educator
 * Olga Orozco (1920–1999, Argentina), poet & col.
 * Adela Orpen (1855–1927, United States/Ireland), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Elvira Orphée (1930–2018, Argentina), fiction wr.
 * Sue Orr (b. 1962, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Hanne Ørstavik (b. 1969, Norway), nv.
 * Virginia Elena Ortea (1866–1906, Dominica), col. & nv.
 * Anna Maria Ortese (1914–1998, Italy), fiction & travel wr. & poet
 * Alicia Dujovne Ortiz (b. 1940, Argentina), poet, fiction wr. & biographer
 * Emilia Ortiz (1917–2012, Mexico), poet & cartoonist
 * Helena Araújo Ortiz (1934–2015, Colombia), feminist wr. & critic
 * Julia Anna Orum (1843–1904, United States), textbook wr.
 * Eliza Orzeszkowa (1841–1910, Poland), nv. & political wr.
 * Joanne van Os (b. 1955, Australia), fiction & ch. wr. & mem.
 * Beatrice Osborn (Margaret Fane, 1887–1962, Australia), nv. & poet
 * Pat O'Shea (1931–2007, Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Masumi Oshima (大島真寿美, b. 1962, Japan), nv.
 * Yumiko Ōshima (大島弓子, b. 1947, Japan), manga creator
 * Ayisha Osori (living, Nigeria), political wr.
 * Elvira Santa Cruz Ossa (1886–1960, Chile), pw. & nv.
 * Martha Ostenso (1900–1963, Norway/Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & screenwriter
 * Nan Inger Östman (1923–2015, Sweden), ch. wr.
 * Ljubica Ostojić (1945–2021, Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina), poet, wr. & pw.
 * Leanne O'Sullivan (living, Ireland), poet
 * Maggie O'Sullivan (1908–1990, England), poet
 * Mary Josephine Donovan O'Sullivan (1887–1966, Ireland), historian & academic
 * Maureen Donovan O'Sullivan (1887–1966, Ireland), educator & historian
 * Suzanne O'Sullivan (living, Ireland), neurologist
 * Alice Oswald (b. 1966, England), poet
 * Yōko Ōta (大田 洋子, 1906–1963, Japan), nuclear war nv.
 * Ōtagaki Rengetsu (太田垣蓮月, 1791–1875, Japan), poet & calligrapher
 * Ōtomo no Sakanoue no Iratsume (大伴坂上郎女, c. 700–750, Japan), poet
 * Julie Otsuka (b. 1962, United States), nv.
 * Katrin Ottarsdóttir (b. 1957, Faroe Islands), poet & film director
 * Elise Otté (1818–1903, Denmark/England), grammarian
 * Louise Otto-Peters (1819–1895, Germany), nv., poet & librettist
 * Annette Jocelyn Otway-Ruthven (1909–1989, Ireland), historian & academic
 * Malika Oufkir (b. 1953, Morocco), prison autobiographer
 * Ouida (1839–1908, England), fiction wr.
 * Touria Oulehri (b. 196271, Greece), theater critic
 * Clementina Díaz y de Ovando (1916–2012, Mexico), arts wr. & academic
 * Helen Ovbiagele (b. 1944, Nigeria), nv.
 * Angelika Overath (b. 1957, Germany), fiction and non-f. wr.
 * Caroline Overington (b. 1970, Australia), wr.
 * Mercy Adoma Owusu-Nimoh (1936–2011, Ghana/Gold Coast), ch. wr. & politician
 * Jan Owen (b. 1940, Australia), poet
 * Sue Owen (b. 1942, United States), poet
 * Olivia Owenson, Lady Clarke (1785–1845, Ireland), poet & pw.
 * Martha Tracy Owler (1852–1916, United States), journalist & wr.
 * Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (b. 1968, Kenya), fiction wr.
 * Hiroko Oyamada (大伴坂上郎女, b. 1983, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Helen Oyeyemi (b. 1984, England/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), fiction wr.
 * Aysel Özakın (b. 1942, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/England), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Mari Ozawa (小沢真理, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Emine Sevgi Özdamar (b. 1956, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/Germany), nv. & pw. in German
 * Ruth Ozeki (b. 1956, United States/Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & academic
 * Cynthia Ozick (b. 1928, United States), critic & nv.
 * Tezer Özlü (1943–1986, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), wr.
 * Hanna Ożogowska (1904–1995, Poland), nv. & poet
 * Mona Ozouf (b. 1931, France), historian & philosopher

Pa–Pj

 * Henriette Paalzow (1788–1847, Germany), nv.
 * Julia Tuñón Pablos (b. 1948, Mexico), historian and social wr.
 * Joy Packer (1905–1977, South Africa), nv. and autobiographer in English
 * Ruth Padel (b. 1946, England), poet, critic and naturalist
 * Manjula Padmanabhan (b. 1953, India), pw. and ch. wr.
 * Elvira Pagã (1920–2003, Brazil), wr. and actor
 * Isabel Pagan (c. 1740–1821, Scotland), poet
 * Susana Pagano (b. 1968, Mexico), fiction wr.
 * Gertrude Page (1872–1922, England/Zimbabwe), fiction wr.
 * Karen A. Page (b. 1962, United States), food wr.
 * Elaine Pagels (b. 1943, United States), religious historian and wr.
 * Camille Paglia (b. 1947, United States), es.
 * Pagu, 1910–1962, Brazil), wr., poet and pw.
 * Alina Paim (1919–2011, Brazil), fiction and ch. wr.
 * Charlotte Painter (b. 1926, United States), nv. and wr.
 * Pavlina Pajk (1854–1901, Italy/Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet, nv. and es. in Slovenian
 * Imbi Paju (b. 1959, Estonia/Finland), wr. and filmmaker
 * Pak Hwasong (박화성, 1904–1988, Korea), fiction wr. and es.
 * Pak Kyongni (박경리, 1926–2008, Korea), nv.
 * Agustina Palacio de Libarona (1825–1880, Argentina), non-f. wr., storyteller, heroine
 * Angela Palacious (b. 1953, Bahamas), Christian wr. and minister
 * Maria Palaiologina, Queen of Serbia (c. 1300–1355, Serbia), wr.
 * Milkana G. Palavurova (b. 1974, Bulgaria), wr. on yoga and health
 * Marina Palei (b. 1955, Soviet Union/Netherlands), fiction wr.
 * Grace Paley (1922–2007, United States), fiction wr., poet and activist
 * Angeliki Palli (1798–1875, Italy), fiction wr., pw. and poet
 * Angélica Palma (1878–1935, Peru), wr. and biographer
 * Annie Yellowe Palma (1962–2022, Northern Ireland/England), poet, author and social worker
 * Connie Palmen (b. 1955, Netherlands), nv.
 * Àngels Cardona Palmer (b. 1951, Spain), poet and activist
 * Fanny Purdy Palmer (1839–1923, United States), wr., poet, lecturer and activist
 * Helen Palmer (1917–1979, Australia), educator and historian
 * Nettie Palmer (1885–1964, Australia), poet, es. and critic
 * Kirsti Paltto (b. 1947, Finland), pw., fiction and ch. wr. in N. Sámi
 * Laksmi Pamuntjak (b. 1971, Indonesia), poet, nv. and food wr.
 * Lynn Pan (潘翎, b. 1945, China/England), non-f. wr.
 * Avdotya Panaeva (1820–1893, Russia), fiction wr. and mem.
 * Melissa Panarello (b. 1985, Italy), nv.
 * Mimí Panayotti (1938–2023, Honduras), wr. & journalist
 * Katherine Pancol (b. 1954, France), nv.
 * Mrinal Pande (b. 1946, India), broadcaster and fiction wr.
 * Deanne Pandey (b. 1968, India), fitness wr.
 * Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928, England), activist and autobiographer
 * Sylvia Pankhurst (1882–1960, England), suffragist and poet
 * Vera Panova (1905–1973, Soviet Union), nv. and pw.
 * Meghna Pant (living, India), fiction wr.
 * Yolanda Pantin (born 1954, Venezuela), poet and ch. wr.
 * Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo (b. 1944, Philippines), wr. and critic
 * Katina Papa (1903–1959, Greece), poet and nv.
 * Hortensia Papadat-Bengescu (1876–1955, Romania), nv.
 * Makereti Papakura (1873–1930, New Zealand), guidebook wr.
 * Maria Papayanni (b. 1964, Greece), ch. and YA wr.
 * Bertha Pappenheim (1859–1936, Austria/Austria-Hungary), fiction and ch. wr., pw. and poet
 * Intan Paramaditha (living, Indonesia), wr. and academic
 * Loreto Paras-Sulit (1908–2008, Philippines), fiction wr. in English
 * Julia Pardoe (1804–1862, England), poet and nv.
 * Gladys Parentelli (b. 1935, Uruguay), theologian
 * Sara Paretsky (b. 1947, United States), nv.
 * Aşıq Pəri (Ashiq Peri, c. 1811 – c. 1847, Azerbaijan), lyric poet
 * Susan Parisi (b. 1958, Canada/Newfoundland/Australia), horror fiction wr.
 * Paula Parisot (b. 1978, Brazil), wr. and illustrator
 * Eeva Park (b. 1950, Estonia), poet and fiction wr.
 * Ruth Park (1917–2010, New Zealand/Australia), nv. and ch. wr.
 * Park Wan-suh (박완서, 1931–2011, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Barbara Parker (1947–2009, United States), nv.
 * Catherine Langloh Parker (c. 1855–1940, Australia), fiction wr. and folklorist
 * Dorothy Parker (1893–1967, United States), poet, critic and fiction wr.
 * Jane Marsh Parker (1836–1913, United States), wr. and nv.
 * Pat Parker (1944–1989, United States), poet and activist
 * Una-Mary Parker (1930–2019, England), nv.
 * Molly Parkin (b. 1932, Wales), nv. and painter
 * Amy Parkinson (1855–1938, Canada), poet
 * Siobhán Parkinson (b. 1954, Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Adele Parks (b. 1969, England), fiction wr.
 * Suzan-Lori Parks (b. 1964, United States), pw. and screenwriter
 * Peggy Parnass (b. 1927, Germany/Sweden), fiction and non-f. wr. and actor
 * Fanny Parnell (1848–1882, Ireland), poet and nationalist
 * Sophia Parnok (1885–1933, Russia/Soviet Union), poet
 * Catherine Parr (1512–1548, England), Queen Consort
 * Valeria Parrella (b. 1974, Italy), fiction wr. and pw.
 * Anne Parrish (1888–1957, United States), ch. nv.
 * Anne Spencer Parry (1931–1985, Australia), fantasy wr.
 * Lorae Parry (b. 1955, Australia/New Zealand), pw. and actor
 * Sarah Winifred Parry (1870–1953, Wales), fiction wr.
 * Amy Parry-Williams (1910–1988, Wales), wr. and singer
 * Mona Parsa (b. 1982, United States), wr.
 * Shahrnush Parsipur (b. 1946, Iran/Persia), fiction and ch. wr.
 * Eliza Parsons (1739–1811, England), nv.
 * Julie Parsons (b. 1951, New Zealand), crime wr.
 * Alicia Partnoy (b. 1955, Argentina), poet, translator and activist
 * Sarah Willis Parton (1811–1872, United States), nv., col. and ch. wr.
 * Mrs F. C. Patrick (fl. 18th century, Ireland), nv.
 * S. A. Partridge (b. 1982, South Africa), YA writer in English
 * Vesna Parun (1922–2010, Yugoslavia/Croatia), poet
 * Magdalena Parys (b. 1971, Poland/Germany), wr.
 * Jacqueline Pascarl (b. 1963, Australia), mem. and rights advocate
 * Atena Pashko (1931–2012, Ukraine), chemical engineer, poet, social activist
 * Nicoletta Pasquale (fl. 1540, Italy), poet
 * Josefina Passadori (1900–1987, Argentina), wr. and educator
 * Linda Pastan (1932–2023, United States), poet
 * Ann Patchett (b. 1963, United States), nv.
 * Dhiruben Patel (1926–2023, India), nv. and pw.
 * Shailja Patel (living, Kenya), poet and pw.
 * Elena Patron (1933–2021), Philippines), nv., poet and scriptwriter
 * Jenny Pattrick (b. 1936, New Zealand), nv.
 * Polly Pattullo (living, England), author, journalist, editor and publisher
 * Evelyn Patuawa-Nathan (living, New Zealand), wr.
 * Helena Patursson (1864–1916, Faroe Islands), wr., pw. and feminist
 * Phyllis Paul (1903–1973, England), writer of supernatural fiction.
 * Ève Paul-Margueritte (1885–1971, France), nv. & translator
 * Lucie Paul-Margueritte (1886–1955, France), nov. non-f. wr., plays & translator
 * Hertha Pauli (1906–1973, Austria/Austria-Hungary/United States), ch. and non-f. wr. in German and English
 * Irene Levine Paull (1908–1981, United States), wr. and labor activist
 * Laline Paull (living, England), nv.
 * Dora Pavel (b. 1946, Romania), fiction wr. and poet
 * Laura Pavel (b. 1968, Romania), es. and critic
 * Karolina Pavlova (1807–1893, Russia), poet and nv.
 * Vera Pavlova (b. 1963, Soviet Union/Russia), poet
 * Milena Pavlović-Barili (1909–1945, Serbia), poet
 * Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska (1891–1945, Poland), poet and pw.
 * Halina Pawlowská (b. 1955), pw. and fiction wr.
 * Patricia Payne (living, Australia), screenwriter
 * Marcela Paz (1902–1985, Chile), ch. wr.
 * Olena Pchilka (1849–1930, Russia/Ukraine), poet and pw.
 * Isabel Peacocke (1881–1973, New Zealand), nv. and broadcaster
 * Philippa Pearce (1920–2006, England), ch. wr.
 * Sharrona Pearl (b. 1977, Canada/United States), historian
 * Edith Pearlman (1936–2023, United States), fiction and non-f. wr.
 * Mabel Cosgrove Wodehouse Pearse (b. 1872, death unknown), nv. and criminal
 * Allison Pearson (b. 1960, Wales), col. and nv.
 * Lucy Creemer Peckham (1842–1923, United States), poet
 * Amparo Cabanes Pecourt (b. 1938, Spain), historian
 * Laura Pedersen (b. 1965, United States), wr., humorist and pw.
 * Ethel Pedley (1859–1898, Australia), wr. and musician
 * Erica Pedretti (1930–2022, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Switzerland), wr. in German
 * Inês Pedrosa (b. 1962, Portugal), fiction wr. and pw.
 * Margaret Bloodgood Peeke (1838–1908, United States), traveler, lecturer, wr.
 * Janet Peery (b. 1948, United States), fiction wr.
 * Amelia Blossom Pegram (1935–2022, South Africa), wr. and performer in English
 * Annette Pehnt (b. 1967, Germany), academic wr. and critic
 * Madeleine Pelletier (1874–1939, France), activist and physician
 * Margarita Peña (1937–2018, Mexico), non-f. wr. and educator
 * Margaret Pender (1848–1920, Ireland), poet and fiction wr.
 * Eila Pennanen (1916–1994, Finland), nv., es. and pw.
 * Anne Penny (1729–1784, Wales), poet
 * Louise Penny (b. 1958, Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Ethel Penrose (1857–1938, Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Emily Pepys (1833–1877, England), child diarist
 * Mariana Percovich (b. 1963, Uruguay), pw. and educator
 * Jennifer Percy (living, United States), wr.
 * Jeanne Perego (b. 1958, Italy), ch. writer and biographer
 * Ana Teresa Pereira (b. 1958, Portugal), nv.
 * Charmaine Pereira (living, Nigeria), non-f. wr.
 * Carina Perelli (b. 1957, Uruguay), political wr.
 * Ana Mercedes Perez (1910–1994, Venezuela), poet, wr. and translator
 * Eva Díaz Pérez (b. 1971, Spain), nv.
 * Julia Pérez Montes de Oca (1839–1875, Cuba), poet
 * Narcisa Pérez Reoyo (1849–1876, Spain), writer
 * Emily Perkins (b. 1970, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Sarah Maria Clinton Perkins (1824–1905, United States), ch. wr., social reformer, minister
 * Mary Elizabeth Perley (1863–?, United States), educator, wr.
 * Olga Perovskaya (1902–1961, Soviet Union), ch. wr.
 * Perpetua (died AD 203, Ancient Rome), prison diarist in Latin
 * Amelia Perrier (1841–1875, Ireland), nv. and travel wr.
 * Kayla Perrin (b. c. 1970, Jamaica/Canada), nv. and ch. wr.
 * Alice Perry (1885–1969, Ireland), poet and engineer
 * Carlotta Perry (1839/1848–1914, United States), wr. and poet
 * Grace Perry (1927–1987, Australia), poet and editor
 * Ingrid Persaud (living, Trinidad/England), fiction wr.
 * Lakshmi Persaud (1937–2024), Trinidad/UK), nv.
 * Margarita Perveņecka (b. 1976, Latvia), pw. and prose wr.
 * Marisha Pessl (b. 1977, United States), YA nv.
 * Meher Pestonji (b. 1946, India), nv., col. and social worker
 * Julia Peterkin (1880–1961, United States), fiction wr.
 * Alice E. Heckler Peters (1845–1921, United States), non-f. wr. and poet
 * Elizabeth Peters (1927–2013, United States), nv.
 * Ellis Peters (1913–1995, Wales/England), mystery wr. and translator
 * Marie Petersen (1816–1859, Germany), story wr.
 * Magdalena Petit (1903–1968, Chile), nv. and es.
 * Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė (1861–1943, Lithuania), fiction wr. and diarist
 * Marta Petreu (b. 1955, Romania), philosopher, critic and poet
 * Sandra Petrignani (b. 1952, Italy), fiction wr.
 * Kata Szidónia Petrőczy (1659–1708, Hungary), wr. and poet
 * Marine Petrossian (b. 1960, Armenia), poet, es. and col.
 * Maria Petrovykh (1908–1979, Russia/Soviet Union), poet
 * Lyudmila Petrushevskaya (b. 1938, Soviet Union/Russia), wr. and pw.
 * Ann Petry (1908–1997, United States), fiction wr. and col.
 * Aline Pettersson (b. 1938, Mexico), nv. and poet
 * Dianne Ruth Pettis (1955–2008, New Zealand), fiction wr. and poet
 * Sophie Petzal (b. 1990, England), screenwriter
 * Georges de Peyrebrune (1841–1917, France), nv.
 * Giulietta Pezzi (1810–1878, Italy), poet, nv. and pw.
 * Ida Laura Pfeiffer (1797–1858, Austria/Austria-Hungary), travel wr.
 * Hoa Pham (living, Australia), fiction and ch. wr.
 * Anna Augusta Von Helmholtz-Phelan (1890–1964, United States), professor, non-f. wr. and poet
 * Nancy Phelan (1913–2008, Australia), nv. and travel wr.
 * M. Nourbese Philip (b. 1947, Canada/Newfoundland), poet, wr. and pw.
 * Monique Philippart (b. 1955, Luxembourg), ch. wr. in German
 * Katherine Philips (1631–1664, England), poet
 * Angela Phillips (living, England), journalist and academic
 * April Phillips (b. 1965, England/New Zealand), pw. and actor
 * Eluned Phillips (1914–2009, Wales), bard and mem.
 * Esther Phillips (b. 1950, Barbados), poet
 * Jayne Anne Phillips (b. 1952, United States), fiction wr.
 * J. J. Phillips (b. 1944, United States), poet, nv. and activist
 * Joan Phipson (1912–2003, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Savitribai Phule (1831–1897, India), poet and educator
 * Phintys (or Phyntis, 4th or 3rd century BC, Ancient Greece), philosopher
 * Ife Piankhi (living, Uganda/England), poet, singer and educator
 * Hester Sigerson Piatt (1870–1939, Ireland), poet and col.
 * Costanza d'Avalos Piccolomini (died 1560, Italy), poet
 * Karoline Pichler (1769–1843, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv.
 * Hella Pick (1929–2024, Austria/Austria-Hungary/England), non-f. wr. in English
 * Jodi Picoult (b. 1966, United States), nv.
 * Phyllis Piddington (1910–2001, Australia), fiction wr. and poet
 * Mariyka Pidhiryanka (1881–1963, Russia/Ukraine), poet and ch. wr.
 * Antoinette Pienaar (b. 1961, South Africa), writer in Afrikaans on folk medicine
 * Meredith Ann Pierce (b. 1958, United States), fantasy wr.
 * Nicola Pierce (living, Ireland), nv.
 * Tamora Pierce (b. 1954, United States), ch. nv.
 * Marge Piercy (b. 1936, United States), poet, nv. and activist
 * Leonie Pihama (b. 1962, New Zealand), Māori academic
 * Rosamunde Pilcher (1924–2019, England), romance wr.
 * Laetitia Pilkington (c. 1709–1750, Ireland), poet
 * Mary Pilkington (1761–1839, England), nv., ch. wr. and poet
 * Careen Pilo (fl. 2010s, Cameroon), wr. and diplomat
 * Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel (1752–1799, Italy), poet
 * Florencia del Pinar (15th century, Spain), poet
 * Tillie S. Pine (1896–1999, Poland/United States), ch. wr.
 * Andrea Davis Pinkney (b. 1965, United States), children's wr.
 * Winsome Pinnock (b. 1961, England), pw.
 * Nélida Piñon (1937–2022, Brazil), nv.
 * Clara Pinto-Correia (b. 1960, Portugal), nv. and educator
 * Gita Piramal (b. 1954, India), business wr.
 * Zoya Pirzad (b. 1952, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Hortensia Blanch Pita (1914–2004, Cuba/Mexico), historian
 * Juana Rosa Pita (b. 1939, Cuba/United States), poet
 * Bridget Pitt (living, Zimbabwe/South Africa), poet and fiction and non-f. wr. in English
 * Marie E. J. Pitt (1869–1948, Australia), poet
 * Ruth Pitter (1897–1992, England), poet
 * Minnie A. Weeks Pittock (1862–1915), novelist
 * Fernanda Pivano (1917–2009, Italy), wr.
 * Mary Pix (1666–1709, England), nv. and pw.
 * Christine de Pizan (1364–1430, Italy), poet and rhetorician in French
 * Alejandra Pizarnik (1936–1972, Argentina), poet
 * Christine de Pizan (1364–c. 1430, Italy), poet and advisor
 * Marjorie Pizer (1920–2016, Australia), poet
 * Helgi Pjeturss (1872–1949, Iceland), geologist and philosopher

