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')
M
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 (1923–2024, 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.
 - Jane Madders (c. 1909–1990, Britain), non-f. wr.
 - 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 (1929–2025, 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.
 - Alicia Malone (b. 1981, Australia), non-f. wr.
 - 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 (1937–2023, 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 (1934–2025, 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
 - Ira Mathur (living, India/Trinidad), journalist, mem.
 - 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 (1930–2025, 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 (b. 1967, Spain), non-f. wr.
 - Jane Mayhall (1918–2009, United States), poet
 - Katherine Mayfield (b. 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 (1944–2025, 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 (b. 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.
 - Irene Mecchi (b. 1949, United States), screenwriter & pw.
 - 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.
 - Marisa Meltzer (fl. 2000s), American writer and columnist
 - 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 (b. 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.
 - 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.
 - Nellie Burget Miller (1875–1952, United States), poet, non-f. wr., dramatist
 - 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
 - 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.
 - Jeannie Blackburn Moran (1842–1929, United States), nv.
 - 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
 - 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.
 - María Mulet (1911–1982, Spain), children's wr & poet
 - 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
 - Clare Mulley (b. 1969, England), biographer of notable women
 - 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
 
N
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.
 - 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
 - Mary Louise Nash (1826–1896, United States), wr.
 - 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.
 - Susheila Nasta (b. 1953, England), wr. & editor
 - 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 (1934–2025, 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.
 - Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu (b. 1977, Zimbabwe), nv.
 - 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
 - Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ (b. 1970s, Kenya), fiction wr. & es.
 
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.
 - Amy Nicholson (living, United States), non-f. wr. and film critic
 - 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 (b. 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
 - Mary E. Norton (1833-1916, United States), nv.
 - Morilla M. Norton (1865-1916, United States), non-f. wr. & poet
 - 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 (1944–2024, 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 (1930–2024, 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
 - Out el Kouloub (1899-1968), Egyptian novelist
 - 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
 
P
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 (b. 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 (1927–2025, 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
 - Katherine 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
 - 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 (1933–2019, 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.
 - Nicole Perlman (b. 1981, United States), screenwriter
 - 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
 - Phintys (or Phyntis, 4th or 3rd century BC, Ancient Greece), philosopher
 - Joan Phipson (1912–2003, Australia), ch. wr.
 - Virginia Phiri (b. 1954, Zimbabwe), fiction and non-f. wr.
 - Savitribai Phule (1831–1897, India), poet and educator
 - Ife Piankhi (living, Uganda/England), poet, singer and educator
 - Hester Sigerson Piatt (1870–1939, Ireland), poet and col.
 - Costanza d'Avalos Piccolomini (b. 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 (1937–2025, Jamaica), 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
 - Rebecca N. Porter (1883-1963, United States), nv., ss., ess., non-f. wr.
 - 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 (b. 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.
 - Priest (b. 1988, China), fiction wr. & nv.
 - 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.
 
R
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
 - 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.
 - Helen Leah Reed (1861/62 - 1926, Canada/US), children's 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 (b. 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 (b. 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 (b. 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.
 - Pamela Ribon (b. 1975, United States), screenwriter
 - 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.
 - B. Ruby Rich (living, United States), film critic and academic
 - Ariel Florencia Richards (b. 1981, Chile), writer & visual arts scholar.
 - 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 (b. 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.
 
S
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
 - Karina Sainz Borgo (b. 1982, Venezuela), nv. & non-f. wr.
 - 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.
 - Margit Sandemo (1924 – 2018, Norway), 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),
 - Francisca Sarasate (1853-1922, Spain), fiction wr., non-f. wr., poet
 - 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.
 - Mary Stebbins Savage (1850-1915, United States), wr., poet
 - Geneviève Savalette (1735–1795, France), playwright.
 - 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 (b. 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
 - Jessie L. Seal (1864-1946, United States), non-f. wr.
 - 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
 - Emilia Serrano y García (1834-1923, Spain), travel wr.
 - 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 (b. 1968/1970, 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.
 - Marika Sherwood (1937–2025, England), historian
 - 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 (1963–2025, 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
 - Jacqueline Stewart (b. 1970, United States), non-f. wr.
 - 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
 - Louise Stockton (1838-1914, United States), nv., ss. wr.
 - 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
 - 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
 - Elizabeth Higgins Sullivan (1872–1953. United States, wr., novelist, dramatist
 - 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
 
T
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.
 - 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
 - Angeline Teal (1842-1913, US), poet, nv., ss. wr.
 - 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.
 - Fanny Tercy (1782-1851, France), nv.
 - 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 (b. 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
 - Mary Wilder Tileston (1843–1934, United States), wr., editor, compiler
 - 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
 - M. B. M. Toland (1925-1895, United States), poet
 - 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
 - Constance Tomkinson (1915–1995, England, we. & actress
 - 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
 - Francesca Torrent (1881-1958, Spain), wr. & poet
 - 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 (b. 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.
 - Josephine Van De Grift (1894-1927, United States), wr., col. & pw.
 - Jane Vandenburgh (b. 1948, United States), nv., mem. & non-f. wr.
 - Vonne van der Meer (b. 1952, Netherlands), fiction wr. & pw.
 - 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
 - Marika Vila (b. 1949, Spain), graphic nv.
 - 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
 
W
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
 - Madge Morris Wagner (1862–1924, United States), poet, nv., jrnl.
 - 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
 - Phoebe Waller-Bridge (b. 1985, England), screenwriter
 - Effie Waller Smith (1879–1960, United States), poet
 - Jeannette Walls (b. 1960, United States), wr. & col.
 - Anne Walmsley (1931–2025, 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 (1935–2022, 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.
 
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 (b. 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.
 - Margaret Hicks Williams (1899–1972, United States), feature 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
 - C. Antoinette Wood (1867-1942, United States), wr. & pw.
 - 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.
 - Linda Woolverton (b. 1952, United States), nv., screenwriter, & pw.
 - 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 (b. 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 (1940–2018, 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.
 - Markéta 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
 
See also
- Feminist literary criticism
 - Feminist science fiction
 - Feminist theory
 - Gender in science fiction
 - List of biographical dictionaries of female writers
 - List of early-modern British women novelists
 - List of early-modern British women playwrights
 - List of early-modern British women poets
 - List of female detective/mystery writers
 - List of female poets
 - List of women cookbook writers
 - List of feminist literature
 - List of female rhetoricians
 - List of women hymn writers
 - Norton Anthology of Literature by Women
 - Women in science fiction
 - Women Writers Project
 - Women's writing in English
 - Sophie (digital lib)
 - Nimat Hamoush
 
References
External links
- A Celebration of Women Writers
 - SAWNET: The South Asian Women's NETwork Bookshelf
 - Victorian Women Writers Project
 - Voices from the Gaps: Women Artists & Writers of Color
 - The Women wr.s Archive: Early Modern Women Writers Online
 - SOPHIE: a digital library of works by German-speaking women
 - REBRA: a list of women writers from Brazil. Biographies in Portuguese, English, & in Spanish