Pk–Py

 * Tamri Pkhakadze (b. 1957, Georgia (Caucasus)), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Josefina Pla (1903–1999, Spain/Paraguay), poet, pw. & painter
 * Ana Plácido (1831–1895, Portugal), nv. & autobiographer
 * Sylvia Plath (1932–1963, United States), poet, fiction wr. & es.
 * Ann Plato (c. 1820–?, United States), es.
 * Karen Platt (fl. 2004–present, England), garden wr.
 * Polly Platt (1927–2008, United States), wr. on France
 * Agneta Pleijel (b. 1940, Sweden), nv., poet & pw.
 * Louise von Plessen (1725–1799, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Denmark), mem. & royal lady in waiting
 * Anne Plichota (b. 1968, France), ch. wr.
 * Luise von Ploennies (1803–1872, Germany), poet
 * Vivienne Plumb (b. 1955, Australia/New Zealand), poet, pw. & fiction wr.
 * Amélie Plume (b. 1943, Switzerland), nv. in French
 * Anne Plumptre (1760–1818, England), fiction & political wr.
 * Sophie Podolski (1953–1974, Belgium), poet in French
 * Karla Poewe (b. 1941, Germany), anthropologist and historian
 * Maria Pognon (1844–1925, France), col. and activist
 * Aliénor de Poitiers (1444/1446–1509, France), wr. on etiquette
 * Elizabeth Polack (fl. 1830–1838, England), pw.
 * Gillian Polack (b. 1961, Australia), fiction wr. & editor
 * Marguerite Poland (b. 1950, South Africa), linguist & ch. wr. in English
 * Susan Polgar (b. 1969, Hungary/United States), chess wr. & grandmaster
 * Anna Politkovskaya (1958–2006, Soviet Union/Russia), political wr.
 * Leonora Polkinghorne (1873–1953, Australia), wr. & activist
 * Rachel Pollack (1945–2023, United States), non-f & nv. wr.
 * Madeleine A. Polland (1918–2005, Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Velma Pollard (b. 1937, Japan), poet & fiction wr.
 * Amalia Polleri (1909–1996, Uruguay), poet & critic
 * Sarah Polley (b. 1979, Canada/Newfoundland), screenwriter & activist
 * Katha Pollitt (b. 1948, United States), feminist poet, es. & critic
 * Elizaveta Polonskaya (1890–1969, Russia/Soviet Union), poet & col.
 * Maria Polydouri (1902–1930, Greece), poet
 * Elena Poniatowska (b. 1932, France/Mexico), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Hana Ponická (1922–2007, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Pv), political wr.
 * Hannah Azieb Pool (b. 1974, England/Eritrea), wr. & col.
 * Ida Margaret Graves Poore (1859–1941, Ireland/England), autobiographer & poet
 * Gudibande Poornima (living, India), poet & nv.
 * Olúmìdé Pópóọlá (living, Nigeria/Germany), poet & nv.
 * Elizabeth Polwheele (1651 – c. 1691, England), pw.
 * Elena Poniatowska (b. 1932, Poland/Mexico), fiction wr. & col.
 * Marie Ponsot (1921–2019, United States), poet & es.
 * Elsa Pooley (b. 1947, South Africa), botanical wr. in English
 * Cora Scott Pond Pope (1856–?, United States), pageant wr., activist
 * Elena Pop-Hossu-Longin (1862–1940, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Romania), non-f. wr. & activist
 * Maria Popova (b. 1984, Bulgaria/United States), critic
 * Adelheid Popp (1869–1939, Austria/Austria-Hungary), feminist wr. & autobiographer
 * Azalais de Porcairagues (late 12th century, France), poet in Occitan
 * Alicia Porro (1908–1983, Uruguay), poet & musician
 * Alice Hobbins Porter (1854–1926, England/United States), journalist & wr.
 * Anna Maria Porter (1780–1832, England), poet & nv.
 * Delia Lyman Porter (1858–1933, United States), wr.
 * Dorothy Featherstone Porter (1954–2008, Australia), poet
 * Eleanor H. Porter (1868–1920, United States), ch. wr.; Pollyanna
 * Jane Porter (1776–1850, England), nv. & pw.
 * Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980, United States), col. & nv.
 * Marie Porter (b. 1939), wr. & welfare advocate
 * Renada-Laura Portet (1927–2021, France) wr. & linguist
 * Margarita López Portillo (1914–2006, Mexico), nv.
 * Ethel Portnoy (1927–2004, United States/Netherlands), nv. in English
 * Suzanne Portnoy (b. 1961, England), wr. & pw.
 * Teresa Porzecanski (b. 1945, Uruguay), fiction wr. & anthropologist
 * Dina Posada (b. 1946, Somalia/Guatemala), poet
 * Carmen Posadas (b. 1963, Uruguay/Spain), ch. wr.
 * Francesca Bortolotto Possati (living, Italy), wr.
 * Birgitte Possing (b. 1952, Denmark), historian & biographer
 * Emily Post (1873–1960, United States), nv.
 * Sue-Ann Post (b. 1964, Australia), comedian & wr.
 * Halina Poświatowska (1935–1967, Poland), poet & correspondent
 * Beatrix Potter (1866–1943, England), ch. wr. & illustrator; The Tale of Peter Rabbit
 * Anna M. Longshore Potts (1829–1912, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Alice Poulleau (1885–1960, France), geographer, historian & poet
 * Kira Poutanen (b. 1974, Finland/France), nv. & actor
 * Helvi Poutasuo (1914–2017, Finland), academic & wr. in Sámi
 * Dawn Powell (1896–1965, United States), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Patricia Powell (b. 1966, Jamaica), nv.
 * Sidney Powell (b. 1955, United States), attorney, non-f. wr.
 * Eileen Power (1889–1940, England), economic historian & medievalist
 * Máire Wyse Power (1887–1916, Ireland), Celtic scholar
 * Marguerite Agnes Power (1815–1867, Ireland/England), nv. & commentator
 * Rhoda Power (1890–1957, England), educational & ch. wr.
 * Eve Pownall (1901–1982, Australia), ch. wr. & historian
 * Anne B. Poyntz (b. between 1701–1750, England/Ireland) poet
 * Luz Pozo Garza (1922–2020, Spanish), poet
 * Antonia Pozzi (1912–1938, Italy), poet
 * Manjiri Prabhu (b. 1964, India), pw. & TV producer
 * Núria Pradas (born 1954, Spain), philologist & wr.
 * Manasi Pradhan (b. 1962, India), poet, writer & activist
 * Adélia Prado (b. 1935, Brazil), wr. & poet
 * Rosa Praed (Mrs Campbell Praed, 1851–1935, Australia), nv.
 * Katharina Prato (1818–1897, Austria/Austria-Hungary), cookery wr.
 * Sofiya Pregel (1894–1972, Russia/France), poet
 * Stefanie Preissner (b. 1988, Ireland), poet & pw.
 * Gabriela Preissová (1862–1946, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), pw. & fiction wr.
 * Paula von Preradović (1887–1951, Austria/Austria-Hungary), story wr. & poet
 * Mary Newmarch Prescott (1849–1888, United States), wr. & poet
 * Karen Press (b. 1956, South Africa), poet in English
 * Jewel Prestage (1931–2014, United States), political scientist
 * Angharad Price (living, Wales), nv. & academic
 * Evadne Price (1888–1985, Australia), wr.
 * Katharine Susannah Prichard (1883–1969, Australia), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Rebecca Priestley (living, New Zealand), science historian & academic
 * Maria Prilezhayeva (1903–1989, Russia/Soviet Union), ch. wr. & critic
 * Diane di Prima (1934–2020, United States), poet
 * Althea Prince (b. 1945, Antigua/Canada/Newfoundland), wr., editor & professor
 * Mary Prince (c. 1788 – post-1833, Bermuda), autobiographer
 * Pauline Prior-Pitt (living, Scotland), poet
 * Amrita Pritam (1919–2005, India), poet, nv. & es.
 * Nalini Priyadarshni (living, India), poet & wr.
 * Faltonia Betitia Proba (c. 306/315 – c. 353/366, Ancient Rome), poet in Latin
 * May Probyn (1856–1909, England), poet
 * Lenka Procházková (b. 1951, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), nv. & radio pw.
 * Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864, England), poet
 * Elaine Proctor (b. 1960, South Africa), screenwriter & nv. in English
 * Mary Virginia Proctor (1854–1927, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Lilli Promet (1922–2007, Estonia), nv. & es.
 * Francine Prose (b. 1947, United States), fiction & non-f. wr. & critic
 * Anne Provoost (b. 1964, Belgium), YA fiction wr. in French
 * Annie Proulx (b. 1935, United States), fiction wr. & col.
 * Florence Prusmack (1920–2013, United States), nv.
 * Myfanwy Pryce (1890–1976, England), fiction wr.
 * Stanisława Przybyszewska (1901–1935, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Poland), pw.
 * Sofija Pšibiliauskienė (1867–1926, Lithuania), fiction wr.
 * Lucía Puenzo (b. 1976, Argentina), nv. & film director
 * María Luisa Puga (1944–2004, Mexico), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Esther Pugh (1834–1908, United States), editor
 * Sheenagh Pugh (b. 1950, Wales), poet & nv.
 * Alenka Puhar (b. 1945, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), social historian
 * Marina Šur Puhlovski (living, Croatia), nv. & es.
 * Carmen Montoriol Puig (1893–1966, Spain), poet, wr. & pw.
 * Odette du Puigaudeau (1894–1991, France), traveler & wr.
 * Adriana Puiggrós (b. 1941, Argentina), non-f. wr. & educator
 * Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (1941–2006, New Zealand), wr. & weaver
 * Rufina Pukhova (1932–2021, Soviet Union/Russia), mem.
 * Paulina Pukytė (b. 1966, Lithuania), poet, critic & artist
 * Antonia Tanini Pulci (1452/1454–1501, Italy), pw.
 * Elizabeth Pulford (b. 1943, Canada/Newfoundland/New Zealand), ch., YA, fiction & non-f. wr. & poet
 * Riikka Pulkkinen (b. 1980, Finland), nv.
 * Benka Pulko (b. 1967, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), travel wr.
 * Theresa Pulszky (1819–1866, Austria), historical and travel wr.
 * Alice Pung (b. 1981, Australia), nv., mem. & lawyer
 * Deirdre Purcell (b. 1945, Ireland), nv. & biographer
 * Elizabeth Purbeck (fl. 1789–1802, England), novelist together with her sister Jane
 * Katherine Purdon (1852–1920, Ireland), nv. & pw.
 * Neel Kamal Puri (b. 1956, India), fiction wr. & educator
 * Jennie Phelps Purvis (1831–1924, United States), wr., suffragist, reformer
 * Luise F. Pusch (b. 1944, Germany), academic linguist
 * Fanny Puyesky (1939–2010, Uruguay), social wr.
 * Barbara Pym (1913–1980, England), nv.
 * Helen Pyne-Timothy (1937–2015, Jamaica), critic & academic
 * Maria Pypelinckx (1538–1608, Flanders/Germany), correspondent in Flemish
 * Svitlana Pyrkalo (b. 1976, Ukraine/England), nv. & es.

Q

 * Najwa Qassem (1967–2020, Lebanon), col. & broadcaster
 * Li Qingzhao (李清照, 1084 – c. 1155 or 1081 – c. 1141, China), poet
 * Qiu Jin (秋瑾, 1875–1907, China), revolutionary & feminist wr.
 * Marjorie Quarton (b. 1930, Ireland), ch. wr. & nv.
 * Ada Quayle (1920–2002, Jamaica), nv.
 * Daisy May Queen (b. 1965, Argentina)
 * Diná Silveira de Queirós (1911–1982, Brazil)
 * Rachel de Queiroz (1910–2003, Brazil)
 * Catharina Questiers (1631–1669, Netherlands), poet & pw.
 * Alison Quigan (fl. 1980s, New Zealand), pw. & actor
 * Betty Quin (died 1993, Australia), scriptwriter
 * Anna Quindlen (b. 1953, United States), nv. & col.
 * Rebeca Quintáns (b. 1964, Spain), research wr.
 * Elena Quiroga (1921–1995, Spain), nv.
 * Christine Qunta (b. 1952, South Africa), poet & social wr. in English
 * Anne Margrethe Qvitzow (1652–1700, Denmark), poet, translator & mem.

Ra–Ri

 * Ra Heeduk (나희덕, b. 1966, Korea), poet
 * Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné (1626–1696, France), correspondent
 * Rachilde (1860–1953, France), nv. & pw.
 * Ann Radcliffe (1764–1823, England), nv.; The Mysteries of Udolpho
 * Radegund (c. 520–586, France), princess/poet in Latin
 * Thérèse Radic (b. 1935, Australia), pw. & musicologist
 * Valentina Dimitrova Radinska (b. 1951, Bulgaria), poet
 * Giedra Radvilavičiūtė (b. 1960, Lithuania), fiction wr.
 * Undinė Radzevičiūtė (b. 1967, Lithuania), fiction wr.
 * Gwynedd Rae (1892–1977, Wales), ch. wr.
 * Janet Milne Rae (1844–1933, Scotland), fiction wr.
 * Sophie Raffalovich (1860–1960, Ireland), nv.
 * Nigar Rafibeyli (1913–1981, Azerbaijan), poet
 * Orlaith Rafter (living, Ireland), pw. & nv.
 * Mary Raftery (1957–2012, Ireland), wr. & filmmaker
 * Marimo Ragawa (羅川真里茂, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Jennifer Rahim (1963–2023, Trinidad), educator & wr.
 * Bushra Rahman (1944–2022), Pakistan), nv. & politician
 * Rizia Rahman (1939–2019, India/Bangladesh), fiction wr.
 * Allen Raine (1836–1908, Wales), nv.
 * Maggie Rainey-Smith (b. 1950, New Zealand), fiction wr., es. & poet
 * Rita Rait-Kovaleva (1898–1989, Russia/Soviet Union), wr. & translator
 * Samina Raja (1961–2012, Pakistan), poet, wr. & broadcaster
 * Rajalakshmi (1930–1965, India), fiction wr. & poet
 * Rajashree (living, India), nv.
 * Maraea Rakuraku (living, New Zealand), pw.
 * Hilda Ram (1858–1901, Belgium), poet & librettist in Flemish
 * Anuradha Ramanan (1947–2010, India), fiction wr. & activist
 * Ramanichandran (b. 1938, India), nv.
 * Hanna Rambe (b. 1940, Indonesia), fiction wr. & biographer
 * María Abella de Ramírez (1863–1926, Uruguay), feminist wr.
 * Fabrizia Ramondino (1936–2008, Italy), fiction wr., poet & mem.
 * Adele Ramos (living, Belize), poet & wr.
 * Consuelo González Ramos (1977 – unknown death year, Spain), nursing wr.
 * Karolina Ramqvist (b. 1976, Sweden), fiction wr.
 * Ayn Rand (1905–1982, Russia/United States), nv. & philosopher
 * Charlotte Randall (living, New Zealand), nv.
 * Marta Randall (b. 1948, Mexico/United States), science fiction wr.
 * Beverley Randell (b. 1931, New Zealand), ch. wr.
 * Jo Randerson (b. 1973, New Zealand), pw. & fiction wr.
 * Ravinder Randhawa (b. 1952, India/England), fiction wr.
 * Mary Randolph (1762–1828, United States), domestic wr.
 * Jennifer Rankin (1941–1979, Australia), poet & pw.
 * Claudia Rankine (b. 1963, United States), poet & pw.
 * Bhargavi Rao (1944–2008, India), fiction wr. & poet
 * Malathi Rao (b. 1930, India), nv.
 * Rao Xueman (饒雪漫, b. 1972, China), fiction wr.,
 * Ágnes Rapai (b. 1952, Hungary), poet & wr.
 * Eva Ras (b. 1941, Serbia), poet & fiction wr.
 * Huda al-Rasheed (b. c. 1950, Saudi Arabia), nv.
 * Fawziya Rashid (b. 1954, Bahrain), fiction wr.
 * Lea Ráskay (early 16th century, Hungary), scholar & nun
 * Ellen Raskin (1928–1984, United States), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Maria Rasputin (1898–1987, Russia/Soviet Union), mem.
 * Patricia Ratto (b. 1962, Argentina), wr.
 * Irina Ratushinskaya (1954–2017, Soviet Union/Russia), poet & fiction wr.
 * Santha Rama Rau (1923–2009, India/United States), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Elsa Rautee (1897–1987, Finland), poet
 * Arlene Raven (1944–2006, United States), art historian, critic, and curator
 * Lidia Ravera (b. 1951, Italy), nv., es. & screenwriter
 * Dahlia Ravikovitch (1936–2005, Israel), poet & activist
 * Olga Ravn (b. 1986, Denmark), poet & nv.
 * Angela Rawlings (b. 1978, Canada/Newfoundland), poet, editor & artist
 * Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896–1953, United States), nv.
 * Gloria Rawlinson (1918–1995, New Zealand), poet & fiction wr.
 * Claire Rayner (1931–2010, England), journalist, broadcaster, nv.
 * Sarah Rayner (living, England), wr. & copywr.
 * Helen Raynor (b. 1972, Wales), scriptwriter
 * Angela Readman (b. 1973, England), poet
 * Pauline Réage (1907–1998, France), nv.
 * Grisélidis Réal (1929–2005, Switzerland), wr. on prostitution in French
 * Elizabeth Reapy (living, Ir), fiction wr.
 * Anica Savić Rebac (1892–1953, Serbia), es., biographer & translator
 * Elisa von der Recke (1754–1833, Germany), Courland wr. & poet in German
 * Jayapraga Reddy (1947–1996, South Africa), pw. & short story wr.
 * Jaclyn Reding (b. 1966, United States), nv.
 * Marie Redonnet (b. 1948, France), poet, nv. & pw.
 * Beatrice Redpath (1886–1937, Canada), poet & short story wr.
 * Kerry Reed-Gilbert (1956–2019, Australia), poet & wr.
 * Märta Helena Reenstierna (1753–1841, Sweden), diarist
 * Annie Lee Rees (1864–1949, Australia/New Zealand), wr.
 * Rosemary Frances Rees (c. 1875–1963, New Zealand/England), pw., nv. & actor
 * Sarah Jane Rees (1839–1916, Wales), poet & teacher
 * Clara Reeve (1729–1807, England), nv.
 * Amber Reeves (1887–1981, New Zealand), wr. & scholar
 * Nell Regan (b. 1969, Ireland), poet & non-f. wr.
 * Elisabeth Reichart (b. 1953, Austria/Austria-Hungary), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Ruth Reichl (b. 1948, United States), food wr. & mem.
 * Eva Gabriele Reichmann (1897–1998, Germany), historian & sociologist
 * Christina Reid (1942–2015, Ireland), pw.
 * Gayla Reid (b. 1945, Australia/Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Kiley Reid (b. 1987, United States), nv.
 * Sue Reidy (living, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Brigitte Reimann (1933–1973, Germany), nv.
 * Mercedes Rein (1930–2006, Uruguay), critic & pw.
 * Lenka Reinerová (1916–2008, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), nv. in German
 * Emma May Alexander Reinertsen (1853–1920, United States), wr.
 * Annemarie Reinhard (1921–1976, Germany), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Christa Reinig (1926–2008, Germany), poet, wr. & pw.
 * Maria Firmina dos Reis (1825–1917, Brazil), nv. & activist
 * Małgorzata Rejmer (b. 1985, Poland), fiction wr.
 * Kati Rekai (1921–2010, Hungary/Canada/Newfoundland), ch. travel wr.
 * Mirkka Rekola (1931–2014, Finland), poet
 * Gail Renard (born c. 1951), Canadian/British children's and TV series writer
 * Christine Renard (1929–1979, France), science fiction wr.
 * Veronique Renard (b. 1965, Netherlands), wr. & artist
 * Rosa de Eguílaz y Renart (b. 1864, death date unknown, Spain), pw.
 * Mary Renault (1905–1983, England), YA wr.
 * Ruth Rendell (1930–2015, England), nv.
 * Renée (1929–2023, New Zealand), pw.
 * Juliette Rennes (b. 1976, France), non-f. wr.
 * Céline Renooz (1840–1928, Belgium/France), science wr. in French
 * Nuchhungi Renthlei (1914–2002, India), poet & educator
 * Lola Taborga de Requena (1890 – c. 1950, Bolivia), poet
 * Laura Restrepo (b. 1950, Comoros), nv. & col.
 * Magdalena Dobromila Rettigová (1785–1845), cookery wr.
 * Gabriele Reuter (1859–1941, Germany), fiction, es. & ch. wr.
 * Gabrielle Réval (1869–1938, France), nv. &, es.
 * Sandrine Revel (born 1969, France), comics wr. & illustrator
 * Fanny zu Reventlow (1871–1918, Germany), political wr. & feminist
 * Jytte Rex (b. 1942, Denmark), wr., artist & film director
 * Ofelia Rey Castelao (born 1956, Spain) historian, wr., & professor
 * Adela Calva Reyes (1967–2018, Mexico), wr. & pw. in Otomi
 * Cristina Reyes (b. 1981, Ecuador), poet & politician
 * Soledad Reyes (b. 1946, Philippines), scholar & critic
 * Lorna Reynolds (1911–2003, Ireland), wr. & academic
 * Yasmina Reza (b. 1959, France), pw., actor & nv.
 * Regina Rheda (b. 1957, Brazil/United States), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Fouzia Rhissassi (b. 1947, Morocco), social scientist
 * Najima Rhozali (b. 1960, Morocco), wr. on legends
 * Grace Rhys (1865–1929, Ireland), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Jean Rhys (1890–1979, Dominica/England), nv.; Wide Sargasso Sea
 * Fahmida Riaz (1946–2018, Pakistan/India), poet & activist
 * Mrs. Riazuddin (1928–2023, Pakistan), feminist & travel wr.
 * Ana Ribeiro (b. 1955, Uruguay), nv. & historian
 * Esmeralda Ribeiro (b. 1958, Brazil), poet & fiction wr.
 * Catherine of Ricci (1522–1590, Italy), religious wr. & saint
 * Marie Jeanne Riccoboni (1713–1792, France), nv. and actor
 * Anne Rice (1941–2021, United States), nv.
 * Adrienne Rich (1929–2012, United States), feminist poet & es.
 * Jo-Anne Richards (living, South Africa), col. & wr. in English
 * Dorothy Richardson (1873–1957, England), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Elizabeth Richardson (1576/1577–1651, England), religious wr.
 * Ethel Richardson (1870–1946, Australia), nv.
 * Hester Dorsey Richardson (1862–1933, United States), wr.
 * Paddy Richardson (living, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Jutta Richter (b. 1955, Germany), ch. & YA wr.
 * Sylvie Richterová (b. 1945, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Italy), fiction wr. & es.
 * E. J. Richmond (1825–1918, US), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Leigh Richmond (1911-1995), American writer
 * Jessie Louisa Rickard (1876–1963, Ireland), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Elsie Alvarado de Ricord (1928–2005, Panama), linguist & academic
 * Charlotte Riddell (1832–1906, Iran/Persia/England), fiction wr.
 * Elizabeth Riddell (1910–1998, Australia), poet & col.
 * Maria Riddell (1772–1808, West Indies/Scotland), poet, travel wr. & naturalist
 * Lola Ridge (1873–1941, Australia/United States), poet & editor
 * Laura Riding (1901–1991, United States), poet, critic & fiction wr.
 * Brigitte Riebe (b. 1935, Germany), nv.
 * Ane Riel (b. 1971, Denmark), ch. wr.
 * Alifa Rifaat (1930–1996, Egypt), fiction wr.
 * Anna Rankin Riggs (1835–1908, United States), non-f. ed.
 * Catherine Rihoit (b. 1950, France), nv. & biographer
 * Rikei (理慶, 1530–1611, Japan), poet & calligrapher
 * Denise Riley (b. 1948, England), poet & philosopher
 * Lucinda Riley (1966–2021, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Joan Riley (b. 1958, Jamaica/England), nv.
 * Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876–1958, United States), nv., pw. & poet
 * Susanne Ringell (born 1955, Finland), wr. & actor
 * Signe Rink (1936–2009, Denmark), wr. & ethnologist
 * Luise Rinser (1911–2002, Germany), nv., autobiographer & ch. wr.
 * Paloma del Río (b. 1960, Spain), sports wr.
 * Dorothy Ripley (1767–1831, England/United States), religious wr.
 * Mary A. Ripley (1831–1893, United States), wr.
 * Enriqueta Compte y Riqué (1866–1949, Uruguay), ch. wr. & educator
 * Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919, England), nv.
 * Alice Rivaz (1901–1998, Switzerland), fiction wr. & es. in French
 * María Jesús Alvarado Rivera (1878–1971, Peru), social activist
 * Giovanna Rivero (b. 1972, Bolivia), fiction wr.
 * Viviana Rivero (b. 1966, Argentina), wr. & nv.
 * Christine de Rivoyre (1921–1919, France), nv.

Ro–Rz

 * Marion Roach (fl. 1980s, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Alba Roballo (1908–1996, Uruguay), poet & politician
 * Nesca Robb (1905–1976, Northern Ireland), biographer & poet
 * Sarah Fraser Robbins (1911–2002, United States), wr. & natural historian
 * Antoinette Henriette Clémence Robert (1797–1872, France), nv. & pw.
 * Carolina de Robertis (b. 1975, England/United States), nv.
 * Eigra Lewis Roberts (b. 1939, Wales), pw. & nv. in Welsh
 * Emma Roberts (1794–1840, England), travel wr. & poet
 * Kate Roberts (1891–1985, Wales), fiction wr. in Welsh
 * Michèle Roberts (b. 1949, England), nv. & poet
 * Margaret Roberts (1937–2017, South Africa), wr. & herbalist in English
 * Nina Roberts (living, France), wr.
 * Nora Roberts (pen name J. D. Robb, b. 1950, United States), nv.
 * Catherine Robertson (b. 1966, New Zealand), nv. & broadcaster
 * E. Arnot Robertson (1903–1961, England), nv.
 * Lisa Robertson (b. 1961, Canada/Newfoundland), poet
 * Anne Isabella Robertson (c. 1830–1910, Ireland), nv. & suffragist
 * Amber E. Robinson (1867-1961, United States), educator, postmaster, poet, reporter, social reformer
 * Eden Robinson (b. 1968, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Hilary Robinson (b. 1972, Isle of Man), ch. wr.
 * Leora Bettison Robinson (1840–1914, United States), wr. & educator
 * Marilynne Robinson (b. 1943, United States), nv.
 * Mary Robinson (1757–1800, England), poet, nv. & actor
 * Kim Robinson-Walcott (b. 1956, Jamaica), poet & editor
 * Aïcha Mohamed Robleh (b. 1965, Djibouti), wr.
 * Mireya Robles (b. 1934, Cuba/United States), wr. & nv.
 * Lucia St. Clair Robson (living, United States), nv.
 * Lelia P. Roby (1848–1910, United States), wr.
 * Charlotte Roche (b. 1978, England/Germany), nv.
 * Mazo de la Roche (1885–1961, Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Regina Maria Roche (1764–1845, Ireland), nv.
 * Sophie von La Roche (1730–1807, Germany), nv.
 * Anne de La Roche-Guilhem (1644–1707/1710, France), fiction wr.
 * Christiane Rochefort (1917–1998, France), nv.
 * Catherine Des Roches (1542–1587, France), poet
 * Madeleine Des Roches (c. 1520–1587, France), poet
 * Esther Rochon (b. 1948, Canada/Newfoundland), science fiction nv.
 * Ana María Rodas (b. 1937, Guatemala), col. & poet
 * Edith Rode (1879–1956, Denmark), nv. & col.
 * Carolyn Rodgers (1940–2010, United States), poet
 * Carmen Rodríguez (b. 1948, Chile/Canada/Newfoundland), wr., poet & activist
 * Debbie Rodriguez (living, United States), wr.
 * Fátima Rodríguez (b. 1961, Spain), wr., translator, professor
 * Jesusa Rodríguez (b. 1955, Mexico), stage wr.
 * Judith Rodriguez (1936–2018, Australia), poet
 * Silvia Rodríguez Villamil (1939–2003, Uruguay), historian, feminist, wr., activist
 * Maria Rodziewiczówna (1863–1944, Poland), political wr. & landowner
 * Jill Roe (1940–2017, Australia), historian, academic & wr.
 * Ruth Margarete Roellig (1878–1969, Germany), non-f. & travel wr.
 * Astrid Roemer (b. 1947, Suriname/Netherlands), nv., pw. & poet
 * Helena Roerich (1879–1955, Russia/Soviet Union), theosophist & mystic
 * Diodata Saluzzo Roero (1774–1840, Italy), poet, pw. & fiction wr.
 * Else Roesdahl (b. 1942, Denmark), archaeologist & historian
 * Monique Roffey (b. 1965, Trinidad), nv. & mem.
 * Rosamaría Roffiel (b. 1945, Mexico), poet & nv.
 * Christina Rogberg (1832–1907, Sweden), court mem.
 * Noëlle Roger (1874–1953, Switzerland), nv. & biographer in French
 * Emma Winner Rogers (1855–1922, United States) – wr., speaker, suffragist
 * Kathrin Röggla (b. 1971, Austria/Austria-Hungary), pw., es. & poet
 * Begum Rokeya (1880–1932, India), wr. & activist
 * Winétt de Rokha (1892–1951, Chile), poet
 * Betty Roland (1903–1996, Australia), stage & ch. wr. & nv.
 * Dominique Rolin (1913–2012, Belgium), nv. in French
 * Adelaide Day Rollston (1854–1941, United States), wr., nv. & poet
 * Eugenia Romanelli (b. 1972, Italy), nv. & biographer
 * Lalla Romano (1906–2001, Italy), nv. & poet
 * Sophia Romero (living, Philippines/United States), nv.
 * Emma Romeu (living, Cuba/Mexico), nature & ch. wr.
 * Robin Romm (living, United States), wr.
 * Hanna Rönnberg (1862–1946, Finland/Denmark), painter & fiction wr. in Swedish
 * Nathalie Ronvaux (b. 1977, Luxembourg), poet & pw. in French
 * Daphne Rooke (1914–2009, South Africa), fiction wr. in English
 * Sally Rooney (b. 1991, Ireland), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Margaret Roper (1505–1544, England), translator
 * Ginny Rorby (b. 1944, United States), YA nv.
 * Amanda McKittrick Ros (1860–1939, Iran/Persia/Northern Ireland), nv. & poet
 * Emanuela Da Ros (living, Italy), ch. wr.
 * Helvy Tiana Rosa (b. 1970, Indonesia), pw. & fiction wr.
 * Amira de la Rosa, (1895–1974, Colombia), col., fiction wr., poet & pw.
 * Ninotchka Rosca (b. 1946, Philippines), wr. & activist
 * Heather Rose (b. 1964, Australia), nv.
 * Martha Parmelee Rose (1834–1923, United States), non-f.
 * Henrietta Rose-Innes (b. 1971, South Africa), fiction wr. in English
 * Petrona Rosende (1797–1893, Argentina), poet & col.
 * Chava Rosenfarb (1923–2011, Poland/Canada/Newfoundland), poet, nv. & Hc. survivor
 * Barbara Rosiek (1959–2020, Poland), wr., poet & psychologist
 * Joan Rosier-Jones (b. 1940, New Zealand), fiction & non-f. wr. & pw.
 * Alice Grant Rosman (1887–1961, Australia), nv.
 * Anna Rosmus (b. 1960, Germany), historian
 * Tatiana de Rosnay (b. 1961, France/England), fiction wr. & biographer
 * Martha Parmelee Rose (1834–1923, United States), non-f. wr., journalist, social reformer
 * Anna Ross (1773–?, England), opera pw. & actor
 * Leone Ross (b. 1969, England), fiction wr. & academic
 * Orna Ross (b. 1960, Ireland), fiction & non-f. wr. & poet
 * Nancy Wilson Ross (1901–1986, United States), nv.
 * Somerville & Ross (Edith Somerville, 1858–1949, & Violet Florence Martin, 1862–1915, Ireland), fiction wr.s; The Irish R. M.
 * Mary Jane O'Donovan Rossa (1845–1916, Ireland), poet & activist
 * Maria Rosseels (1916–2005, Belgium), nv. in Flemish
 * Christina Rossetti (1830–1894, England), poet
 * Cristina Peri Rossi (living, Uruguay/Spain), fiction wr. & poet
 * Veronica Rossi (b. 1973, United States), YA nv.
 * Judith Rossner (1935–2005, United States), nv.
 * Evdokiya Rostopchina (1811–1858, Russia), poet
 * Stella Rotenberg (1916–2013, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet
 * Friederike Roth (b. 1948, Germany), pw.
 * Veronica Roth (b. 1988, United States), nv.
 * Augustine De Rothmaler (1859–1942, Belgium), pedagogue, translator, non-f. wr.
 * Maria Elizabeth Rothmann (1875–1975, South Africa), nv. & non-f. wr. in Afrikaans
 * Hannah Rothschild (b. 1962, England), wr., philanthropist & filmmaker
 * Angélique de Rouillé (1756–1840, Belgium), correspondent in French
 * Marie-Anne de Roumier-Robert (fl. 18th century), science fiction wr.
 * Anne Rouse (b. 1954 United States/England), poet
 * Alma Routsong (Isabel Miller, 1924–1996, United States), nv.
 * Léonie Rouzade (1839–1916, France), nv. and feminist
 * Jennifer Rowe (b. 1948, Australia), nv.
 * Jane Helen Rowlands (1891–1955, Wales), scholar & evangelist
 * Mary Rowlandson (1635–1711, United States), mem.
 * Rosemarie Rowley (b. 1942, Ireland), poet & feminist
 * J. K. Rowling (b. 1965, England/Scotland), nv.; Harry Potter
 * Susanna Rowson (1762–1824, England/United States), nv., poet & pw.
 * Hannie Rouweler (b. 1951, Netherlands), poet
 * Margaret Rowlett (1897–1963), children's book writer
 * Tania Roxborogh (b. 1965, New Zealand), fiction & parenting wr.
 * Susanna Roxman (1946–2015, Sweden/England), wr., poet & critic
 * Anuradha Roy (b. 1967, India), nv.
 * Anusree Roy (b. 1982, India/Canada/Newfoundland), pw. & librettist
 * Arundhati Roy (b. 1961, India), nv.; The God of Small Things
 * Gabrielle Roy (1909–1983, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & col.
 * Kamini Roy (1864–1933, India), poet & feminist
 * Lucinda Roy (b. 1955, United States/England), nv.
 * Nilanjana Roy (b. c. 1971, India), fiction & food wr.
 * Kristína Royová (1860–1936, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), nv., poet & religious wr. in Slovak
 * Heleen van Royen (b. 1965, Netherlands), nv.
 * S. J. Rozan (b. 1950, United States), crime wr.
 * Pascale Roze (b. 1954, Vietnam/France), pw. & nv.
 * Ru Zhijuan (茹志鵑, 1925–1998, China), fiction wr.
 * Isabel de los Ángeles Ruano (b. 1945, Guatemala), poet & writer
 * Bernice Rubens (1928–2004, Wales), nv.
 * Baņuta Rubess (b. 1956, Canada/Newfoundland), pw.
 * Dina Rubina (b. 1953, Soviet Union/Russia), wr.
 * Renate Rubinstein (1929–1990, Germany/Netherlands), wr. & col.
 * Berta Ruck (1878–1978, Wales), nv. & mem.
 * Jacqueline Rudet (b. 1962, England), pw.
 * Margot Ruddock (1907–1951, Ireland), poet
 * Anne Rudloe (1947–2012, United States), marine biologist & Buddhist
 * Helga Ruebsamen (1934–2016, Netherlands), wr.
 * Alice Rühle-Gerstel (1894–1943, Germany/Mexico), wr. and psychologist
 * Wanda Sieradzka de Ruig (1923–2008, Poland/Netherlands), poet & screenwriter
 * Julia Nava de Ruisánchez (1883–1964, Mexico), es. & col.
 * Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980, United States), feminist poet
 * Siti Rukiah (1927–1996, Dutch East Indies/Indonesia), poet & nv.
 * Lupe Rumazo (b. 1933, Ecuador), fiction wr. & es.
 * Katherine Rundell (b. 1987, England), ch. wr. & pw.
 * Fredrika Runeberg (1807–1879, Finland), nv. in Swedish
 * Eva Runefelt (b. 1953, Sweden), nv. & poet
 * Kristina Rungano (b. 1963, Zimbabwe), poet & fiction wr.
 * Rona Rupert (1934–1995, South Africa), ch. & YA, wr. in Afrikaans
 * Prima Rusdi (b. 1967, Indonesia), screenwriter & arts writer
 * Oka Rusmini (b. 1967, Indonesia), poet & fiction & ch. wr.
 * Joanna Russ (1937–2011, United States), fiction wr. & es.
 * Diana E. H. Russell (1938–2020, South Africa/United States), feminist wr. & activist
 * Dora Isella Russell (1925–1990, Argentina/Uruguay) poet & journalist
 * Frances Theresa Peet Russell (1873–1936, United States), English literature
 * Karen Russell (b. 1981, United States), fiction wr.
 * Doina Ruști (b. 1957, Romania), nv. & screenwriter
 * Rose Rwakasisi (b. 1945, Uganda), editor, fiction wr. & educator
 * Gig Ryan (b. 1956, Australia), poet
 * Kay Ryan (b. 1945, United States), poet & educator
 * Marah Ellis Ryan (1860–1934, United States), nv.
 * Nan Ryan (1936–2017, United States), nv.
 * Meda Ryan (living, Ireland), historian
 * Roma Ryan (b. 1950, Northern Ireland), poet & lyricist
 * Maria Rybakova (b. 1973, Soviet Union/Russia), fiction wr.
 * Carina Rydberg (b. 1962, Sweden), nv.
 * Kaisu-Mirjami Rydberg (1905–1959, Finland), wr. & politician
 * Elisabeth Rynell (b. 1954, Sweden), poet & nv.
 * Elizabeth Ryves (1750–1797, Iran/Persia/England), poet
 * Elena Rzhevskaya (1919–2017, Soviet Union/Russia), mem. & non-f. wr.

Sa–Se

 * Astrid Saalbach (b. 1955, Belgium), pw. & nv.
 * Carola Saavedra (b. 1973, Brazil), nv.
 * Etelvina Villanueva y Saavedra (1897–1969, Bolivia), poet & educator
 * Mariana de Carvajal y Saavedra (1620–1670, Spain), nv.
 * Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (b. 1974, Lithuania), nv. & art historian
 * María Herminia Sabbia y Oribe (1883–1961, Uruguay), poet
 * Isabel Sabogal (b. 1958, Peru), nv. & poet
 * Irina Saburova (1907–1979, Latvia/Germany), fiction wr. in Russian
 * Padma Sachdev (1940–2021, India), poet & nv.
 * Lessie Sachs (1897–1942, Germany/United States), poet
 * Nelly Sachs (1891–1970, Germany), poet & pw.; 1966 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Vita Sackville-West (1892–1962, England), wr., poet & gardener
 * Mary Sadler (b. 1941, South Africa), nv.
 * Anna T. Sadlier (1854–1932, Canada), wr. & translator
 * Mary Anne Sadlier (1920–2003, Iran/Persia/Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Izabela Sadoveanu-Evan (1870–1941, Romania), critic & poet
 * Shadi Sadr (b. 1974, Iran/Persia), es. & lawyer
 * Nina Mikhailovna Sadur (b. 1950, Soviet Union/Russia), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Elif Safak (b. 1971, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), wr.
 * Tahereh Saffarzadeh (1936–2008, Iran/Persia), poet & academic
 * Françoise Sagan (1935–2004, France), pw., nv. & screenwriter
 * Mamta Sagar (b. 1966, India), Kannada poet & pw.
 * Lorna Sage (1943–2001, England), academic, critic & author
 * Ana María Martínez Sagi (1907–2000, Spain/France), poet & feminist
 * Megumu Sagisawa (鷺沢萠, 1968–2004, Japan), nv. & pw.
 * Nayantara Sahgal (b. 1927, India), nv. & correspondent
 * Sarojini Sahoo (b. 1956, India), feminist & fiction wr.
 * Nandini Sahu (b. 1973, India), poet & folklorist in English
 * Rieko Saibara (西原理恵子, b. 1964, Japan), manga creator
 * Saigū no Nyōgo (斎宮女御, 929–985, Japan), poet
 * Amina Said (b. 1953, Tunisia/France), poet, fiction wr. & es.
 * Titie Said (1935–2011, Dutch East Indies/Indonesia), nv.
 * Fumi Saimon (柴門ふみ, b. 1957, Japan), manga creator
 * Stéphanie Félicité du Crest de Saint-Aubin (1746–1830, France), nv., pw. & ch. wr.
 * Maria de Villegas de Saint-Pierre (1870–1941, Belgium), nv. in French
 * Vefa de Saint-Pierre (1872–1967, France), nv., poet & explorer
 * Pirkko Saisio (b. 1949, Finland), wr. & actor
 * Mayu Sakai (酒井まゆ, b. 1982, Japan), manga creator
 * Widad Sakakini (1913–1991, Syria), fiction wr. & es.
 * Io Sakisaka (咲坂伊緒, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Anna Sakse (1905–1981, Latvia/Soviet Union), fiction wr.
 * Momoko Sakura (さくらももこ, 1965–2018, Japan), manga creator
 * Shino Sakuragi (桜木紫乃, b. 1965, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Kanoko Sakurakoji (桜小路かのこ, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Erica Sakurazawa (桜沢エリカ, b. 1963, Japan), manga creator
 * Arja Salafranca (b. 1971, Spain/South Africa), poet & fiction wr. in English
 * Nina Salaman (1877–1925, England), poet
 * Minna Salami (b. 1978, Finland/Nigeria), non-f. wr., col.
 * Virginia Brindis de Salas (1908–1958, Uruguay),, poet
 * Fanny Zampini Salazar (1853–1931, Belgium/Italy), social wr.
 * Excilia Saldaña (1946–1999, Cuba), poet & ch. wr.
 * Marta Salgado,(b. 1947, Chile), non-f. wr.
 * Nino Salia (1898–1992, Georgia (Caucasus)/France), historian
 * Vibeke Salicath (1861–1921, Denmark), philanthropist & feminist
 * Zdena Salivarová (b. 1933, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Blanaid Salkeld (1880–1959, Ireland), poet, pw. & salonnière
 * Lotte Salling (b. 1964, Denmark), ch. wr.
 * Eva Sallis (Eva Hornung, b. 1964, Australia), nv.
 * Sally Salminen (1906–1976, Finland/Denmark), nv. in Swedish
 * Jessica Amanda Salmonson (b. 1950, United States), fiction wr. & es.
 * Rosa Julieta Montaño Salvatierra (b. 1946, Bolivia), feminist
 * Lydie Salvayre (b. 1948, France), wr.
 * Preeta Samarasan (living, Malaysia/United States), fiction wr.
 * Cecilia Samartin (b. 1961, Cuba/United States), wr. & psychologist
 * Magdalena Samozwaniec (1894–1972, Poland), fiction wr.
 * Fiona Sampson (b. 1968, England), poet & editor
 * Fiona Samuel (b. 1961, Scotland/New Zealand), pw.
 * Rhian Samuel (b. 1944, Wales), wr. on music
 * María Anna Águeda de San Ignacio (1695–1756, Mexico), religious wr. & abbess
 * María Josefa Acevedo Sánchez (1803–1861, Colombia), wr.
 * María Teresa Sánchez (1918–1994, Nicaragua), poet & fiction wr.
 * Matilde Sánchez (b. 1958, Argentina), wr. & col.
 * Socorro Sánchez (1830–1899, DR), journalist
 * Sonia Sanchez (b. 1934, United States), poet, pw. & ch. wr.
 * Milcha Sanchez-Scott (b. 1953, United States), pw.
 * George Sand (1804–1876, France), nv. & pw.
 * Virginia Sandars (1828–1922, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Dorothy Lucy Sanders (1907–1987, Australia), nv.
 * Carmen Barajas Sandoval (1925–2014, Mexico), biographer
 * Mari Sandoz (1896–1966, United States), fiction wr. & biographer
 * Elspeth Sandys (b. 1940, New Zealand), fiction & non-f. wr. & poet
 * Barbara Sanguszko (1718–1791, Poland), poet & moralist
 * Parinoush Saniee (living, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Indira Sant (1914–2000, India), poet
 * Miêtta Santiago (1903–1995, Brazil), poet, lawyer & feminist
 * Miriam Defensor Santiago (1945–2016, Philippines), social science wr.
 * Pura Santillan-Castrence (1905–2007, Philippines), es. in English
 * Abidemi Sanusi (living, Nigeria/England), nv.
 * Rahel Sanzara (1894–1936, Germany), nv. and dancer
 * Sapphire, pen name of Ramona Lofton (b. 1950, United States), nv. & poet
 * Sappho (c. 630–570 BC, Ancient Greece), poet in Greek
 * Graciela Sapriza (b. 1945, Uruguay), historian & educator
 * Thouria Saqqat (1935–1952, Morocco), ch. wr.
 * Nafija Sarajlić (1893–1970, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/Yugoslavia), fiction wr.
 * Cristina Saralegui (b. 1948, Cuba/United States),
 * Dipti Saravanamuttu (b. 1960, Sri Lanka/Australia), poet & col.
 * Tibors de Sarenom (c. 1130 – post-1198, France), poet in Occitan
 * Georges Sari (1925–2012, Greece), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Beatriz Sarlo (b. 1942, Argentina), critic & non-f. wr.
 * Noo Saro-Wiwa (b. 1976, England/Nigeria), travel wr.
 * Nathalie Sarraute (1900–1999, Russia/France), nv. & es.
 * Albertine Sarrazin (1937–1967, France), nv.
 * Nathalie Sarraute (1900–1999, Russia/France), mem. & biographer
 * Homa Sarshar (living, Iran/Persia/United States), wr. & feminist
 * Ratna Sarumpaet (b. 1948, Indonesia), pw. & activist
 * May Sarton (1912–1995, Belgium/United States), poet, nv. & mem.
 * Sehba Sarwar (living, Pakistan/United States), es., poet & fiction wr.
 * Tomoko Sasaki (佐々木知子, b. 1965, Japan), nv. & lawyer
 * Marjane Satrapi (b. 1969, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Šatrijos Ragana (1877–1930, Lithuania), fiction wr.
 * Krupabai Satthianadhan (1862–1894, India), nv.
 * Gerd Grønvold Saue (1930–2022, Norway), critic, nv. & hymnist
 * Stephanie Saulter (living, Jamaica), science fiction wr.
 * Henriette Sauret (1890–1976, France) poet, non-f. wr.
 * Tanya Savicheva (1930–1944, Soviet Union), child diarist
 * Sharon Savoy (living, United States), wr.
 * Ruth Sawyer (1880–1970, United States), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Aline Sax (b. 1984, Belgium), ch. & YA wr. in Flemish
 * Robin Sax (b. c. 1971, United States), crime wr. & col.
 * Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957, England), mystery wr. & es.
 * Isabelle Sbrissa (b. 1971, Switzerland), poet & pw. in French
 * Alcira Soust Scaffo (1924–1997, Uruguay), poet & educator
 * Nelle Scanlan (1882–1968, New Zealand), nv.
 * Patricia Scanlan (b. 1956, Ireland), fiction wr. & poet
 * Bente Scavenius (b. 1944, Denmark), art writer & critic
 * Igiaba Scego (b. 1974, Italy), wr,, journalist & activist
 * Oda Schaefer (1900–1988, Germany), poet & col.
 * Susan Fromberg Schaeffer (1940–2011, United States), nv. & poet
 * Margo Scharten-Antink (1868–1957, Netherlands), poet
 * Riana Scheepers (b. 1957, South Africa), ch. & fiction wr. & poet in Afrikaans
 * Caroline Schelling (1763–1809, Germany), es. & correspondent
 * Els de Schepper (b. 1965, Belgium), wr. & actor in Flemish
 * Sophie von Scherer (1817–1876, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv.
 * Stacy Schiff (b. 1961, United States), non-f. wr. & col.
 * Johanna Schipper (born 1967, Taiwan/France), fiction wr.
 * Mineke Schipper (b. 1938, Netherlands), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Dorothea von Schlegel (1764–1839, Germany), nv.
 * Sylvia Schlettwein (b. 1975, Namibia), wr., teacher & critic
 * Eva Schloss (b. 1929, Austria/Austria-Hungary), mem. & Hc. survivor
 * Anka Schmid (b. 1961, Switzerland/Germany), screenwriter in German
 * Annie M. G. Schmidt (1911–1995, Netherlands), songwriter & ch. wr.
 * Elke Schmitter (b. 1961, Germany), nv. & poet
 * Pat Schneider (1934–2020, United States), wr., poet & editor
 * Diane Schoemperlen (b. 1954, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Elisabeth of Schönau (c. 1129–1164, Germany), visionary in Latin
 * Patricia Schonstein (b. 1952, Zimbabwe/South Africa), nv., poet & ch. wr. in English
 * Jane Johnston Schoolcraft (1800–1842, United States), poet & fiction wr.
 * Amalie Schoppe (1791–1858, Germany), ch. wr.
 * Claudia Schoppmann (b. 1958, Germany), historian & social wr.
 * Solveig von Schoultz (1907–1996, Finland), poet, pw. & ch. wr. in Swedish
 * Martina Schradi (b. 1972, Germany), writer and cartoonist
 * Adele Schreiber-Krieger (1872–1957, Austria/Austria-Hungary), feminist wr. & politician
 * Olive Schreiner (1855–1920, South Africa), nv. & political wr. in English
 * Angelika Schrobsdorff (1927–2016, Germany), pw., nv. & actor
 * Rikke Schubart (b. 1966, Denmark), wr. & film scholar
 * Helga Schubert (b. 1940, Denmark), ch. wr. and academic
 * Ossip Schubin (1854–1934, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv.
 * Julianne Schultz (b. 1956, Australia), non-f. wr. & academic
 * Anna Maria van Schurman (1607–1678, Germany/Netherlands), poet, scholar & painter
 * Barbara Schurz (b. 1973, Austria/Austria-Hungary), wr. & pw.
 * Jenefer Shute (living, South Africa/United States), nv.
 * Christine Schutt (b. 1948, United States), fiction wr.
 * Carolina Schutti (b. 1976, Austria/Austria-Hungary), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Brigitte Schwaiger (1949–2010, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv.
 * Amy Schwartz (1954–2023, United States), ch. wr.
 * Marie Sophie Schwartz (1819–1894, Sweden), nv.
 * Sibylla Schwarz (1621–1638, Germany), poet
 * Simone Schwarz-Bart (b. 1938, France), pw. & nv.
 * Annemarie Schwarzenbach (1908–1942, Switzerland), travel wr. in German
 * Samanta Schweblin (b. 1978, Argentina), fiction wr.
 * Monique Schwitter (b. 1972, Switzerland), fiction wr. in German
 * Sandra Scofield (b. 1943 United States), nv., es. & critic
 * Ann Scott (b. 1965, France), nv.
 * Caroline Lucy Scott (1784–1857, England), nv. & religious wr.
 * Cathy Scott (b. 1950s, United States), true crime wr. & biographer
 * Jane Scott (c. 1779–1839, England), pw.
 * Margaret Scott (1934–2005, Australia), poet, critic & academic
 * Mary-anne Scott (living, New Zealand), ch. & YA wr. & musician
 * Mary Scott (1888–1979, New Zealand), nv.
 * Mary McKay Scott (1851-1932, Canada), nv., non-f. wr.
 * Robyn Scott (b. 1981, England/New Zealand), mem.
 * Rosie Scott (1948–2017, New Zealand/Australia), nv.
 * Madeleine de Scudéry (1607–1701, France), nv.
 * Jocelynne Scutt (b. 1947, Australia), non-f. wr. & lawyer
 * Mary Seacole (1805–1881, England/Jamaica), autobiographer & nurse
 * Nicole Sealey (b. 1979, US), poet
 * Molly Elliot Seawell (1860–1916, United States), es. & fiction wr.
 * Leïla Sebbar (b. 1941, Algeria/France), nv. & autobiographer
 * Alice Sebold (b. 1963, United States), nv.
 * Olga Sedakova (b. 1949, Soviet Union/Russia), poet
 * Amy Sedaris (b. 1961, United States), screenwriter & actor
 * Catharine Sedgwick (1789–1867, United States), nv.
 * Ekaterina Sedia (b. 1970, Soviet Union/United States), nv. & poet
 * Lisa See (b. 1955, China/United States), nv.
 * Wilhelmina Seegmiller (1866–1913, Canada/United States), wr, illustrator & art teacher
 * Sara Sefchovich (b. 1949, Mexico), nv. & academic
 * Edith Segal (1902–1997, United States), poet & songwriter
 * Lore Segal (b. 1928), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Marta Segarra (b. 1963, Spain), es.
 * Nakisanze Segawa (living, Uganda), poet & nv.
 * Anna Seghers (1900–1983, Germany), nv.
 * Alinah Kelo Segobye (fl 2000s, Botswana), activist & archaeologist
 * Mabel Segun (b. 1930, Nigeria), poet, pw., fiction & ch. wr.
 * Countess of Ségur (1799–1874, Ru/France), nv.
 * Anne de Seguier (fl. 1583, France), poet & salonnière
 * Dubravka Sekulić (b. 1980, Serbia), wr. & architect
 * Isidora Sekulić (1877–1958, Serbia), nv.
 * Taiye Selasi (b. 1979, Nigeria/Ghana/Gold Coast), fiction wr.
 * Pınar Selek (b. 1971, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/France), sociologist
 * Esther Seligson (1941–2010, Mexico), fiction wr., es. & poet
 * Yoshiko Sembon (せんぼんよしこ, b. 1928, China/Japan), screenwriter
 * Odete Semedo (b. 1959, Guinea-Bissau), wr. & educator
 * Mala Sen (1947–2011, India), biographer
 * Nabaneeta Dev Sen (1938–2019, India), poet, fiction wr. & academic
 * Eulalie de Senancour (1791–1876, France), fiction wr.
 * Fama Diagne Sène (b. 1969, Senegal), nv. & poet
 * Mallika Sengupta (1960–2011, India), poet
 * Poile Sengupta (b. 1948, India), pw. & ch. wr.
 * Somini Sengupta (fl 2000s, b. India), journalism, non-fiction wr.
 * Olive Senior (b. 1941, Jamaica), poet & fiction wr.
 * Danzy Senna (b. 1970, United States), nv.
 * Raquel Señoret (1922–1990, Chile), poet
 * Iryna Senyk (1926–2009, Ukraine), poet
 * Seo Hajin (서하진, b. 1960, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Ha Seong-nan (하성란, b. 1967, Korea), wr.
 * Kim Seon-wu (김선우, b. 1970, Korea), poet
 * Ruta Sepetys (b. 1967, Lithuania/United States), fiction wr.
 * Perla Serfaty (b. 1944, Morocco/France/Canada), non-f. wr.
 * Dolores Gortázar Serantes (1872–1936, Sp.), nv. & non-f. wr.
 * Matilde Serao (1856–1927, Greece/Italy), nv. in Italian
 * Kate Seredy (1899–1975, Hungary/United States), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Clara Sereni (1946–2018, Italy), autobiographer & fiction wr.
 * Gitta Sereny (1921–2012, Austria/Austria-Hungary/England), biographer & non-f. wr. in German & English
 * Cella Serghi (1907–1992, Romania), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Anna Lidia Vega Serova (b. 1968, Russia/Cuba), poet & fiction & ch. wr.
 * Namwali Serpell (b. 1980, Zambia), fiction wr.
 * Elisa Serrana (1930–2012, Chile), nv. & feminist
 * Marcela Serrano (b. 1951, Chile), nv.
 * Nina Serrano (b. 1934, United States), poet, wr. & storyteller
 * Yolanda García Serrano (b. 1958, Spain), screenwriter
 * Coline Serreau (b. 1947, France), screenwriter & pw.
 * Sabiha Sertel (1895–1968, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/Soviet Union), political wr.
 * Kadija Sesay (living, England), fiction wr., poet & editor
 * Ruth Huntington Sessions (1859–1946), mem.
 * Henriett Seth F. (b. 1980, Hungary), poet, wr. & musician
 * Anya Seton (1904–1990, United States), nv.
 * Cynthia Propper Seton (1926–1982, United States), nv. & es.
 * Julia Seton (1862-1950, United States), wr. on religion
 * Diane Setterfield (b. 1964, England), nv.
 * Mary Lee Settle (1918–2005, United States), nv. & mem.
 * Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné (1626–1696, France), correspondent
 * Anna Seward (1747–1809, England), poet
 * Anna Sewell (1820–1887, England), nv.; Black Beauty
 * Elizabeth Sewell (1919–2001, England/United States), poet, nv. & academic
 * Elizabeth Missing Sewell (1815–1906, England), wr. on religion & education
 * Anne Sexton (1928–1974, United States), poet
 * Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (living, United States), nv.
 * Miranda Seymour (b. 1948, England), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Carole Seymour-Jones (1943–2015, Wales), biographer & education wr.

Sf–Sk

 * Ippolita Maria Sforza (1446–1484, Italy), correspondent & poet
 * Mary Ann Shaffer (1934–2008, United States), wr., editor & librarian
 * Louisa Shafia (living, United States), food wr. & chef
 * Marietta Shaginyan (1888–1982, Russia/Soviet Union), fiction wr. & activist
 * Sara Shagufta (1954–1984, Pakistan), poet
 * Bina Shah (b. 1972, Pakistan), fiction wr. & col.
 * Madhuri R. Shah (fl. 20th century, India), education wr. & poet
 * Noorul Huda Shah (b. 1951, Pakistan), pw. & politician
 * Ryhaan Shah (living, Guyana), nv.
 * Husne Ara Shahed (living, Bangladesh), wr. & educator
 * Salma Shaheen (b. 1954, Pakistan), poet & fiction wr.
 * Shahnaz Fatmi (b. 1949, India), poet
 * Qaisra Shahraz (living, Pakistan/England), nv. & scriptwriter
 * Mahasti Shahrokhi (living, Iran/Persia), nv. & poet
 * Ruchoma Shain (1914–2013, United States), rebbetzin, wr. & teacher
 * Siba Shakib (living, Iran/Persia/United States), wr. & activist
 * Parveen Shakir (1952–1995, Pakistan), poet & civil servant
 * Sepideh Shamlou (b. 1968, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Kamila Shamsie (b. 1973, Pakistan/England), fiction wr.
 * Muneeza Shamsie (b. 1944, Pakistan), es.
 * Shan Sa (山颯, b. 1972, China/France), nv. in Chinese & French
 * Eileen Shanahan (1901–1979, Ireland), poet
 * Elizabeth Shane (1877–1951, Ireland), poet, pw. & violinist
 * Ntozake Shange (1948–2018, United States), pw. & nv.
 * Mary Eulalie Fee Shannon (1824–1855, United States), poet
 * Shangguan Wan'er (上官婉兒, c. 664–710, China), poet, wr. & imperial consort
 * Shantichitra (b. 1978, India), nv. & academic
 * Jo Shapcott (b. 1953, England), poet, editor & lecturer
 * Olga Shapir (1850–1916, Russia), fiction wr. & feminist
 * Chava Shapiro (1876–1943, Russia/Soviet Union), wr. in Ukrainian
 * Laura Shapiro (b. 1946, United States), journalist & author
 * Margarita Sharapova (b. 1962, Soviet Union/Russia), fiction wr.
 * Emma Augusta Sharkey (1858–1802, United States), wr., col. & nv.
 * Niamh Sharkey (living, Ireland), ch. writer & illustrator
 * Jane Sharp (c. 1641–71, England), wr. on midwifery
 * Harriette Lucy Robinson Shattuck (1850–1937, United States), wr.
 * Elizabeth Shaw (1920–1992, Ireland), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Helen Lilian Shaw (1913–1985, New Zealand), fiction wr. & poet
 * Tina Shaw (b. 1961, New Zealand), nv. & travel wr.
 * Tatiana Shchepkina-Kupernik (1874–1952, Russia), fiction wr, pw. & poet
 * Nessa Ní Shéaghdha (1916–1993, Iran/Persia), academic
 * Miranda Shearer (b. 1982, England), non-f. wr. & columnist
 * Eileen Sheehan (b. 1963, Ireland), poet
 * Helena Sheehan (b. 1944, Ireland), philosopher & historian
 * Alice Sheldon (1915–1987, United States), fiction wr.
 * Daphne Sheldrick (1934–2018, Kenya), wr. on animal husbandry
 * Shanta Shelke (1922–2002, India), poet & nv.
 * Mary Shelley (1797–1851, England), nv.; Frankenstein
 * Bonnie Shemie (b. 1949, United States/Canada/Newfoundland), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Shen Rong (谌容, b. 1936, China), nv. & mem.
 * Shen Shanbao (沈善宝, 1808–1862, China), poet & biographer
 * Preeti Shenoy (b. 1971, India), nv. & social wr.
 * Nan Shepherd (1893–1981, Scotland), nv. & poet
 * Verene Shepherd (b. 1951, Jamaica), academic
 * Natalia Sheremeteva (1714–1771, Russia), mem.
 * Betsy Sheridan (1758–1837, Ireland), diarist
 * Frances Sheridan (1724–1766, Ireland), nv. & pw.
 * Shahla Sherkat (b. 1956, Iran/Persia), feminist wr.
 * Dorothy Sherrill (1901–1990, United States), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Kate Brownlee Sherwood (1841–1914, United States), poet & col.
 * Mary Martha Sherwood (1775–1851, England), ch. wr.
 * Narmala Shewcharan (living, Guyana/England), nv. & poet
 * Gamar Sheyda (1881–1933, Azerbaijan), poet
 * Tomoka Shibasaki (柴崎友香, b. 1973, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Carol Shields (1935–2003 United States/Canada/Newfoundland), nv.; The Stone Diaries
 * Yoshiko Shigekane (重兼芳子, 1927–1963, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Karuho Shiina (椎名軽穂, b. 1975, Japan), manga creator
 * Izumi Shikibu (和泉式部, b. c. 976, Japan), poet
 * Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部, c. 973–1014 or 1025, Japan), nv. & poet; The Tale of Genji
 * Princess Shikishi (式子内親王, died 1201, Japan), poet
 * Michiru Shimada (島田満, 1959–2017, Japan), anime screenwriter
 * Rio Shimamoto (島本理生, b. 1983, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Aki Shimazaki (アキシマザキ, b. 1954, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & academic
 * Reiko Shimizu (清水玲子, b. 1963, Japan), manga creator
 * Takako Shimura (志村貴子, b. 1973, Japan), manga creator
 * Kang Shin-jae (강신재, 1924–2001, Korea), nv., es. & pw.
 * Shin Kyeong-nim (신경림, b. 1936, Korea), wr.
 * Shin Kyung-sook (신경숙, b. 1963, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Jan Shinebourne (b. 1947, Guyana/England), nv.
 * Mayu Shinjo (新條まゆ, b. 1973, Japan), manga creator
 * Sharon Shinn (b. 1957, United States), nv.
 * Setsuko Shinoda (篠田 節子, b. 1955, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Chie Shinohara (篠原千絵, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Irma Shiolashvili (b. 1974, Georgia (Caucasus)), poet & col.
 * Kazuko Shiraishi (白石かずこ, b. 1931, Canada/Newfoundland), poet
 * Zandokht Shirazi (1909–1953, Iran/Persia), poet & activist
 * Warsan Shire (b. 1988, England), wr., poet & editor
 * Tanya Shirley (b. 1976, Jamaica), poet
 * Shirome (白女, 10th century, Japan), poet
 * Maria Shkapskaya (1891–1952, Russia/Soviet Union), poet & col.
 * Susy Shock (b. 1968, Argentina), wr., singer & actor
 * Ann Allen Shockley (b. 1927, United States), journalist & author
 * Dora Adele Shoemaker (1873–1962, United States), poet & playwright
 * Sei Shōnagon (清少納言, 965–1010, Japan), wr. & poet; The Pillow Book
 * Lola Shoneyin (b. 1974, Nigeria), nv. & poet
 * Dora Sigerson Shorter (1866–1918, Ireland), poet & sculptor
 * Fredegond Shove (1889–1949, England), poet
 * Elaine Showalter (b. 1941, United States), critic, feminist wr.
 * Shu Ting (舒婷, b. 1952, China), poet
 * Ana María Shua (b. 1951, Argentina), fiction & ch. wr., poet & pw.
 * Shunzei's daughter (藤原俊成女, c. 1171 – c. 1252, Japan), poet
 * Jenefer Shute (living, South Africa), nv.
 * Marie-Louise Sibazuri (b. 1960, Burundi), wr.
 * Gabriella Sica (b. 1950, Italy), poet
 * Anja Sicking (b. 1965, Netherlands), fiction wr.
 * Myra Sidharta (歐陽春梅, b. 1927, China/Indonesia), psychologist
 * Bapsi Sidhwa (b. 1938, Pakistan/United States), nv.
 * Mary Sidney (1561–1621, England), pw. & poet
 * Gonnie Siegel (1928–2005, United States), wr.
 * Raija Siekkinen (1953–2004, Finland), wr.
 * Catherine of Siena (1347–1380, Italy), nun, philosopher & theologian
 * Stella Sierra (1917–1997, Panama), poet and prose wr.
 * Fatou Niang Siga (1932–2022, Senegal), social wr.
 * Steinvör Sighvatsdóttir (died 1271, Iceland), poet & politician
 * Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir (1940–2010, Iceland), fiction wr.
 * Jakobína Sigurðardóttir (1918–1994, Iceland), poet, nv. & ch. wr.
 * Lilja Sigurdardottir (b. 1972, Iceland), crime wr. & pw.
 * Ragna Sigurðardóttir (b. 1962, Iceland), wr. & artist
 * Steinunn Sigurðardóttir (b. 1950, Iceland), poet & nv.
 * Turið Sigurðardóttir (b. 1946, Faroe Islands), literary historian
 * Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (b. 1963), crime & ch. wr.
 * Birte Siim (b. 1945, Denmark), political writer
 * Joyce Sikakane (b. 1943, South Africa), col. & autobiographer in English
 * Joan Silber (b. 1945, United States), fiction wr.
 * Malla Silfverstolpe (1782–1861, Sweden), mem. & salonnière
 * Melanie Silgardo (b. 1956, India), poet
 * Leslie Marmon Silko (b. 1948, United States), Laguna Pueblo descent fiction wr. & poet
 * Jindeok of Silla (진덕여왕, fl. 647–654, Korea), poet & queen
 * Diná Silveira de Queirós (1911–1922, Brazil), nv., pw., es. & ch. wr.
 * Makeda Silvera (b. 1955, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Alessandra Silvestri-Levy (b. 1972, Brazil), art wr.
 * Sim Yunkyung (심윤경, b. 1972, Korea), nv.
 * Elizabeth Simcoe (1762–1850, UK), diarist
 * Hazel Simmons-McDonald (b. 1947, Saint Lucia), poet & academic
 * Ana María Simo (living, Cuba/United States), pw. & nv. in English
 * Maria Simointytär (fl. late 17th century, Finland), poet
 * Kate Simon (1912–1990, Poland/United States), autobiographer & non-f. wr.
 * Germaine Simon (1921–2012, Luxembourg), nv. in German
 * Ieva Simonaitytė (1897–1978, Lithuania), nv.
 * Katherine Call Simonds (1865–?, United States), musician, singer, author, composer, social reformer
 * Ifigenija Zagoričnik Simonović (b. 1953, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet & ch. wr.
 * Paullina Simons (b. 1963, Soviet Union/United States), nv.
 * Dorothy Simpson (b. 1933, Wales), nv.
 * Helen Simpson (1897–1940, Australia), nv., pw. & historian
 * Ruth Simpson (1926–2008, United States), wr.
 * Laura Sims (living, United States), nv. & poet
 * Salla Simukka (b. 1981, Finland), nv. & critic
 * Hourya Benis Sinaceur (b. 1940, Morocco), philosopher
 * Jo Sinclair (pen name of Ruth Seid, 1913–1995, United States), wr.
 * May Sinclair (1862–1946, England), fiction wr. & poet
 * Helena Sinervo (b. 1961, Finland), poet & nv.
 * Ansuyah Ratipul Singh (1917–1978, South Africa), wr. in English & physician
 * Nalini Singh (b. 1977, New Zealand), nv.
 * Rajkumari Singh (1923–1979, Guyana), poet, pw. & activist
 * Sunny Singh (b. 1969, India), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Sarah Singleton (b. 1966, England), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Kabita Sinha (1931–1999, India), poet & nv.
 * Mridula Sinha (1942–2020, India), nv. & public figure
 * Shumona Sinha (b. 1973, India/France), nv.
 * Johanna Sinisalo (b. 1958, Finland), science fiction & fantasy wr.
 * Lyubov Sirota (b. 1956, Ukraine), poet, wr. & pw.
 * Elinor Sisulu (b. 1958, Zimbabwe/South Africa), biographer & activist
 * Lakambini Sitoy (b. 1969, Philippines), nv. & teacher
 * Edith Sitwell (1887–1964, England), poet
 * Genet Sium (b. 1960s, Eritrea), novelist
 * Sivasankari (b. 1942, India), nv.
 * Rhoda Cosgrave Sivell (1874–1962, Iran/Persia/Canada/Newfoundland), poet & rancher
 * Maj Sjöwall (1935–2020, Sweden), mystery nv.
 * Staka Skenderova (1830–1891, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/Austria/Austria-Hungary), wr. in Serbian
 * Michelle Cruz Skinner (b. 1965, Philippines), wr. & educator
 * Ann Masterman Skinn (1747–1789, England), nv.
 * Rebecca Skloot (b. 1972, United States), science wr.
 * Sofija Skoric (living, Serbia/Canada/Newfoundland), activist & wr.
 * Simona Škrabec (b. 1968, Yugoslavia/Spain), critic & es.
 * Amalie Skram (1846–1905, Norway), nv. & feminist
 * Rūta Skujiņa (1907–1964, Latvia), poet
 * Vendela Skytte (1608–1627, Sweden), wr.

Sl–Sz

 * Cecylia Słapakowa, (ca.1900–ca.1942, Lithuania/Poland), journalist and translator
 * Sharon Slater (living, Ireland), local historian
 * Karin Slaughter (b. 1971, United States), crime wr.
 * Olga Slavnikova (b. 1957, Soviet Union/Russia), nv. & critic
 * Barbara Sleigh (1906–1982, England), ch. wr.
 * Esphyr Slobodkina (1908–2002, Russia/United States), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Żanna Słoniowska (b. 1978, Ukraine/Poland), nv.
 * Gillian Slovo (b. 1952, South Africa/England), nv., pw. & mem.
 * Anna Smaill (b. 1979, New Zealand), poet & nv.
 * Elizabeth Smart (1913–1986, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & poet
 * Dorothea Smartt (b. 1963, England), poet
 * Jane Smiley (b. 1948, United States), nv.
 * Alexandra Smirnova (1809–1882, Russia/France), mem.
 * Ali Smith (b. 1962, Scotland), nv.
 * Amanda Smith (1837–1915, United States), evangelist & autobiographer
 * Betty Smith (1896–1972, United States), nv.
 * Charlene Leonora Smith (living, South Africa), biographer & social wr. in English
 * Charlotte Turner Smith (1749–1806, England), poet & nv.
 * Dodie Smith (1896–1990, England), nv. & pw.; I Capture the Castle
 * Doris Buchanan Smith (1934–2002, United States), ch. nv.
 * Doris E. Smith (1919–pre–1994, Ireland), nv.
 * Georgina Castle Smith (1845–1933, England), ch. wr. & nv.
 * Jeanie Oliver Davidson Smith (1836–1925, United States), poet, romancist
 * Lillian Smith (1897–1966, United States), nv. & critic
 * Lura Eugenie Brown Smith (1864–?, United States), journalist, newspaper ed. & wr.
 * Maggie Smith (b. 1977, United States), poet, editor & wr.
 * Martha Pearson Smith (1836–?, United States), poet
 * Mary Bell Smith (1818–1894, United States), educator, social reformer, & wr.
 * Patti Smith (b. 1946, United States), poet, artist & songwriter
 * Pauline Smith (1882–1959, South Africa), fiction wr. & pw. in English
 * Stevie Smith (1902–1971, England), poet & nv.
 * Tracy K. Smith (b. 1972, United States), poet & educator
 * Zadie Smith (b. 1975, England), fiction wr. & es.
 * Elizabeth Smither (b. 1941, New Zealand), poet & fiction wr.
 * Annie M. P. Smithson (1873–1948, Ireland), fiction & nursing wr.
 * Saundra Smokes (1954–2012, United States), col. & pw.
 * Breda Smolnikar (b. 1941, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Cherry Smyth (b. 1960, Iran/Persia/England), academic, critic & poet
 * Ciara Elizabeth Smyth (living, Ireland), pw.
 * Anja Snellman (b. 1954, Finland), nv. & poet
 * Laura J. Snyder (b. 1964, United States), historian & biographer
 * Yan-kit So (1933–2001, China/England), cookery wr.
 * So Young-en (서영은, b. 1943, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Angelina Soares (1910–1985, Brazil), feminist wr.
 * Alawiya Sobh (b. 1955, Lebanon), col. & fiction wr.
 * Sofia Soboleva (1840–1884, Russia), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Gaele Sobott (b. 1956, Australia), fiction, ch. & non-f. wr.
 * Krishna Sobti (1925–2019, India), fiction wr. & es.
 * Susana Soca (1906–1959, Uruguay), poet
 * Edith Södergran (1892–1923, Finland), poet in Swedish
 * Zulu Sofola (1935–1995, Nigeria), pw. & pw.
 * Ružica Sokić (1934–2013, Serbia), wr. & actor
 * Sara Solá de Castellanos (1890–after 1928, Argentina), poet, nv., pw., lyricist
 * Adeola Solanke (living, England/Nigeria), pw. & screenwriter
 * Amalia Domingo Soler (1835–1909, Spain), nv. & spiritist
 * Carmen Soler (1924–1985, Paraguay/Argentina), politician & poet
 * Frances-Anne Solomon (b. 1966, England/Canada/Newfoundland), broadcasting pw.
 * Laura Solomon (1974–2019, New Zealand/England), nv., pw. & poet
 * Elizabeth Solopova (b. 1965, England), philologist & academic
 * Polyxena Solovyova (1867–1924, Russia), poet & illustrator
 * Armonía Somers (1914–1994, Uruguay), fiction wr. & educator
 * Edith Somerville (1858–1949, Ireland), nv. & co-author
 * Angela Sommer-Bodenburg (b. 1948, Germany), ch. wr.
 * Son Bo-mi (선보미, b. 1980, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Cathy Song (b. 1955, United States), poet
 * Susan Sontag (1933–2004, United States), es. & nv.
 * Oh Soo-yeon (오수연, b. 1964, Korea), wr. & es.
 * Pilar Sordo (b. 1965, Chile), psychologist & wr.
 * Tracy Sorensen (living, Australia), nv. & academic
 * Fuyumi Soryo (b. 1959, Japan), manga wr.
 * Dido Sotiriou (1909–2004, Greece), nv. & pw.
 * Carmelina Soto (1916–1994, Comoros), poet
 * María de Zayas y Sotomayor (1590–1647 or 1661, Spain), nv.
 * Katariina Souri (b. 1968, Finland), nv., col. & artist
 * Noémia de Sousa (1926–2002, Mozambique), poet
 * Auta de Souza (1876—1901, Brazil), poet
 * Eunice de Souza (1940–2017, India), poet, critic & nv.
 * Fatou Ndiaye Sow (1937–2004, Senegal), poet & ch. wr.
 * Sevgi Soysal (1936–1976, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), fiction wr.
 * Edibe Sözen (b. 1961, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), sociologist
 * Isabelle Spaak (b. 1960, Belgium/France), fiction & non-f. wr. in French
 * Svetlana Spajić (b. 1971, Serbia), activist & translator
 * Muriel Spark (1918–2006, Scotland/England), nv.
 * Elisavet Spathari (living, Greece), archaeologist & wr.
 * Maria Luisa Spaziani (1923–2014, Italy), poet
 * Terry Spear (living, United States), romance nv.
 * Catherine Helen Spence (1825–1910, Australia), nv. & reformer
 * Eleanor Spence (1928–2008, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Vanessa Spence (b. 1961, Jamaica), nv.
 * Anne Spencer (1882–1975, United States), poet
 * Elizabeth Spencer (1921–2018, United States), fiction wr.
 * Dale Spender (1943–2023, Australia), feminist wr. & scholar
 * Jean Maud Spender (J. M. Spender, 1901–1970), crime wr.
 * Vanessa Spence (b. 1961, Jamaica), nv.
 * Leonora Speyer (1872–1956, United States), poet & violinist
 * Hilde Spiel (1911–1990, Austria/Austria-Hungary), es. & critic
 * Sabina Spielrein (1885–1942, Russia/Uganda), psychoanalyst
 * Lina Spies (b. 1939, South Africa), poet in Afrikaans
 * Erica Spindler (1957, United States), nv.
 * Magdalena Spínola (1896–1991, Guatemala), poet & educator
 * Dana Spiotta (b. 1966, United States), nv.
 * Julia Spiridonova (Yulka, b. 1972, Bulgaria), nv. & screenwriter
 * Jela Spiridonović-Savić (1891–1974, Serbia), poet & fiction wr.
 * Lize Spit (b. 1980, Belgium), nv. in Flemish
 * Andrea Spofford (b. 1986, United States), poet & es.
 * Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (1835–1921, United States), fiction wr. & poet
 * Eintou Pearl Springer (b. 1944, Trinidad), poet & pw.
 * Tricia Springstubb (b. 1950, United States), ch. wr.
 * Susan Spungen (living, United States), food wr., editor, & food stylist
 * Katja Špur (1908–1991, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Yugoslavia), ch. wr. & poet
 * Johanna Spyri (1827–1901, Switzerland), ch. wr. in German; Heidi
 * Biljana Srbljanović (b. 1970, Serbia), pw.
 * Atima Srivastava (b. 1961, India), fiction wr. & film director
 * Cornelia Laws St. John (?–1902, United States), poet, biographer
 * Cynthia Morgan St. John (1852–1919, United States), Wordsworthian, book collector, & wr.
 * Lauren St John (b. 1966, Zimbabwe), ch. nv.
 * Marilyn Stablein (b. 1946, United States), poet, es. & fiction wr.
 * Ilse von Stach (1879–1941, Germany), pw., nv. & poet
 * Eva Stachniak (b. 1952, Poland/Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Germaine de Staël (1766–1817, Switzerland/France), nv.
 * Jean Stafford (1915–1978, United States), fiction wr.
 * Pernilla Stalfelt (b. 1962, Sweden), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Albena Stambolova (b. 1957, Bulgaria), psychologist & nv.
 * Gaspara Stampa (1532–1554, Italy), poet
 * Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902, United States), col. & es.
 * Margarita Stāraste-Bordevīka (1914–2014, Latvia), ch. wr.
 * Freya Stark (1893–1993, England), travel wr.
 * Nicolette Stasko (b. 1950, Australia), poet, nv. & non-f. wr.
 * Marie Šťastná (b. 1981, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), poet
 * Lucienne Stassaert (b. 1936, Belgium), poet in Flemish
 * Lilian Staveley (1878–1928, England), wr. & mystic
 * Christina Stead (1902–1983, Australia), fiction wr.
 * Betsey Ann Stearns (1830–1914, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Margret Steckel (b. 1934, Germany/Luxembourg), nv. in German
 * Irène Stecyk (b. 1937, Belgium), fiction wr. & poet
 * Danielle Steel (b. 1947, United States), nv.
 * Flora Annie Steel (1847–1929, England), nv.
 * Esther Baker Steele (1835–1911, United States), textbook wr. & editor
 * Anja Štefan (b. 1969, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), ch. wr.
 * Mirjana Stefanović (1939–2021, Serbia), wr.
 * Erla Stefánsdóttir (1935–2015, Iceland), story wr.
 * Marie Henriette Steil (1898–1930, Luxembourg), fiction wr. & col. in German & French
 * Alicia Steimberg (1933–2012, Argentina), fiction wr. & translator
 * Charlotte von Stein (1742–1827, Germany), pw.
 * Evaleen Stein (1863–1923, United States), poet, children's wr., limner
 * Gertrude Stein (1874–1946, United States), fiction wr., pw. & poet
 * Gisela Steineckert (b. 1931, Germany), radio pw. and screenwriter
 * Clara Steinitz (1852–1931), wr.
 * Kristín Steinsdóttir (b. 1946, Iceland), ch. wr. & pw.
 * Ginka Steinwachs (b. 1942, Germany), pw. and educator
 * Maria Antonia Scalera Stellini (1634–1704, Italy), poet & pw.
 * Carla Stellweg (living, Dutch East Indies/Mexico), art historian
 * Eira Stenberg (b. 1943, Finland), pw. & poet
 * Joanne Stepaniak (b. 1954, United States), vegan cookery wr.
 * Elizabeth Willisson Stephen (1856–1925, United States), nv., poet & wr.
 * Māmari Stephens (living, New Zealand), social wr. & preacher
 * Jadene Felina Stevens (1947–2013, United States), poet
 * Augusta Stevenson (1869–1976, United States), ch. wr. & teacher
 * Margo Taft Stever (living, United States), poet
 * Anna Louise Stevnhøj (b. 1963, Denmark), health wr.
 * Adela Blanche Stewart (1846–1910, England/New Zealand), autobiographer
 * Amanda Stewart (b. 1959, Australia), poet & performer
 * Jane Agnes Stewart (1860–1944, United States), wr., editor
 * Maria W. Stewart (1803–1897, United States), lecturer & col.
 * Mary Stewart (1916–2014, England), nv.
 * Susan Stewart (b. 1952, United States), poet, professor & critic
 * Maggie Stiefvater (b. 1981, United States), YA fiction wr.
 * Isabel Stilwell (b. 1960, Portugal), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Ilka Stitz (b. 1960, Germany), nv.
 * Cornelia Laws St. John (died 1902, United States), poet, biographer
 * Wilma Stockenström (b. 1933, South Africa), poet & prose wr. in Afrikaans
 * Cynthia Stockley (1873–1936, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Hilda van Stockum (1908–2006, Netherlands), ch. wr. & artist
 * Milica Stojadinović-Srpkinja (1828–1878, Serbia), poet
 * Ana Stojanoska (b. 1977, Yugoslavia/North Macedonia), wr. on theater & critic
 * Missouri H. Stokes (1838–1910, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Maša Stokić (b. 1966, Serbia), pw. & critic
 * Maria Engelbrecht Stokkenbech (1759–post-1806, Denmark), wr.
 * Catharine Stolberg (1751–1832, Denmark/Germany), countess & wr.
 * Ruth Stone (1915–2011, United States), poet
 * Sam Stone (b. 1965, England), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Marie Stopes (1880–1958, England), wr., paleo-botanist & birth-control advocate
 * Alfonsina Storni (1892–1938, Argentina), poet & pw.
 * Agnes L. Storrie (1865–1936, Australia), poet & wr.
 * Gertrude Story (1929–2014, Canada), poet & short story
 * Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1836, United States), nv.; Uncle Tom's Cabin
 * Mari Strachan (b. 1945, Wales), nv.
 * Susan Straight (b. 1960, United States), fiction wr., es. & academic
 * Ingela Strandberg (b. 1944, Sweden), poet, ch. wr. & novelist
 * Jennifer Strauss (b. 1933, Australia), poet & academic
 * Hesba Stretton (1832–1911, England), ch. wr.
 * Agnes Strickland (1796–1874, England), history wr. & poet
 * Sara Stridsberg (b. 1972, Sweden), nv.
 * Olga Stringfellow (b. 1923, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Eva Strittmatter (1930–2011, Germany), poet & ch. wr.
 * Rashida Strober (living, United States), pw.
 * Gertrude Strohm (1843–1927), American wr.
 * Eva Ström (b. 1947, Sweden), poet, nv. & critic
 * Margareta Strömstedt (1931−2023, Sweden), wr., journalist & translator
 * Eithne Strong (1923–1999, Ireland), poet & fiction wr.
 * Elizabeth Strout (b. 1956, United States), fiction wr.
 * Flora E. Strout (1867–1962, United States), non-f. wr., lyricist
 * Alessandra Macinghi Strozzi (c. 1408–1471, Italy), correspondent
 * Antje Rávic Strubel (b. 1974, Germany), fiction & textbook wr.
 * Karin Struck (1947–2006, Germany), fiction & social wr.
 * Anna Strunsky (1877–1964, Russia/United States), nv. & mem.
 * Amelie von Strussenfelt (1803–1847, Sweden), nv. & poet
 * Ulrika von Strussenfelt (1801–1873, Sweden), nv.
 * Jan Struther (1901–1953, Scotland/England), hymnist & nv.
 * Andrea Stuart (b. 1968, Barbados/England), historian & biographer
 * Lady Louisa Stuart (1757–1851, England), mem. & correspondent
 * Sheila Stuart (1892–1974, Scotland), ch. wr.
 * Toni Stuart (b. 1983, South Africa), poet in English
 * Heloneida Studart (1932–2007, Brazil), nv., es. & pw.
 * Lelde Stumbre (b. 1952, Latvia), pw. & politician
 * Sarah Stup (b. 1983, United States), wr.
 * Tanja Stupar-Trifunović (b. 1977, Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina), poet & fiction wr.
 * Jacqueline Sturm (1927–2009, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Su Hui (蘇蕙, 4th century AD, China), poet
 * Su Qing (苏青, 1914–1982, China), es.
 * Su Xiaoxiao (蘇小小, c. 470–c. 501, China), poet & courtesan
 * Su Xuelin (蘇雪林, 1897–1999, China), scholar
 * SuAndi (b. 1951, England), performance poet, wr. & arts curator
 * Karla Suárez (b. 1969, Cuba), wr.
 * Margareta Suber (1892–1984, Sweden), nv., poet & ch. wr.
 * Arundhathi Subramaniam (living, India), poet, biographer & critic
 * Vidya Subramaniam (b. 1957, India), fiction wr.
 * Lucreția Suciu-Rudow (1859–1900, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Romania), poet
 * Olivia Sudjic (b. 1988, Serbia/England), nv.
 * Keiko Suenobu (すえのぶけいこ, b. 1979, Japan), manga creator
 * Yuki Suetsugu (末次由紀, b. 1975, Japan), manga creator
 * Meridel Le Sueur (1900–1996, United States), nv. & col.
 * Tea Sugareva (b. 1989, Bulgaria), poet & drama director
 * Sugathakumari (1934–2020, India), poet & activist
 * Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto (杉本鉞子, 1874–1950, Japan), autobiographer & nv.
 * Heo Su-gyeong (허수경, 1964–2018, Korea), poet
 * Azalia Suhaimi (b. 1985, Malaysia), poet & wr.
 * Laurence Suhner (b. 1968, Switzerland), nv. in French & graphic artist
 * Laura Jane Suisted (1840–1903, England/New Zealand), fiction wr., col. & poet
 * Iliriana Sulkuqi (b. 1951, Albania/United States), poet & col.
 * Sara Copia Sullam (1592–1641, Italy), poet & religious wr.
 * Deirdre Sullivan (living, Ireland), ch. writer
 * Jennifer Sullivan (b. 1945, Wales), ch. nv. & critic
 * Florence Sulman (1876–1965, England/Australia), non-f. educator
 * Sulpicia (fl. 1st century BC, Ancient Rome), poet in Latin
 * Sulpicia (fl. 1st century AD, Ancient Rome), satirist in Latin
 * Maud Sulter (1960–2008, Scotland), poet, artist & photographer
 * Anne Summers (b. 1945, Australia), wr. & col.
 * Barbara Summers (1944–2014, United States), wr., educator & model
 * Essie Summers (1912–1998, New Zealand), fiction wr. & poet
 * Merna Summers (b. 1933, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Barbara Sumner (living, New Zealand), mem. & screenwriter
 * Kamala Surayya (1934–2009, India), poet & fiction wr.
 * Julia Suryakusuma (b. 1954, India/Indonesia), social wr. & col.
 * Jacqueline Susann (1918–1974, United States), nv.
 * Astrid Susanto (1936–2006, Indonesia), social wr.
 * Polina Suslova (1839–1918, Russia), autobiographer
 * Efua Sutherland (1924–1996, Ghana/Gold Coast), pw., ch. wr. & pw.
 * Esi Sutherland-Addy (living, Ghana/Gold Coast), academician & activist
 * Bertha von Suttner (1843–1914, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv. & Nobel Prize winner
 * Han Suyin (周光瑚, 1916–2012, Chile), nv., mem. & es.; A Many-Splendoured Thing
 * Henriette de Coligny de La Suze (1618–1673, France), poet
 * Eva Švankmajerová (1940–2005, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), wr. & artist
 * Annakarin Svedberg (b. 1934, Sweden), fiction wr.
 * Maria Sveland (b. 1974, Sweden), social analyst
 * Hanne Marie Svendsen (b. 1933, Denmark), wr. & broadcaster
 * Karolina Světlá (1830–1899, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv. in Czech
 * Alexandra Sviridova (b. 1951, Russia/United States), screenwriter & political wr.
 * Anni Swan (1875–1958, Finland), ch. book wr.
 * Catharina Charlotta Swedenmarck (1744–1813, Sweden/Finland), pw. & poet in Swedish
 * Elinor Sweetman (c. 1861–1922, Ireland), poet
 * May Swenson (1913–1988, United States), poet & pw.
 * Susie Forrest Swift (1862–1916, United States), editor & wr.
 * Anna Świrszczyńska (1909–1984, Poland), poet
 * Lucy Robbins Messer Switzer (1844–1922, United States), temperance activist
 * Syang (Simone Dreyer Peres, b. 1968, Brazil), erotic wr.
 * Karen Syberg (b. 1945, Denmark), wr. & gender researcher
 * Sydney, Lady Morgan (1781–1859, Ireland), nv.
 * Bobbi Sykes (1943–2010, Australia), poet & wr.
 * Khady Sylla (1963–2013, Senegal), nv. & screenwriter
 * Vanda Symon (b. 1969, New Zealand), nv.
 * Magda Szabó (1917–2007, Hungary), nv., poet & pw.
 * Anna Szatkowska (1928–2015, Poland/Switzerland), resistance fighter & autobiographer
 * Noémi Szécsi (b. 1976, Hungary), nv.
 * Júlia Székely (1906–1986, Hungary), nv. & biographer
 * Madelon Szekely-Lulofs (1899–1958, Indonesia/Netherlands), fiction wr.
 * Mária Szepes (1908–2007, Hungary), esoteric & science fiction nv.
 * Małgorzata Szumowska (b. 1973, Poland), screenwriter
 * Edina Szvoren (b. 1974, Hungary), nv., poet & musician
 * Wisława Szymborska (1923–2012, Poland), poet

Ta–Th

 * Marga T (b. 1943, Indonesia), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Gladys Taber (1899–1980, United States), nv. & nature wr.
 * Eileen Tabios (b. 1960, Philippines/United States), poet & fiction wr.
 * Haruko Tachiiri (たちいりハルコ, b. 1949, Japan), ch. manga creator
 * Maria Tacu (1949–2010, Romania), poet & prose wr.
 * Chimako Tada (多田智満子, 1930–2003, Japan), poet
 * Kaoru Tada (多田かおる, 1960–1999, Japan), manga creator
 * Tadano Makuzu (只野真葛, 1763–1825, Japan), socio-political wr.
 * Véronique Tadjo (b. 1955, Ivory Coast), poet, nv. & artist
 * Pia Tafdrup (b. 1952, Denmark), poet, nv. & pw.
 * Gina Marissa Tagasa-Gil (living, Philippines), screenwriter
 * Valerie Tagwira (living, Zimbabwe), nv.
 * Táhirih (1814 or 1817–1852, Iran/Persia), poet & theologian
 * Daina Taimiņa (b. 1954, Latvia), mathematician
 * Ise no Taiu (伊勢大輔, early 11th century, Japan), poet
 * Princess Tajima (但馬皇女, died 708, Japan), poet
 * Judit Dukai Takách (1795–1836, Hungary), poet
 * Nobuko Takagi (高樹のぶ子, b. 1946, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子, b. 1957, Japan), manga creator
 * Takako Takahashi (高橋たか子, 1932–2013, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Yelizaveta Tarakhovskaya (1891–1968, Russia/Soviet Union), poet, pw. & ch. wr.
 * Kaoru Takamura (髙村薫, b. 1953, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Hinako Takanaga (高永ひなこ, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Mitsuba Takanashi (高梨みつば, b. 1975, Japan), manga creator
 * Takasue's daughter (菅原孝標女, c. 1008 – post-1059, Japan), travel wr.
 * Haneko Takayama (高山羽根子, b. 1975, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Kazumi Takayama (高山一実, b. 1994, Japan), fiction & self-help wr.
 * Lisa Takeba (竹葉リサ, b. 1983, Japan), screenwriter
 * Keiko Takemiya (竹宮惠子, b. 1950, Japan), manga creator
 * Hiroko Takenishi (竹西寛子, b. 1929, Japan), fiction wr. & critic
 * Kei Takeoka (竹岡圭, b. 1969, Japan), motoring wr.
 * Jill Talbot (b. 1970, United States), fiction & non-f. wr. & poet
 * Niloufar Talebi (living, England/United States), mem. & librettist
 * Maila Talvio (1871–1951, Finland), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Tamairangi (fl. 1820s, New Zealand), Maori poet
 * Susanna Tamaro (b. 1957, Italy), nv.
 * Clotilde Tambroni (1758–1817, Italy), linguist & poet
 * Altaír Tejeda de Tamez (1922–2015, Mexico), fiction wr., poet & pw.
 * Leilani Tamu (living, New Zealand), poet & politician
 * Yumi Tamura (田村由美, living, Japan), manga creator & nv.
 * Wassyla Tamzali (b. 1941, Algeria), wr., feminist & politician
 * Amy Tan (b. 1952, United States), nv.
 * Yellow Tanabe (田辺イエロウ, b. 1990s, Japan), manga creator
 * Meca Tanaka (田中メカ, b. 1976), manga wr.
 * Mitsu Tanaka (田中美津, b. 1945), feminist wr.
 * Shelley Tanaka (living, Canada/Newfoundland), non-f. ch. wr.
 * Suna Tanaltay (1933–2021, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), poet & wr.
 * Shweta Taneja (living, India), fiction wr.
 * Arina Tanemura (種村有菜, b. 1978, Japan), manga creator
 * Reay Tannahill (1929–2007, Scotland/England), historian
 * Lian Tanner (b. 1951, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Goli Taraghi (b. 1939, Iran/Persia), fiction wr.
 * Yelizaveta Tarakhovskaya (1891–1968, Russia/Soviet Union), poet, pw. & ch. wr.
 * Sooni Taraporevala (b. 1957, India), screenwriter
 * Violet Targuse (1884–1937, New Zealand), pw.
 * Lisa Ysaye Tarleau (1885–1952, United States), fiction wr.
 * Rosalia Tarnavska (1932–2020, Ukraine), poet
 * Fanny Tarnow (1779–1862, Germany), journal & fiction wr.
 * Judith Tarr (b. 1955, United States), wr.
 * Trinidad Tarrosa-Subido (1912–1994, Philippines), linguist & poet
 * Sofía Tartilán (1829–1888, Spain), fiction wr., es, journalist, ed.
 * Donna Tartt (b. 1963, United States), nv.
 * Ana Tasić (b. 1978, Serbia), theater critic
 * Afzal Tauseef (1936–2014, Pakistan), social wr. & col.
 * Franziska Tausig (c. 1895–1989, Austria/Austria-Hungary/China), mem.
 * Jemima von Tautphoeus (1807–1893, Iran/Persia/Germany), nv.
 * Malvina Tavares (1866–1939, Brazil), poet & anarchist
 * Zora Tavčar (b. 1928, Yugoslavia/Italy), fiction wr., es. & poet in Slovenian
 * Yōko Tawada (多和田葉子, b. 1960, Japan/Germany), poet & fiction wr.
 * Raymonda Tawil (b. 1940, Palestine/Malta), mem.
 * Alice Taylor (b. 1938, Ireland), mem. & ch. wr.
 * Ann Taylor (1782–1866, England), poet & critic
 * Anna Taylor (b. 1982, New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Cory Taylor (1955–2016, Australia), ch. wr. & mem.
 * Elizabeth Taylor (1912–1975, England), fiction wr.
 * Glenda R. Taylor (b. 1955, United States), scholar & poet
 * Grace Taylor (b. c. 1984, New Zealand), poet & academic
 * Grace Oladunni Taylor (b. 1937, Nigeria), biochemist
 * Jane Taylor (1783–1824, England), poet & nv.
 * Jane Taylor (b. 1956, South Africa), political wr, nv. & librettist in English
 * Kay Glasson Taylor (Daniel Hamline, 1893–1998, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Minnetta Theodora Taylor (1860–1911, United States), poet, lyricist, textbook wr.
 * Susie Taylor (1848–1912, United States), teacher & memoir wr.
 * Teresia Teaiwa (1968–2017, Kiribati/United States), poet & academic
 * Roma Tearne (b. 1954, Sri Lanka/England), nv. & artist
 * Sara Teasdale (1884–1933, United States), poet
 * Mrs. Bartle Teeling (1851–1906, United Kingdom), wr.
 * Teffi (1872–1952, Ru/Soviet Union), poet, pw. & fiction wr.
 * Anyte of Tegea (fl. early 3rd century BC, Ancient Greece), poet in Greek
 * Nivaria Tejera (1929–2016, Cuba/France), nv.
 * Sevim Tekeli (1924–2019, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), science historian
 * Latife Tekin (b. 1957, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), nv.
 * Sylviane Telchid (1941–2023, Guadeloupe), wr. & translator
 * Telesilla (fl. 510 BC, Ancient Greece), poet in Greek
 * Olena Teliha (1906–1942, Ru/Soviet Union), poet in Ukrainian
 * Janne Teller (b. 1964, Denmark/United States), nv. & es. in English
 * Lygia Fagundes Telles (1923–1922, Brazil), fiction wr.
 * Ece Temelkuran (b. 1973, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), political wr. & poet
 * Ana Tena (b. 1966, Spain), wr. in Aragonese
 * Claudine Guérin de Tencin (1682–1749, France), nv. & salonnière
 * Emma Tennant (1937–2017, England), nv.
 * Kylie Tennant (1912–1988, Australia), nv., pw. & ch. wr.
 * Margaret Tennant (living, New Zealand), historian
 * Lourdes Teodoro (b. 1946, Brazil), poet & academic
 * Lisa St Aubin de Terán (b. 1953, England), nv. & mem.
 * Laura Terracina (1519 – c. 1577, Italy), poet
 * Mary Church Terrell (1863–1954, United States), activist & col.
 * Jasmina Tešanović (b. 1954, Serbia), es., fiction wr. & translator
 * Josephine Tey (1896–1952, Scotland), mystery nv.
 * Hilary Tham (1946–2005, Malaysia/United States), poet
 * Najiya Thamir (1926–1988, Syria/Tunisia), fiction wr., es. & radio pw.
 * Romila Thapar (b. 1931, India), historian
 * Susie Tharu (b. 1943, India), writer & activist
 * Celia Thaxter (1835–1894, United States), poet & story wr.
 * Julia H. Thayer (1847-1944, United States), poet, hymnist, & educator
 * Françoise Thébaud (born 1952, France), non-f. wr.
 * Naseem Thebo (1948–2012, Pakistan), fiction wr. & educator
 * Marcia Theophilo (b. 1941, Brazil), poet
 * Rama Thiaw (b. 1978, Senegal), screenwriter
 * Renata Thiele (living, Poland/Germany), fiction writer
 * Marianne Thieme (b. 1972, Netherlands), wr. & politician
 * Madeleine Thien (b. 1974, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Angela Thirkell (Leslie Parker, 1890–1961), nv.
 * Adrienne Thomas (1897–1980, Germany/Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv.
 * Audrey Thomas (b. 1935, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr.
 * Caitlin Thomas (1913–1994, Wales), mem.
 * Chantal Thomas (b. 1945, France), wr. and historian
 * Édith Thomas (1909–1970, France), nv. and historian
 * Elean Thomas (1947–2004, Jamaica), poet, nv. & activist
 * Elizabeth Thomas (1770/1771–1855, England), nv. & religious poet
 * Gilles Thomas (1929–1985, France), science fiction wr.
 * Gladys Thomas (1934–2022, South Africa), poet & pw.
 * Isabel Thomas (living, England), ch. non-f. wr.
 * Louie Myfanwy Thomas (1908–1968, Wales), wr. & nv.
 * Margaret Thomas (1843–1929, Australia), travel wr., poet & artist
 * Ngaire Thomas (1943–2012, New Zealand), autobiographer
 * Rosemary Thomas (1901–1961, United States), poet.
 * Stephanie Thomas (living, United States), author, public speaker, voice actor, professor
 * Clara M. Thompson (1830s–unknown, United States), nv.
 * Mrs. E. H. Thompson (fl. 1870s–1900s, United States), wr.
 * E. S. L. Thompson (1848–1944, United States), poet, pw, shot story wr.
 * Jeanne I. Thompson (living, Bahamas), pw. & lawyer
 * Judith Thompson (b. 1954, Canada/Newfoundland), pw.
 * Kirsten Moana Thompson (b. 1964, New Zealand), film scholar
 * María Luisa Artecona de Thompson (1919–2003, Paraguay), poet & pw.
 * Mette Thomsen (b. 1970, Denmark), nv.
 * Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir (b. 1970, Iceland), ch. wr.
 * Magdalene Thoresen (1819–1903, Denmark/Norway), poet, fiction wr. & pw.
 * Samantha Thornhill (living, Trinidad), poet & critic
 * Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir (b. 1989, Iceland), poet
 * Margaret Farrand Thorp (1891–1970, United States), wr. & academic
 * Rose Hartwick Thorpe (1850–1938, United States), poet & wr.
 * Kirsten Thorup (b. 1942, Denmark), poet & fiction wr.
 * Torfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir (1845–1918, Iceland), fiction wr.
 * Kerstin Thorvall (1925–2010, Sweden), nv.
 * Ólína Þorvarðardóttir (b. 1958, Iceland), poet & social scientist
 * Hester Thrale (Mrs Piozzi, 1741–1821, Wales/England), diarist & wr.
 * María Lilja Þrastardóttir (b. 1986, Iceland), col. & activist
 * Holly Throsby (b. 1978, Australia), nv.
 * Ketty Thull (1905–1987, Luxembourg), cookery writer in German
 * Katherine Cecil Thurston (1874–1911, Ireland), nv.
 * Martha L. Poland Thurston (1849–1898, United States), social leader, philanthropist, & wr.
 * Johanna Thydell (b. 1980, Sweden), nv.

Ti–Tz

 * Tian Yuan (田原, b. 1985, China), nv. & songwriter
 * María Dhialma Tiberti (1928–1987, Argentina), nv. & poet
 * Jindra Tichá (b. 1937, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/New Zealand), fiction wr. & academic
 * Anna-Clara Tidholm (b. 1946, Sweden), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Tie Ning (鐵凝, b. 1957, China), fiction wr.
 * Dorothea Tieck (1799–1841, Germany), Shakespeare translator
 * Edith Tiempo (1919–2011, Philippines), poet & wr. in English
 * Mary Tighe (1772–1810, Iran/Persia/England), poet
 * Eeva Tikka (b. 1939, Finland), wr.
 * Märta Tikkanen (b. 1935, Finland), wr. in Swedish
 * Stella Tillyard (b. 1957, England/United States), history wr. & academic
 * Lydia H. Tilton (1839–1915, United States), educator, activist, journalist, poet, lyricist
 * Petronella Johanna de Timmerman (1723–1786, Netherlands), poet & scientist
 * Timrava (1867–1951, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), fiction wr. & pw. in Slovak
 * Lillian Tindyebwa (living, Uganda), wr.
 * Annette Tison (b. 1942, France), wr. and architect
 * Kata Tisza (b. 1980, Russia/Hungary), nv. in Hungarian
 * Liudmila Titova (fl. 1940s, Ukraine), poet
 * Manjit Tiwana (b. 1947, India), poet
 * Maya Tiwari (b. 1952, Guyana/United States), social & religious writer
 * Totilawati Tjitrawasita (1945–1982, Indonesia), fiction wr.
 * Nino Tkeshelashvili (1874–1956, Georgia (Caucasus)/Soviet Union), ch. wr. & suffragist
 * Miriam Tlali (1933–2017), South Africa), nv. in English
 * Fatima Tlisova (b. 1966, Soviet Union/Russia), political wr.
 * Keiko Tobe (戸部けいこ, 1957–2010, Japan), manga creator
 * Lily Tobias (1887–1984, Wales), nv., pw. & activist
 * Yana Toboso (枢やな, b. 1984, Japan), manga creator
 * Ada Josephine Todd (1858–1904, United States), wr.
 * Ruth D. Todd (1878–?, United States), fiction wr.
 * Miriam Toews (b. 1964, Canada/Newfoundland), nv.
 * Ekaterine Togonidze (b. 1981, Georgia (Caucasus)), nv. & activist
 * Laura Tohe (b. 1952, United States), wr.
 * Marianne du Toit (b. 1970, South Africa), prose wr. in English
 * Olga Tokarczuk (b. 1962, Poland), wr. & poet; 2018 Nobel prizewinner
 * Viktoriya Tokareva (b. 1937, Soviet Union/Russia), fiction & screenwriter
 * Hari Tokeino (時計野は, b. 1979, Japan), manga creator
 * Arzu Toker (b. 1952, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/Germany), political wr. in German
 * Aida Toledo (b. 1952, Guatemala), poet & fiction wr.
 * Natalia Toledo (b. 1968, Mexico), poet in Spanish & Zapotec
 * Natalia Tolstaya (1943–2010, Soviet Union/Russia), fiction wr.
 * Sophia Tolstaya (1844–1919, Russia), diarist
 * Tatyana Tolstaya (b. 1951, Soviet Union/Russia), wr. & TV presenter
 * Velta Toma (1912–1999, Latvia/Canada/Newfoundland), poet
 * Consuelo Tomás (b. 1957, Panama), pw., poet & nv.
 * Glen Tomasetti (1929–2003, Australia), songwriter, nv. & poet
 * Taeko Tomioka (1935–2023, Japan), nv. & poet
 * Angharad Tomos (b. 1958, Wales), wr. & activist
 * Canan Topçu (b. 1965, Turkey/Ottoman Empire/Germany), academic
 * Angela Topping (b. 1954, England), poet, critic & wr.
 * Elena Topuridze (1922–2004, Soviet Union/Georgia (Caucasus)), philosopher & non-f. wr.
 * Fatma Aliye Topuz (1862–1936, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), nv.
 * Cécile Tormay (1876–1937, Hungary), wr. & activist
 * Lucrezia Tornabuoni (1425–1482, Italy), poet
 * Rita Tornborg (b. 1926, South Africa/Sweden), fiction wr.
 * Ana Rosa Tornero (1907–1984, Bolivia), wr. & reformer
 * Malú Huacuja del Toro (b. 1961, Mexico), nv., pw. & screenwriter
 * Anabel Torres (b. 1948, Comoros), poet
 * Elena Torres (1893–1970, Mexico), political wr. & educator
 * Raymunda Torres y Quiroga (?–?, Argentina), wr. & activist
 * Wal Torres (b. 1950, Brazil), sexologist
 * Gabriela Torres Olivares (b. 1982, Mexico), fiction
 * Rowena Tiempo Torrevillas (b. 1951, Philippines), poet, fiction wr. & es.
 * Maria Antonietta Torriani (1840–1920, Italy), fiction & etiquette wr.
 * Alcira Cardona Torrico (1926-2003, Bolivia), writer and poet
 * Susana Richa de Torrijos (b. 1924, Panama), es. & educator
 * Lucrezia Tornabuoni (1427–1482, Italy), poet, pw. & politician
 * Nicole Tourneur (1950–2011, France), nv.
 * Jessica Townsend (b. 1985, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Ema Tōyama (遠山えま, b. 1981, Japan), manga creator
 * Marta Traba (1923–1983, Argentina), art critic & nv.
 * Bahaa Trabelsi (b. 1966, Morocco), nv. in French
 * Mona Innis Tracy (1892–1959, New Zealand), poet & fiction wr.
 * Catharine Parr Traill (1802–1899, England/Canada/Newfoundland), wr. & naturalist
 * Barbara Trapido (b. 1941, South Africa/England), nv.
 * Maria von Trapp (1905–1987, Austria/Austria-Hungary/United States), wr.
 * Clara Augusta Jones Trask (1839–1905, United States), wr.
 * P. L. Travers (1889–1996, Australia/England), ch. wr.
 * Carmen Clemente Travieso (1900–1983, Venezuela), biographer & col.
 * Maria Treben (1907–1991, Austria/Austria-Hungary), herbalist
 * Catherine Tregenna (living, Wales), pw. & scriptwriter
 * Melesina Trench (1768–1827, Ireland), wr, poet & diarist
 * Ulla Trenter (1936–2019, Sweden), wr.
 * Natasha Trethewey (b. 1966, United States), poet
 * Jill Trevelyan (b. 1963, New Zealand), art scholar
 * Rachel Trezise (b. 1978, Wales), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Soti Triantafyllou (b. 1957, Greece), nv. & col.
 * Adriana Trigiani (living, Italy/United States), wr. & filmmaker
 * Barbara Margaret Trimble (Margaret Blake, B. M. Gill, 1921–1995, Wales), thriller wr.
 * Sarah Trimmer (1741–1810, England), ch. wr. & critic
 * S. K. Trimurti (1912–2008, Dutch East Indies/Indonesia), writer & teacher
 * Grace Hyde Trine (1874–1972, United States), pw.
 * Nadine Trintignant (b. 1934, France), screenwriter & nv.
 * Elsa Triolet (1896–1970, Russia/France), correspondent & nv. in Russian and French
 * Geeta Tripathee (b. 1972, Nepal), poet, literary critic & wr.
 * Flora Tristan (1803–1844, France), wr., feminist & activist
 * Licia Troisi (b. 1980, Italy), fiction wr.
 * Frances Trollope (1779–1863, England), nv. & travel wr.
 * Joanna Trollope (b. 1943, England), nv.
 * Catherine Trotter (1679–1749, Scotland/England), nv., pw. & philosopher
 * Trotula (11th–12th century, Spain), wr. on medicine in Latin
 * Birgitta Trotzig (1929–2011, Sweden), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Jean Trounstine (b. 1946, United States), activist, wr. & academic
 * Una Troy (1910–1993, Ireland), nv. & pw.
 * Jagoda Truhelka (1864–1957, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Yugoslavia), wr. & educator
 * Meta Truscott (1917–2014, Australia), diarist & historian
 * Sojourner Truth (1797–1883, United States), feminist
 * Máire Mhac an tSaoi (1922–2021, Ireland), scholar & poet in Irish
 * Eleonora Tscherning (1817–1890, Denmark), mem. & painter
 * To-wen Tseng (曾多聞, living, China/United States), wr., col. & ch. wr.
 * Novuyo Rosa Tshuma (b. 1988, Zimbabwe), fiction wr.
 * Mariam Tsiklauri (b. 1960, Soviet Union/Georgia (Caucasus)), poet & ch. wr.
 * Masami Tsuda (津田雅美, b. 1970, Japan), manga creator
 * Mikiyo Tsuda (つだみきよ, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Kikuko Tsumura (津村記久子, b. 1978, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Yūko Tsuno (津野 裕子, b. 1966, Japan), comics wr.
 * Yūko Tsushima (津島佑子, 1947–2016, Japan), fiction wr., es. & critic
 * Marina Tsvetaeva (1892–1941, Soviet Union), poet
 * Barbara W. Tuchman (1912–1988, United States), wr. & historian
 * Lily Tuck (b. 1938, United States), fiction wr.
 * Mary Frances Tyler Tucker (1837–1902, United States), poet
 * Kateřina Tučková (b. 1980, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), nv.
 * Elizabeth Tudor (Lady Hasanova, b. 1978, Azerbaijan), nv.
 * Nadia Tueni (1935–1983, Lebanon), poet in French
 * Magdalena Tulli (b. 1955, Poland), nv.
 * Anastasia Tumanishvili-Tsereteli (1849–1932, Georgia (Caucasus)/Soviet Union), wr., educator & feminist
 * Ayfer Tunç (b. 1964, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), fiction wr. & researcher
 * Leelo Tungal (b. 1947, Estonia), poet, librettist & ch. wr.
 * Eliza Dorothea Cobbe, Lady Tuite (c. 1764–1850, Iran/Persia/England), poet & ch. wr.
 * Fadwa Tuqan (1917–2003, Palestine), poet
 * Evgenia Tur (1815–1892, Ru), nv. & critic
 * Nika Turbina (1974–2002, Ukraine), poet
 * Roxane Turcotte (born 1952, Canada), ch. wr.
 * Clorinda Matto de Turner (1852–1909, Peru), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Ethel Turner (1872–1958, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Jann Turner (b. 1964, South Africa), nv. & screenwriter in English
 * Lilian Turner (1867–1956, Australia), ch. nv.
 * Megan Whalen Turner (b. 1965, United States), fantasy wr.
 * Telcine Turner-Rolle (1944–2012, Bahamas), pw., poet & educator
 * Josipina Turnograjska (1833–1854, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet & fiction wr. in Slovenian
 * Helene Tursten (b. 1954, Sweden), fiction wr.
 * Agata Tuszynska (b. 1957, Poland), wr., poet & col.
 * Emma Rood Tuttle (1839–1916, United States), wr. & poet
 * Flora May Woodard Tuttle (1868–1931, United States), wr. & col.
 * Diana Tutton (1915–1991, England), nv.
 * Kerima Polotan Tuvera (1925–2011, Philippines), fiction wr. & es.
 * Violet Tweedale (1862–1936, Scotland), wr. & poet
 * Chase Twichell (b. 1950, United States), poet & professor
 * Lizzie Twigg (c. 1882–1933, Ireland), poet
 * Sarah Lowe Twiggs (1839–1920, United States), poet
 * Hilda Twongyeirwe (living, Uganda), wr. & editor
 * Anne Tyler (b. 1941, United States), fiction wr. & critic
 * Katharine Tynan (1859–1931, Ireland), nv. & poet
 * Aale Tynni (1913–1997, Soviet Union/Finland), poet
 * Vasia Tzanakari (b. 1980, Greece), fiction writer

U

 * Rosana Ubanell (b. 1958, Spain), nv.
 * Bahriye Üçok (1919–1990, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), academic & activist
 * Ada Udechukwu (b. 1960, Nigeria), poet & artist
 * Miwa Ueda (上田美和, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Toshiko Ueda (上田トシコ, 1917–2008, Japan), manga creator
 * Kimiko Uehara (上原きみ子, b. 1946, Japan), manga creator
 * Brenda Ueland (1891–1985 United States/Norway), wr. & teacher
 * Zoila Ugarte de Landívar (1864–1969, Ecuador), editor & suffragist
 * Jenny Uglow (b. 1940s, England), biographer
 * Dubravka Ugrešić (1949–2023, Yugoslavia/Netherlands), fiction wr. in Croat
 * Hebe Uhart (1936–2018, Argentina), fiction wr.
 * Uhwudong (어우동, c. 1440–1480, Korea), wr. & poet
 * Lesya Ukrainka (1871–1913, Ukraine), poet
 * Adaora Lily Ulasi (b. 1932, Nigeria), nv. & col.
 * Leonora Christina Ulfeldt (1621–1698, Denmark), prison autobiographer
 * Anya Ulinich (b. 1973, Russia/United States), fiction wr.
 * Lyudmila Ulitskaya (b. 1943, Russia), fiction wr.
 * Linn Ullmann (b. 1966, Norway), nv. & critic
 * Regina Ullmann (1884–1961, Switzerland), poet in German
 * Rosina Umelo (b. 1930, Nigeria), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Chica Umino (羽海野チカ, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Luz María Umpierre (b. 1947, Puerto Rico), poet, critic & activist
 * Lily Unden (1908–1989, Luxembourg), poet, painter & concentration camp survivor
 * Marie Under (1883–1980, Estonia), poet
 * Terry Underwood (b. 1944, Australia), wr.
 * Sigrid Undset (1882–1949, Norway), nv.; 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Chika Unigwe (b. 1974, Nigeria), fiction wr.
 * Jane Unrue (living, United States), wr. & educator
 * Makerita Urale (fl. 1990s, New Zealand), pw. & film director
 * Azucena Grajo Uranza (1929–2012, Philippines), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Ellen Urbani (b. 1968, United States), wr.
 * Joan Ure (1918–1978, Scotland), poet & pw.
 * Ofelia Uribe de Acosta (1900–1988, Colombia), suffragist
 * Jane Urquhart (b. 1949, Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & poet
 * Jessie Urquhart (1890–1948, Australia), nv. & col.
 * Julia Urquidi (1926–2010, Bolivia), mem.
 * Lourdes Urrea (b. 1954, Mexico), poet, fiction & YA wr.
 * Arantxa Urretabizkaia (b. 1947, Spain), nv., screenwriter & poet in Basque
 * Matilde Urrutia (1912–1985, Chile), mem.
 * Mari Jose Urruzola (1940–2006, Spain), non-f. wr.
 * Yuki Urushibara (漆原友紀, b. 1974, Japan), manga creator
 * Shereen Usdin (b. 1962, South Africa), non-f. wr. in English
 * Carmina Useros (1928–2017, Spain), wr. & artist
 * O. V. Usha (b. 1948, India), poet & fiction wr.
 * Ayu Utami (b. 1968, Indonesia), fiction wr.
 * Kaari Utrio (b. 1942, Finland), nv.
 * Sarah Elizabeth Utterson (1781–1851), gothic short story wr.
 * Arja Uusitalo (b. 1951, Finland), poet & col.
 * Bea Uusma (b. 1966, Sweden), ch. & non-f. wr.
 * Uvavnuk (fl. early 20th century, Canada/Newfoundland), Inuit poet
 * Pauline Uwakweh (living, Nigeria), ch. & feminist wr.
 * Mellie Uyldert (1908–2009, Netherlands), astrologer & wr.
 * Buket Uzuner (b. 1955, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), fiction & travel wr.

V

 * Elena Văcărescu (1864–1947, Romania), poet, nv. & mem.
 * Urvashi Vaid (1958–2022, India/United States), socio-political wr.
 * Vaidehi (b. 1945, India), fiction wr., es. & pw.
 * Aparna Vaidik (living, India), historian & educator
 * Kaajal Oza Vaidya (b. 1966, India), fiction & screenwriter
 * Gertrude Vaile (1878–1954, US), non-f. wr.
 * Celestine Vaite (b. 1966, Tt), nv.
 * Matrena Vakhrusheva (1918–2000, Soviet Union/Russia), Mansi poet & storyteller
 * Katri Vala (1901–1944, Finland), poet
 * Lobat Vala (b. 1930, Ireland), poet & activist
 * Aline Valangin (1889–1986, Switzerland), fiction wr. in German
 * Indrė Valantinaitė (b. 1984, Lithuania), poet
 * Gisela Valcárcel (b. 1963, Peru), autobiographer
 * Olvido García Valdés (b. 1950, Spain), poet & es.
 * Zoé Valdés (b. 1959, Cuba), nv. & poet
 * Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (b. 1968, United States), nv. & screenwriter
 * Mercedes Valdivieso (1924–1993, Chile), nv.
 * Patrizia Valduga (b. 1953, Italy), poet
 * Aline Valek (b. 1986, Brazil), wr., nv. & illustrator
 * Hannelore Valencak (1929–2004, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv., poet & ch. wr.
 * Elcina Valencia (b. 1963, Colombia), poet & teacher
 * Luize Valente (b. 1966, Brazil), nv. & filmmaker
 * Elvira Farreras i Valentí (1913–2005, Spain), wr.
 * Jean Valentine (1934–2020, United States), poet
 * Jenny Valentine (b. 1970, Wales), ch. wr.
 * Luisa Valenzuela (b. 1938, Argentina), fiction wr.
 * Valérie Valère (1961–1981, France), autobiographer
 * Leda Valladares (1919–2012, Argentina), poet & folklorist
 * Estrella del Valle (b. 1971, Mexico), poet
 * Virginia Vallejo (b. 1949, Comoros/United States), wr. & refugee
 * Gunnel Vallquist (1918–2016, Sweden), religious wr. & es.
 * Elise Valmorbida (b. 1961, Australia), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * P. Valsala (b. 1938, India), fiction wr. & activist
 * Maria Valtorta (1897–1961, Italy), poet & religious wr.
 * Jennifer Vanasco (b. 1971, United States), col.
 * Jane Vandenburgh (b. 1948, United States), nv., mem. & non-f. wr.
 * Ellen Oliver Van Fleet (1842–1893, United States), poet & hymn wr.
 * Blanca Varela (1926–2009, Peru), poet
 * Fred Vargas (b. 1957, France), historian & nv.
 * Virginia Vargas (b. 1945, Peru), sociologist
 * Galina Varlamova (1951–2019, Russia), Evenk philologist
 * Mahadevi Varma (1907–1987, India), poet & educator
 * Rahel Varnhagen (1771–1833, Germany), es. & correspondent
 * Marja-Liisa Vartio (1924–1966, Finland), poet & fiction wr.
 * M. Vasalis (1909–1998, Netherlands), poet & psychiatrist
 * Vibeke Vasbo (b. 1944, Denmark), wr. & activist
 * Ana Vásquez-Bronfman (1931–2009, Chile/France), nv. & sociologist
 * Elizabeth Vassilieff (1917–2007, Australia), wr. & critic
 * Marie Vassiltchikov (1917–1978, Russia/Germany), diarist
 * Ruth Vassos (1890s–1965), editor & non-f. wr.
 * Ganga Bharani Vasudevan (living, India), fiction wr.
 * Kapila Vatsyayan (1928–2020, India), arts wr.
 * Hilda Vaughan (1892–1985, Wales), fiction wr.
 * Fan Vavřincová (1917–2012, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), screenwriter & nv.
 * Joana Vaz (c. 1500 – post-1570, Portugal), humanist & poet
 * Reetika Vazirani (1962–2003, India/United States), poet & educator
 * Mâliâraq Vebæk (1917–2012, Gd), ethnographer & nv.
 * Tatiana Vedenska (b. 1976, Soviet Union/Russia), nv.
 * Cornelia van der Veer (1609–1674, Netherlands), poet
 * Carmen Acevedo Vega (1913–2006, Ecuador), poet & wr.
 * Janine Pommy Vega (1942–2010, United States), poet
 * Luz Méndez de la Vega (1919–2012, Guatemala), wr., poet and actor
 * Saša Vegri (1934–2010, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet & ch. wr.
 * Amélia Veiga (b. 1932, Portugal/Angola), poet
 * Dolores Veintimilla (1829–1857, Ecuador), poet
 * Marieta de Veintemilla (1855–2007, Ecuador), wr. & politician
 * Helen Velando (b. 1961), ch. & YA wr.
 * Jacoba van Velde (1903–1985, Netherlands), nv. & pw.
 * Teresa Román Vélez (1925–2021, Comoros), wr. & chef
 * Svetlana Velmar-Janković (1933–2014, Serbia), nv. & chronicler
 * Socorro Venegas (b. 1972, Mexico), fiction wr.
 * Aurora Venturini (1922–2015, Argentina), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Yvonne Vera (1964–2005, Zimbabwe), fiction wr.
 * Grazia Verasani (b. 1964, Italy), nv., pw. & songwriter
 * Anastasiya Verbitskaya (1861–1928, Russia/Soviet Union), nv. & pw.
 * Raquel Verdesoto (1910–1999, Ecuador), wr., poet & activist
 * Sonia Romo Verdesoto (living, Ecuador), poet
 * Patricia Verdugo (1947–2008, Chile), wr. & activist
 * Caroline Vermalle (b. 1973, France), nv.
 * Seda Vermisheva (1932–2020, Soviet Union/Russia), poet, economist & activist
 * María Sáez de Vernet (1800–1858), chronicler of Argentine Falkland settlers
 * Barbara Vernon (1916–1978, Australia), pw. & scriptwriter
 * Angela Veronese (1778–1847, Italy), poet
 * Moira Verschoyle (1903–1985, Iran/Persia/England), nv. & pw.
 * Octavia Walton Le Vert (1811–1877, United States), wr.
 * Sonja Veselinović (b. 1981, Serbia), wr.
 * Lidia Veselitskaya (1857–1936, Russia/Soviet Union), nv. & mem.
 * Aglaja Veteranyi (1962–2002, Romania/Switzerland), nv. & circus performer
 * Stephanie Vetter (1884–1974, Netherlands/Belgium), nv. in Dutch
 * Noelle Vial (1959–2003, Ireland), poet
 * Luz de Viana (1900–1995, Chile), wr. & painter
 * Josefina Vicens (1911–1988, Mexico), nv. & screenwriter
 * Ana Vicente (1943–2015, Portugal), social wr.
 * Pilar de Vicente-Gella (1942–2016, Spain), wr.
 * Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand (1697–1780, France), correspondent
 * Patrizia Vicinelli (1943–1991, Italy), poet & col.
 * Chiqui Vicioso (b. 1948, Dominican Republic), poet, wr.
 * Soledad Fariña Vicuña (b. 1943, Chile), poet
 * Mary Therese Vidal (1815–1873, Australia), nv.
 * Maja Vidmar (b. 1961, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet
 * Clara Viebig (1862–1952, Germany), nv. & pw.
 * Alice Vieira (b. 1943, Portugal), ch. wr.
 * Marie Vieux-Chauvet (1916–1973, Haiti), nv., poet & pw.
 * Delphine de Vigan (b. 1966, France), nv.
 * Frida Vigdorova (1915–1965, Soviet Union/Russia), col. & nv.
 * Vicki Viidikas (1948–1998, Australia), poet & prose wr.
 * Elo Viiding (b. 1974, Estonia), poet
 * Vijayalakshmi (b. 1960, India), poet
 * Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (b. 1937, Latvia), non-f. wr. & politician
 * Božena Viková-Kunětická (1862–1934, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), wr. & politician
 * Monica Vikström-Jokela (b. 1960, Finland), scriptwriter & wr. in Swedish
 * Maruxa Vilalta (1932–2014, Spain/Mexico), pw.
 * Esther Vilar (b. 1935, Argentina), non-f. wr. & pw. in German
 * Idea Vilariño (1920–2009, Uruguay), poet, es. & critic
 * Iryna Vilde (1907–1982, Australia/Ukraine), fiction wr.
 * Linda Vilhjálmsdóttir (b. 1958, Iceland), wr., poet & pw.
 * Lettie Viljoen (b. 1948, South Africa), wr. in Afrikaans
 * Muriel Villanueva i Perarnau (b. 1976, Spain), nv. ch. wr. & poet
 * Andrea Villarreal (1881–1963, Mexico),
 * Clara Villarosa (b. 1930, United States), wr.
 * Marie-Catherine de Villedieu (1640–1683, France), pw. & fiction wr.
 * Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve (1685–1755, France), fiction wr.
 * Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (b. 1966, South Africa), poet
 * Hermine Villinger (1849–1917, Germany), nv. & short-story wr.
 * Louise Leveque de Vilmorin (1902–1969, France), nv., poet & col.
 * Elsa G. Vilmundardóttir (1932–2008, Iceland), geologist
 * Carmen Villoro (b. 1958, Mexico), psychologist, poet & ch. wr.
 * Nada Vilotijević (b. 1953, Serbia), wr. & professor
 * Isabella Vincentini (b. 1954, Italy), poet, es. & critic
 * Simona Vinci (b. 1970, Italy), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Paulina Vinderman (b. 1944, Argentina), poet & translator
 * Elfrida Vipont (1902–1992), ch. wr.
 * Pinki Virani (b. 1959, India), wr. & activist
 * Elene Virsaladze (1911–1977, Georgia (Caucasus)/Soviet Union), folklorist
 * Anna Visscher (1583–1651, Netherlands), poet & artist
 * Jenny Visser-Hooft (1888–1939, Netherlands), travel wr.
 * Ida Vitale (b. 1923, Uruguay), art wr.
 * Eugenia Viteri (1928–2023, Ecuador), nv. & anthologist
 * Drífa Viðar (1920–1971, Iceland), wr. & artist
 * Susan Visvanathan (b. 1957, India), social anthropologist & fiction wr.
 * Annie Vivanti (1866–1942, England/Italy), poet & nv. in English & Italian
 * Renée Vivien (1877–1909, England/France), poet
 * María Argelia Vizcaíno (b. 1955, Cuba), col. & screenwriter
 * Helen Vlachos (1911–1995, Gk), autobiographer & col.
 * Simone van der Vlugt (b. 1966, Netherlands), adult & YA fiction wr.
 * Angela Vode (1892–1985, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), feminist, concentration camp survivor & autobiographer
 * Michelle Vogel (b. 1972, Australia), film historian, wr. & editor
 * Clara Voghan (b. 1957, Argentina), romance wr.
 * Ellen Bryant Voigt (b. 1943, United States), poet & es.
 * Helene Voigt-Diederichs (1875–1961, Germany), fiction & travel wr.
 * Marija Vojskovič (1915–1997, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), fiction wr.
 * Zinaida Volkonskaya (1792–1862, Russia), poet, fiction wr. & pw.
 * Hava Volovich (1916–2000, Soviet Union/Russia), mem., actor & Gulag survivor
 * Élisabeth Vonarburg (b. 1947, France), science fiction wr.
 * Yekaterina Vorontsova-Dashkova (1743–1810, Russia), mem.
 * Ornela Vorpsi (b. 1968, Albania/France), wr. & photographer
 * Ida Vos (1921–2006, Netherlands), mem. & Hc. survivor
 * Erika Vouk (b. 1941, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet
 * Vira Vovk (1926–2022, Ukraine/Brazil), poet, nv. & pw.
 * Marko Vovchok (1833–1907, Russia), nv. & translator
 * Julia Voznesenskaya (1940–2015, Soviet Union/Russia), wr.
 * Ethel Voynich (1864–1960, Iran/Persia/England), nv. & musician
 * Susanna de Vries (b. 1936, Australia), biographer
 * Jurgen Vsych (b. 1966, United States), director & screenwriter
 * Beb Vuyk (1905–1991, Dutch East Indies/Netherlands), non-f. wr.
 * Divna M. Vuksanović (b. 1965, Serbia), non-f. wr. & philosopher
 * Kerttu Vuolab (b. 1951), wr. in Sámi & illustrator
 * Anna Vyrubova (1884–1964, Russia/Finland), princess & mem.
 * Marita van der Vyver (b. 1958, South Africa/France), es. & fiction wr. in Afrikaans

Wa–Wh

 * Mira W (b. 1951, Indonesia), fiction wr.
 * Kit de Waal (b. 1960, England/Ireland), nv.
 * Elly de Waard (b. 1940, Netherlands), poet & critic
 * Charity Waciuma (b. 1936, Kenya), nv. & YA wr.
 * Natto Wada (和田夏十, 1920–1983, Japan), scriptwriter & col.
 * Helen Waddell (1889–1965, Ireland/England), poet & academic
 * Elizabeth Wagele (1939–2017, United States), wr. & cartoonist
 * Nora Wagener (b. 1989, Luxembourg), fiction & ch. wr. & pw. in German
 * Elin Wägner (1882–1949, Sweden), fiction & non-f. wr. & biographer
 * Alena Wagnerová (b. 1936, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), wr. in Czech & German
 * Magdalena Wagnerová (b. 1960, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), ch. & screenplay wr.
 * Raza Naqvi Wahi (1914–2002, India), poet
 * Bronisława Wajs (1908–1987, Poland), poet & singer
 * Joanna Wajs (b. 1979, Poland), poet & prose wr.
 * Paula Wajsman (1939–1995, Argentina), poet & psychologist
 * Chisako Wakatake (若竹千佐子, b. 1954, Japan), fiction wr.
 * Vikki Wakefield (b. 1970, Australia), YA wr.
 * Diane Wakoski (b. 1937, United States), poet
 * Kate Walbert (b. 1961, United States), fiction wr.
 * Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw (b. 1964, Trinidad), wr. & academic
 * Anne Waldman (b. 1945, United States), poet
 * Adelaide Cilley Waldron (1843–1909, United States), wr., editor
 * Rosmarie Waldrop (b. 1935, United States), poet & translator
 * Brígida Walker (1863–1942, Chile), education wr.
 * Alice Walker (b. 1944, United States), fiction wr. & poet
 * Kath Walker (1920–1993, Australia), poet, fiction wr. & artist
 * Lucy Walker (1907–1987, Australia), nv.
 * Margaret Walker (1915–1998, United States), poet & nv.
 * Mildred Walker (1905–1998, United States), nv.
 * Rebecca Walker (b. 1968, United States), wr., feminist & activist
 * Rosa Kershaw Walker (1840s–1909, United States), non-f. wr., editor, journalist
 * Annie Russell Wall (1835–1920, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Dorothy Wall (1894–1942, Australia), ch. wr. & illustrator
 * Maureen Wall (1918–1972, Ireland), historian
 * Doreen Wallace (1897–1989, England), nv.
 * Louise Wallace (b. 1983, New Zealand), poet
 * Michele Wallace (b. 1952, United States), feminist wr. & critic
 * Effie Waller Smith (1879–1960, United States), poet
 * Jeannette Walls (b. 1960, United States), wr. & col.
 * Anne Walmsley (b. 1931, England), scholar, critic & wr.
 * Carla Walschap (b. 1932, Belgium), wr. in Flemish
 * Catherine Walsh (b. 1964, Ireland), poet
 * Jill Paton Walsh (1937–2020, England), nv. & ch. wr.
 * María Elena Walsh (1930–2011, Argentina), poet, nv. & pw.
 * Dolores Walshe (b. 1949, Ireland), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Elizabeth Hely Walshe (1835–1869, Ireland), ch. wr. & historian
 * Minnie Gow Walsworth (1859–1947, United States), poet
 * Silja Walter (1919–2011, Switzerland), poet & religious wr. in German
 * Lettice D'Oyly Walters (1880–1940), poet and editor
 * Vanessa Walters (b. 1978, England), nv. & pw.
 * Amy Catherine Walton (1849–1939, England), ch. wr.
 * Jo Walton (b. 1964, Wales), fantasy & science fiction wr.
 * Susana, Lady Walton (1926–1983, Argentina), non-f. wr. in English
 * Ania Walwicz (1951–2020, Australia), poet
 * Zuhur Wanasi (b. 1936, Algeria), fiction wr. & politician
 * Shangguan Wan'er (上官婉兒, c. 664–710, China), poet & prose wr.
 * Lulu Wang (王露露, b. 1960, China/Netherlands), nv. in Dutch
 * Ayeta Anne Wangusa (b. 1971, Uganda), wr. & activist
 * Zukiswa Wanner (b. 1976, South Africa/Kenya), col. & nv.
 * Lise Warburg (b. 1932, Denmark), tapestry wr. & weaver
 * Harriet Ward (1808–1873, England), non-f. & fiction wr. in English
 * Jesmyn Ward (b. 1977, United States), nv. & academic
 * Mary Augusta Ward (Mrs Humphry Ward, 1851–1920, England), nv.
 * Sarah Ward (living, England), nv. & critic
 * Julia Rush Cutler Ward (1796–1824, United States), poet
 * Marie Warder (1927–2014, South Africa/Canada/Newfoundland), nv. & medical wr.
 * Mary Ware (writer) (1828–1915, United States), poet, wr.
 * Anna Laetitia Waring (1823–1910, Wales), poet & hymnist
 * Marilyn Waring (b. 1952, New Zealand), economist & politician
 * Gertrude Chandler Warner (1890–1978, United States), ch. wr.
 * Marion E. Warner (1839–1918, United States), poet, ss. wr.
 * Sally Warner (living, United States), children & young adult fiction wr.
 * Susan Warner (1819–1885, United States), ch. wr. & songwriter
 * Sylvia Townsend Warner (1893–1978, England), poet & nv.
 * Maureen Warner-Lewis (b. 1943, Trinidad/Nigeria), wr. on linguistics
 * Myriam Warner-Vieyra (1939–2017, Guadeloupe/Senegal), poet & nv.
 * Blanche Warre-Cornish (1848–1922, England), nv., biographer & conversationalist
 * Crystal Warren (living, South Africa), poet in English
 * Dianne Warren (b. 1950, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Patricia Nell Warren (pen name Patricia Kilina, 1936–2019, United States), nv., poet & journalist
 * Chloé Wary (b. 1995, France), comics. wr.
 * Wendy Wasserstein (1950–2006, United States), pw.
 * Masako Watanabe (わたなべまさこ, b. 1929, Japan), manga creator
 * Taeko Watanabe (渡辺多恵子, b. 1960, Japan), manga creator
 * Yuu Watase (渡瀬悠宇, b. 1970, Japan), manga creator
 * Risa Wataya (綿矢りさ, b. 1984, Japan), nv.
 * Sarah Waters (b. 1966, Wales), nv.
 * Elizabeth Watkin-Jones (1887–1966, Wales), ch. wr.
 * Jean Watson (1933–2014, New Zealand), nv. & humanitarian
 * Joy Watson (1938–2021, New Zealand), ch. wr.
 * Mary Watson (b. 1975, South Africa/Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Fiona Watt (living, England), ch. wr.
 * Monique Watteau (b. 1929, Belgium), fiction wr. in French
 * Margaret Way (living, Australia), nv.
 * Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne (1918–2018, Soviet Union/United States), fiction & YA wr.
 * Maria Webb (1804–1873, Ireland), religious wr. & Quaker historian
 * Catherine Webb (b. 1986, England), nv.
 * Mary Webb (1881–1927, England), nv.; Precious Bane
 * Delia Weber (1900–1982, Dominica), wr. & rights advocate
 * Elizabeth Weber (b. 1923, no information after 1960s, South Africa), nv. & ch. wr. in Afrikaans
 * Marianne Weber (1870–1954, Germany), sociologist & activist
 * Augusta Webster (1837–1894, England), poet, pw. & es.
 * Mary Morison Webster (1894–1980, Scotland/South Africa), novelist & poet
 * Yvonne Weekes (b. 1958, England/Montserrat), pw. & poet
 * Heleen Sancisi-Weerdenburg (1944–2000, Netherlands), Anc. historian
 * Wei Hui (周衛慧, b. 1973), nv.
 * Anna Weidenholzer (b. 1984, Austria/Austria-Hungary), wr. & col.
 * Simone Weil (1909–1943, France), mystic & philosopher
 * Hannah Weiner (1928–1997, United States), poet
 * Liz Weir (b. 1950, Northern Ireland), ch. wr.
 * Anna Elisabet Weirauch (1887–1970, Germany), nv. & lesbian wr.
 * Ruth Weiss (1928–2020, Germany/United States), poet, pw. & performer
 * Jane Meade Welch (1854–1931, United States), col. & lecturer
 * Fay Weldon (1931–2023, England), wr., es. & pw.
 * Dorothy Wellesley (1889–1956, England), poet
 * Charlotte Fowler Wells (1814–1901, United States), phrenologist
 * Ida B. Wells (1862–1931, United States), wr. & sociologist
 * Martha Wells (b. 1964, United States), nv.
 * Louise Welsh (b. 1965, England/Scotland), fiction wr.
 * Eudora Welty (1909–2001, United States), fiction wr. & photographer
 * Viola S. Wendt (1907–1986, United States), poet & educator
 * Miriam Were (b. 1940, Kenya), public health wr. & academic
 * Timberlake Wertenbaker (b. 1946, United States/England), pw. & screenwriter
 * Sara Wesslin (b. 1991, Finland), wr. in Sámi
 * Dorothy West (1907–1998, United States), fiction wr.
 * Jane West (1758–1852, England), nv., poet & pw.
 * Jessamyn West (1902–1984, United States), fiction wr.
 * Joyce West (1908–1985, New Zealand), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Rebecca West (1892–1983, England), nv. & travel wr.
 * Anna Westberg (1946–2005, Sweden), nv. & non-f. wr.
 * Helena Westermarck (1857–1938, Finland), nv., biographer & painter
 * Elizabeth Jane Weston (1581/1582–1612, England/Bohemia), poet (in Latin)
 * Amy Westervelt (b. 1978, United States), col. & wr.
 * Elizabeth Wetmore (b. 1967/68, United States), fiction wr.
 * Josefina Wettergrund (1830–1903, Sweden), poet, nv. & non-f. wr.
 * Lydia Wevers (1950–2021, New Zealand), wr. on literature
 * Anne Wharton (1659–1685, England), poet
 * Edith Wharton (1862–1937, United States), fiction wr.
 * Leslie What (b. 1955, United States), fiction wr.
 * Anne Wheathill (fl. 1584, England), poet & prayer wr.
 * Nadia Wheatley (b. 1949, Australia), ch. nv. & wr.
 * Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784, United States), poet
 * Cora Stuart Wheeler (1852–1897, United States), poet, wr.
 * Dorothy Whipple (1893–1966, England), nv.
 * Evelyn Whitaker (1857–1903, England), nv.
 * Agnes Romilly White (1872–1945, Iran/Persia/Northern Ireland), nv.
 * Annabelle White (living, New Zealand), cookery wr.
 * Antonia White (1899–1980, England), fiction wr.
 * Dorothy White (c. 1630–1686, England), religious wr.
 * Ellen G. White (1827–1915 United States), evangelist
 * Emily White, (1839–1936, England/New Zealand), gardening wr.
 * Ida L. White (fl. late 19th century, Iran/Persia/Northern Ireland), poet & feminist
 * Laura Rosamond White (1844–1922, United States), wr., poet, editor
 * Nettie L. White (c. 1850–1921, United States), stenographer, suffragist
 * Stella Whitelaw (b. 1941) (UK), novelist, journalist
 * Joan Whitrowe (c. 1631–1707, England), religious wr., polemicist
 * Lilian Whiting (1847–1942, United States), col. & wr.
 * Margaret Whitlam (1919–2012, Australia), social wr. & autobiographer
 * Myne Whitman (b. 1977, Nigeria), nv.
 * Isabella Whitney (b. c. 1540–post-1624, England), poet
 * Phyllis A. Whitney (1903–2008, United States), nv.
 * Sarah J. C. Whittlesey (1824–1896), American nv, poet, hymn wr.
 * Weam Namou (b. 1970), Iraqi-American

Wi–Wy

 * Anne Wiazemsky (1947–2017, Germany/France), nv. and actor
 * Nancy Wicker (living, United States), art historian
 * Anna Wickham (1884–1947, England), poet
 * Zoë Wicomb (b. 1948, South Africa/Scotland), fiction wr.
 * Margaret Widdemer (1884–1978, United States), poet & nv.
 * Ulrika Widström (1764–1841, Sweden), poet & translator
 * Elisabeth of Wied (Carmen Sylva, 1843–1916, Romania), poet, pw. & Queen Consort
 * Bertha Wiernik (1884-1951), Jewish American writer
 * Blanca Wiethüchter (1947–2004, Bolivia), wr. & historian
 * Elsa Wiezell (1926–2014, Paraguay), poet & painter
 * Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856–1923, United States), educator & ch. wr.
 * Marianne Wiggins (b. 1947, United States), nv.
 * Susan Wiggs (b. 1958, United States), nv.
 * Emma Howard Wight (1863–1935, United States), wr., novelist, playwr.
 * Rosemary Wighton (1925–1994, Australia), wr. & editor
 * Dora Wilcox (1873–1953, Australia), poet & pw.
 * Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1918, United States), poet
 * Margaret Wild (b. 1948, South Africa/Australia), ch. wr.
 * Sarah Wild (living, South Africa), science wr. in English
 * Jane Wilde (1821–1896, Ireland), poet
 * Charlotte Wilder (1898–1980, United States), poet
 * Cherry Wilder (1930–2002, New Zealand), science fiction wr.
 * Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957, United States), ch. wr.; Little House on the Prairie
 * Lynn Wilder (b. 1952, United States), wr.
 * Ottilie Wildermuth (1817–1877, Germany), fiction & ch. wr.
 * Faith Wilding (b. 1943, Paraguay/United States), wr. in English & artist
 * Kate Wilhelm (1928–2018, United States), fiction wr.
 * Kim Wilkins (b. 1966, Australia), fiction wr.
 * Verna Wilkins (b. 1940s, Grenada/England), ch. wr.
 * Christine Wilks (born 1960), British digital writer and artist
 * Marian Wilkinson (b. 1954, Australia), wr. & col.
 * Alice Willard (1860–1936, United States), nonf. wr.
 * Louise Collier Willcox (1865–1929, United States), wr., editor
 * Sandrine Willems (b. 1968, Belgium/France), wr. in French
 * Anna Williams (1706–1783, Wales/England), poet & companion to Samuel Johnson
 * Cathy Williams (b. 1957, Trinidad/England), romance wr.
 * Donna Williams (1963–2017, Australia), wr., musician & sculptor
 * Eley Williams (living, England), wr.
 * Faldela Williams (1952–2014, South Africa), cookery wr. in English
 * Helen Maria Williams (1762–1827, England), nv. & poet
 * Jane Williams (Ysgafell, 1806–1885, Wales), poet & es.
 * Liz Williams (b. 1965, England), science fiction wr.
 * Margery Williams (1881–1944, England/United States), ch. wr.
 * Maria Jane Williams (c. 1795–1873, Wales), folklorist & musician
 * Ruth C. Williams (1897–1962, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Sherley Anne Williams (1944–1998, United States), poet & nv.
 * Mabel Williamson (fl. mid-20th century, United States), missionary
 * Connie Willis (b. 1945, United States), science fiction wr.
 * Elizabeth Willis (b. 1961, United States), poet, critic & professor
 * Dorrit Willumsen (b. 1940, Denmark), fiction wr.
 * Katherine Wilmot (c. 1773–1824, Iran/Persia/England), diarist & travel wr.
 * Amrit Wilson (b. 1941, India/England), wr., journalist & activist
 * Anne Elizabeth Wilson (1901–1946, United States/Canada) non-f. wr., poet & ed.
 * Cynthia Wilson (b. 1934, Barbados), fiction wr. & educator
 * Ella B. Ensor Wilson (1838–1913, United States), social reformer & non-f. writer
 * Florence Mary Wilson (c. 1870–1946, Iran/Persia/Northern Ireland), poet
 * Harriett C. Wilson (1916–2002, England), sociologist
 * Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900, United States), nv.
 * Hazel Hutchins Wilson (1898–1992, United States), ch. wr.
 * Helen Wilson (1869–1957, New Zealand), autobiographer & community leader
 * Ibbie McColm Wilson (1834–1908, United States), poet
 * Jacqueline Wilson (b. 1945, England), ch. wr.
 * Margaret Wilson (living, Australia), TV wr.
 * Margaret Wilson (1882–1973, United States), nv.
 * Krysty Wilson-Cairns (b. 1987, Scotland), screenwriter
 * Évelyne Wilwerth (b. 1947, Belgium), poet & fiction wr. in French
 * Tara June Winch (b. 1983, Australia), fiction wr.
 * Sheila Wingfield (1906–1992, England/Ireland), poet
 * Laurie Winkless (living, Iran/Persia/England), science wr.
 * Dallas Winmar (living, Australia), pw.
 * Sarah Winnemucca (1841–1891, United States), lecturer & autobiographer
 * Eliza Winstanley (Ariele, 1818–1882, Australia), wr. & actor
 * Kathleen Winter (b. 1960, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr., col. & screenwriter
 * Jeanette Winterson (b. 1959, England), nv.
 * Jeneverah M. Winton (1837–1904, United States), poet, wr.
 * Joëlle Wintrebert (b. 1949, France), science fiction and ch. wr.
 * Maria Wirtemberska (1768–1864, Poland/France), wr. & philanthropist
 * Jane Wiseman (c. 1682–1717, England), poet & pw.
 * Eleanor Witcombe (1923–2018, Australia), screenwriter
 * Carolinda Witt (b. 1955, Kenya), wr. on yoga
 * Monique Wittig (1935–2003, France), wr. & feminist
 * Amy Witting (Joan Austral Fraser, 1918–2001, Australia), nv. & poet
 * Maria Petronella Woesthoven (1760–1830, Netherlands), poet
 * Gabriele Wohmann (1932–2015, Germany), fiction wr.
 * Maia Wojciechowska (1927–2002, Poland/United States), ch. & YA wr.
 * Sabina Wolanski (1927–2011, Australia), autobiographer & Hc. survivor
 * Gunilla Wolde (1939–2015, Sweden), ch. wr. & caricaturist
 * Cendrine Wolf (b. 1969, France), ch. wr.
 * Christa Wolf (1929–2011, Germany), nv., critic & es.
 * Ema Wolf (b. 1948, Argentina), wr. & col.
 * Emma Wolf (1865–1932, United States), nv.
 * Leslie Wolfe (b. 1967, United States), nv.
 * Martha Wolfenstein (1869–1906, United States), nv.
 * Betje Wolff (1738–1804, Netherlands), nv.
 * Maryse Wolinski (1943–2021, Algeria/France), nv. & screenwriter
 * Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797, England), nv. & feminist
 * Claire Wolniewicz (b. 1966, France), wr. & col.
 * Caroline von Wolzogen (1763–1847, Germany), nv. & biographer
 * Frances Garnet Wolseley, 2nd Viscountess Wolseley (1872–1936, England), garden wr.
 * Buffalo Bird Woman (1839–1932, United States), wr.
 * Alison Wong (b. 1960, New Zealand), poet & nv.
 * Elizabeth Wong (黃錢其濂, b. 1937, China/New Zealand), fiction wr.
 * Jade Snow Wong (1922–2006, United States), autobiographer & ceramicist
 * Nellie Wong (b. 1934, Chile/United States), feminist poet
 * Ellen (Mrs Henry) Wood (1814–1887, England), nv.
 * Gaby Wood (b. 1971, England), col. & critic
 * Gwyneth Barber Wood (died 2006, Jamaica), poet
 * Julia A. Wood (1840–1927, United States), non-f. wr., composer
 * Molara Wood (b. 1967, Nigeria), wr. & critic
 * Susan Wood (1836–1880, Australia/New Zealand), poet & es.
 * Susan Wood (b. 1946, United States), poet
 * Wendy Wood (1892–1981, England/Scotland), political wr. & artist
 * Elizabeth Wood-Ellem (1930–2012, Tonga/Australia), historian
 * Denyse Woods (b. 1958, Ireland), fiction wr.
 * Jacqueline Woodson (b. 1963, United States), ch. & YA wr.
 * Caroline M. Clark Woodward (1840–1924, United States), non-f. wr.
 * Virginia Woolf (1882–1941, England), fiction wr. & es.; Mrs. Dalloway
 * Angela Woollacott (b. 1955, Australia), historian
 * Abba Goold Woolson (1838–1921, United States), wr.
 * Constance Fenimore Woolson (1840–1894, United States), fiction wr.
 * Chun Woon-young (천운영, b. 1971, Korea), wr.
 * Sue Wootton (b. 1961, New Zealand), poet & fiction wr.
 * Anne Eyre Worboys (1920–2007, New Zealand/England), nv.
 * Dorothy Wordsworth (1771–1855, England), poet & diarist
 * Pauline Worm (1825–1883, Denmark), wr., poet & feminist
 * Elizabeth Strong Worthington (1851–1916, United States), wr.
 * Isabella Letitia Woulfe (1817–1870, Ireland), nv.
 * Liliane Wouters (1930–2016, Belgium), poet, pw. & es. in French
 * Maria Carratalà i Van den Wouver (1899–1984, Spain), pw. in Catalan & musician
 * Maev-Ann Wren (living, Ireland), economist & health wr.
 * Alexis Wright (b. 1950, Australia), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * C. D. Wright (1949–2016, United States), poet
 * Judith Wright (1915–2000, Australia), poet & environmentalist
 * June Wright (1919–2012, Australia), crime & non-f. wr.
 * Mary Tappan Wright (1851–1916, United States), fiction wr.
 * Patricia Wrightson (1921–2010, Australia), ch. wr.
 * Lady Mary Wroth (1587–1652, England), poet
 * Wu Chuntao (b. 1963), wr. & journalist
 * Wu Zao (吳藻, 1799–1862, China), poet
 * Hella Wuolijoki (1886–1964, Estonia/Finland), prose wr. & politician
 * Audrey Wurdemann (1911–1960, United States), poet
 * Mathilde Wurm (1874–1935, Germany/England), politician & activist
 * Marguerite Wyke (1908–1995, United States/Trinidad), teacher, poet, artist & politician
 * Elinor Wylie (1885–1928, United States), poet & nv.
 * Ida Alexa Ross Wylie (1885–1959, Australia), nv.
 * Frances Wynne (1863–1893, Ireland), poet
 * Grace Wynne-Jones (living, Ireland), wr. & radio pw.
 * Sylvia Wynter (b. 1928, Jamaica), nv., pw. & critic

X

 * Makhosazana Xaba (b. 1957, South Africa), poet & fiction wr. in English
 * Xi Xi (西西, 1937–2022, China), nv. & poet
 * Xia Jia (王瑶, b. 1984, China), science fiction & fantasy wr.
 * Xiao Hong (蕭紅, 1911–1942, China), wr.
 * Xie Daoyun (謝道韞, pre-340 – post-399, China), poet & scholar
 * Xinran (薛欣然, b. 1958, Chile/England), wr. & col.
 * Bing Xin (謝婉瑩, 1900–1999, China), wr.
 * Empress Xu (徐皇后, 1362–1407, China), bibliographer & empress consort
 * Xu Hui (徐惠, 627–650, China), poet
 * Xu Kun (徐坤, b. 1965), fiction wr.
 * Lady Xu Mu (許穆夫人, fl. 7th century BC, China), poet
 * Xu Zihua (徐自华, 1873–1935, China), poet
 * Halima Xudoyberdiyeva (1947–2018, Uz), poet
 * Xue Susu (薛素素, c. 1564 – c. 1650, China), poet
 * Xue Tao (薛濤, 768–831, China), poet
 * Rao Xueman (饒雪漫, b. 1972, China), fiction wr. & es.

Y

 * Rama Yade (b. 1976, Senegal), non-f. wr. & politician
 * Elham Yaghoubian (living, Iran/Persia), nv.
 * Tetiana Yakovenko (born 1954, Ukraine), poet
 * Margarita Yakovleva (b. 1981, Ukraine), poet
 * Balaraba Ramat Yakubu (b. 1959, Nigeria), nv.
 * Nanpei Yamada (山田南平, b. 1972, Japan), manga creator
 * Ryoko Yamagishi (山岸凉子, b. 1947, Japan), manga creator
 * Yamakawa Kikue (山川菊栄, 1890–1980, Japan), es. & activist
 * Hisaye Yamamoto (1921–2011, United States), fiction wr.
 * Mika Yamamoto (山本美香, 1967–2012, Japan), col.
 * Karen Tei Yamashita (b. 1951, United States), nv., pw. & academic
 * Kazumi Yamashita (山下和美, b. 1959, manga creator
 * Yamato Hime no Ōkimi (倭姫王, fl. later 7th century, Japan), poet
 * Yūki Yamato (山戸結希, b. 1989, Japan), screenwriter
 * Wakako Yamauchi (1924–2018, United States), wr.
 * Mari Yamazaki (ヤマザキマリ, b. 1967, Japan), manga creator
 * Hanya Yanagihara (b. 1974, United States), nv. & travel wr.
 * María Flora Yáñez (1898–1982, Chile), fiction wr.
 * Yang Gui-ja (양귀자, b. 1955, Korea), nv.
 * Tiphanie Yanique (b. 1978, United States), fiction wr., poet & es.
 * Lyubov Yanovska (1861–1933, Russia/Ukraine), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Yevheniya Yaroshynska (1868–1904, Austria/Austria-Hungary), fiction wr. in Ukrainian
 * Laura Yasán (1960–2021, Argentina), poet
 * Chista Yasrebi (b. 1968, Iran/Persia), wr., critic
 * Rie Yasumi (やすみりえ, b. 1972, Japan), poet
 * Paula Yates (1959–2000, England), non-f. wr.
 * Ai Yazawa (矢沢あい, b. 1967, Japan), manga creator
 * Yana Yazova (1912–1974, Bulgaria), poet & nv.
 * Rosa Borja de Ycaza (1889–1964, Ecuador), wr., poet & pw.
 * Year 24 Group (24年組, early 1970s), manga creators
 * Ann Yearsley (1753–1806, England), poet, nv. & pw.
 * Sonja Yelich (b. 1965, Croatia/New Zealand), poet
 * Barbara Yelin (b. 1977, Germany), cartoonist, nv.
 * Yeo Ok (여옥, 1st millennium BC, Korea), poet
 * Tatyana Yesenina (1918–1992, Russia), nv. & mem.
 * Anna Yevreinova (1844–1919, Russia), feminist & correspondent
 * Anzia Yezierska (1883–1970, Poland/United States), fiction wr.
 * Yi Bingheogak (빙허각이씨, fl. c. 1809, Korea), encyclopedist
 * Yi Geun-hwa (이근화, b. 1976, Korea), poet & educator
 * Yi Kyoung-ja (이경자, b. 1948, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Gullu Yologlu (b. 1963, Azerbaijan), non-f. wr. & ethnologist
 * Mari Yonehara (米原万里, 1950–2006, Japan), fiction & non-f. wr. & es.
 * Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823–1901, England), nv.
 * Yoo An-jin (유안진, b. 1941, Korea), poet, es. & educator
 * Yosano Akiko (与謝野晶子, 1878–1942, Japan), poet
 * Akimi Yoshida (吉田秋生, b. 1956, Japan), manga creator
 * Tomoko Yoshida (吉田知子, b. 1934, Manchuria/Japan), wr.
 * Banana Yoshimoto (吉本ばなな, b. 1964, Japan), nv.
 * Nobuko Yoshiya (吉屋信子, 1896–1973, Japan), nv.
 * Wataru Yoshizumi (吉住渉, b. 1963, Japan), manga creator
 * Ekaterina Petrova Yosifova (1941–2022, Bulgaria), es. & poet
 * Ella Young (1867–1956, Ireland), poet & mythologist
 * Kerry Young (b. 1955, Jamaica/England), nv.
 * Marguerite Young (1908–1995, United States), nv., poet & academic
 * Yoo An-jin (유안진, b. 1941, Korea), poet, es. & professor
 * Rose Maud Young (1866–1947, Ireland), scholar
 * Kang Young-sook (강영숙, b. 1966, Korea), wr.
 * Marguerite Yourcenar (1903–1987, Belgium/United States), nv. & es. in French
 * Malala Yousafzai (b. 1997, Pakistan/England), mem. & politician
 * Yovanna (b. 1940, Greece), poet, nv. & songwriter
 * Yu Xuanji (魚玄機, 844–869 or 871, China), poet
 * Yun I-hyeong (윤이형, b. 1976, Korea), fiction wr.
 * Yuasa Yoshiko (湯浅芳子, 1896–1990, Japan), linguist & translator
 * Kaori Yuki (由貴香織里, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Shigeko Yuki (由起しげ子, 1900–1969, Japan), ch. wr.
 * Sumomo Yumeka (夢花李, living, Japan), manga creator
 * Yun-I Hyeong (윤이형, b. 1976, Korea), wr.
 * Mallika Yunis (living, India), nv.
 * Sim Yunkyung (심윤경, b. 1972, Korea), nv.
 * Asako Yuzuki (柚木麻子, b. 1981, Japan), fiction wr.

Z

 * Pilar Zabala Aguirre (b. 1951, Spain), non-f. wr.
 * Oksana Zabuzhko (b. 1960, Ukraine), poet, nv. & non-f. wr.
 * Rachel Zadok (b. 1972, South Africa), nv. in English
 * Zafer Hanım (fl. 1877, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), nv.
 * Jessica Zafra (b. 1965, Philippines), es. & col.
 * Marija Jurić Zagorka (1873–1957, Austria/Austria-Hungary), wr. in Croat
 * Helen Zahavi (b. 1966, England), wr.
 * Rosemarie Said Zahlan (1937–2006, Palestine/United States), wr. on Arab affairs
 * Anna Zahorska (1882–1942, Poland), poet, nv., pw. and Hc. victim
 * Stefania Zahorska (1890–1961, Poland), nv. & non-f. wr.
 * Shama Zaidi (b. 1938, India), art critic & screenwriter
 * Zahida Zaidi (1930–2011, India), poet, pw. & educator
 * Zaitoon Bano (1938–2021, India/Pakistan), fiction wr.
 * Lyubov Zakharchenko (1961–2008 Soviet Union/Russia), poet & songwriter
 * Maria Julia Zaleska (1831–1889, Poland), fiction wr. & es.
 * Māra Zālīte (b. 1952, Latvia), poet
 * Dina Zaman (1969, Malaysia), fiction & non-f. wr. & poet
 * Esperanza Zambrano (1901–1992, Mexico), poet
 * María Zambrano (1904–1991, Spain), es. & philosopher
 * Daisy Zamora (b. 1950, Nicaragua), poet
 * Fatma Zohra Zamoum (b. 1967, Algeria), wr., filmmaker & educator
 * Adela Zamudio (1854–1928, Bolivia), poet, feminist & educator
 * Giovanna Zangrandi (1910–1988, Italy), nv.
 * Giselda Zani (1909–1975, Italy), poet, fiction wr. & critic
 * Maya Zankoul (b. 1986, Saudi Arabia/Lebanon), nv. & cartoonist
 * Léontine Zanta (1872–1942, France), nv. & philosopher
 * Celia Correas de Zapata (1935–2022), poet & non-f. wr.
 * Gabriela Zapolska (1857–1921, Poland), nv., pw. & naturalist
 * Ayşe Nur Zarakolu (1946–2002, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), political wr.
 * Carol Zardetto (living, Guatemala), nv. & critic
 * Sumaira Zareen (1944–1977, Pakistan), fiction wr.
 * Shaïda Zarumey (b. 1938, Nigeria), sociologist & poet
 * Zyranna Zateli (b. 1951, Greece), fiction & non-f. wr.
 * Marya Zaturenska (1902–1982 United States), poet
 * Sidonia Hedwig Zäunemann (1711–1740, Germany), poet
 * Iris Zavala (1936–2020, Paraguay), poet, nv. & non-f. wr.
 * María de Zayas (1590–1661, Spain), feminist wr.
 * Amina Zaydan (b. 1966, Egypt), fiction wr.
 * Zaynab Fawwaz (c. 1860–1914, Lebanon/Egypt), nv., pw. & poet
 * Katarzyna Ewa Zdanowicz-Cyganiak (b. 1979, Poland), poet & social scientist
 * Jo Zebedee (b. 1971, Northern Ireland), science fiction wr.
 * Zdenka Žebre (1920–2011, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Fiona Zedde (b. 1976, Jamaica/United States), nv.
 * Juli Zeh (b. 1974, Germany), nv.
 * Alki Zei (1925–2020, Greece), nv. & ch. wr.
 * Susanna Elizabeth Zeidler (1657 – c. 1706, Germany), poet
 * Sylvia Aguilar Zéleny (b. 1973, Mexico), fiction wr.
 * Hana Zelinová (1914–2004, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Slovakia), fiction wr. & pw.
 * Eva Zeller (1923–2022, Germany), poet & nv.
 * Žemaitė (1845–1921, Lithuania), fiction wr., es. & pw.
 * Luisa Zeni (1896–1940, Italy), political wr.
 * Zeng Baosun (曾寶蓀, 1893–1978, China), historian & feminist
 * Irena Žerjal (b. 1940, Italy/Slovenia), poet and fiction wr.
 * Wu Zetian (武則天, 624–705, China), poet, es. & Empress Regnant
 * Zuzka Zguriška (1900–1984, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), nv. & pw. in Slovak
 * Yulia Zhadovskaya (1824–1883, Russia), poet & nv.
 * Zhai Yongming (翟永明, b. 1955, China), poet
 * Zhang Haidi (张海迪, b. 1955, China), wr.
 * Zhang Jie (張潔, 1937–2022, China), fiction wr.
 * Zhang Kangkang (张抗抗, b. 1950, China), political wr.
 * Lijia Zhang (张丽佳, b. 1964, China), wr. & nv.
 * Zhang Ling (张翎, b. 1957, China), fiction wr.
 * Zhao Luorui (趙蘿蕤, 1912–1998, China), poet & translator
 * Zhang Xinxin (張辛欣, b. 1953, China), wr.
 * Zhang Yaotiao (張窈窕, 9th century, China), poet
 * Zhang Yueran (张悦然, b. 1982, China), fiction wr.
 * Empress Zhangsun (長孫皇后, 601–636, China), moralist
 * Zhao Luanluan (趙鸞鸞, fl. later 14th century, China), poet
 * Vera Zhelikhovsky (1835–1896, Russia), wr.
 * Zheng Min (郑敏, 1920–2022, China), scholar & poet
 * Zheng Yunduan (c. 1327–1336, China), poet
 * Polina Zherebtsova (b. 1985, Russia), poet & diarist
 * Yilin Zhong (鍾宜霖, living, China/England), nv., poet & screenplay wr.
 * Maria Zhukova (1804–1855, Russia), wr.
 * Zhu Shuzhen (朱淑真, c. 1135–1180, China), poet
 * Zhuo Wenjun (卓文君, fl. 2nd century BC, China), poet
 * Valentina Zhuravleva (1933–2004 Russia), science fiction nv.
 * Iryna Zhylenko (1941–2013, Soviet Union/Ukraine), poet & es.
 * May Ziadeh (1886–1941, Lebanon/Palestine), poet & es.
 * Annejet van der Zijl (b. 1962, Netherlands), nv. & biographer
 * Lydia Zimmermann (b. 1966, Spain), screenwriter & filmmaker
 * Alice Zimmern (1855–1939, England), wr. & translator
 * Helen Zimmern (1846–1934, Germany/England), critic
 * Hedda Zinner (also Elisabeth Frank, 1905–1994, Germany), political wr.
 * Marketa Zinnerová (b. 1942, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), nv., ch. & screenwriter
 * Lydia Zinovieva-Annibal (1866–1907, Russia), wr.
 * Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu (1938–1979, Uganda), poet & pw.
 * Zitkala-Sa (1876–1938, United States), wr. & editor
 * Kathinka Zitz-Halein (1801–1877, Germany), poet and fiction wr.
 * Nina Živančević (b. 1957, Serbia), pw., poet & nv.
 * Bina Štampe Žmavc (b. 1951, Yugoslavia/Slovenia), poet, pw. & ch. wr.
 * Narcyza Żmichowska (1818–1876, Poland), nv. & poet
 * Inga Žolude (b. 1984, Latvia), fiction wr., pw. & translator
 * Anna Zonová (b. 1962, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic), fiction wr.
 * Halide Nusret Zorlutuna (1901–1984, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), poet, fiction wr. & autobiographer
 * Birgit Zotz (b. 1979, Austria/Austria-Hungary), non-f. wr. & es.
 * Vera Zouroff (1880–1967, China), poet, nv. & wr.
 * Katarina Zrinska (c. 1625–1673, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet in Croat
 * Pilar de Zubiaurre (1884–1970, Spain), es. & letter wr.
 * Svetlana Žuchová (b. 1976, Yu/Slovenia), fiction wr.
 * Berta Zuckerkandl (1864–1945, Austria/Austria-Hungary), critic & non-f. wr.
 * Zuo Fen (左芬, c. AD 255–300, China), poet
 * Katka Zupančič (1889–1967, Austria/Austria-Hungary/United States), ch. poet, fiction wr. & pw.
 * Unica Zürn (1916–1970, Germany), poet & painter
 * Cvijeta Zuzorić (1552–1648, Dalmatia/Ragusa), poet in Italian & Croat
 * Rose Zwi (1928–2018, South Africa/Australia), fiction wr.
 * Fay Zwicky (1933–2017, Australia), poet & academic
 * Rajzel Żychlińsky (1910–2001, Poland/United States), poet in Yiddish