List of writers in Who's Who in Contemporary Women's Writing

Over 400 women writers are listed in "Who's Who in Contemporary Women's Writing", edited by Jane Eldridge Miller, Routledge, 2001.

A

* Leila Abouzeid (born 1950), Moroccan novelist and journalist
* Fawziyya Abū Khālid (born 1955), Saudi Arabian poet and essayist
* Evelyne Accad (born 1943), Lebanese-Swiss-US novelist
* Catherine Acholonu (born 1950), Nigerian poet, dramatist, essayist and fiction writer
* Kathy Acker (1947-1997), US novelist and short-story writer
* Glenda Adams (1939-2007), Australian novelist
* Fleur Adcock (born 1934), New Zealand-born poet and translator
* Halide Edip Adıvar (1884-1964) Turkish novelist and politician
* Opal Palmer Adisa (born 1954), Jamaican novelist and poet
* Etel Adnan (born 1925), Lebanese-US poet, novelist and essayist
* Adalet Ağaoğlu (born 1929), Turkish novelist and short-story writer
* Marjorie Agosin (born 1955), Chilean-US poet, essayist and critic
* Ma. Luisa B. Aguilar (born 1962), Philippine poet and essayist
* Mila Auilar (born 1949), Philippine poet
* Ama Ata Aidoo (born 1942), Ghanaian writer and activist
* Leah Aini (born 1962), Israeli poet and fiction writer
* Grace Akello (born c. 1940s), Ugandan poet, essayist and folklorist
* Sonja Åkesson (1926-1977), Swedish poet
* Bella Akhatovna Akhmadulina (Izabella Akhatovna Akhmadulina) (born 1937), Russian poet and prose writer
* Florenţa Albu (born 1934), Romanian poet
* Claribel Alegría (born 1924), Salvadoran novelist and poet
* Svetlana Aleksievich (born c. 1948), Belarusian prose writer
* Meena Alexander (born 1951), Indian-US poet and novelist
* Estrella D. Alfon (1917-1983), Philippine fiction writer and playwright
* Zaynab Alkali (born 1952), Nigerian novelist, short-story writer and essayist
* Paula Gunn Allen (born 1939), US poet, essayist and novelist
* Isabel Allende (born 1942), Chilean novelist and journalist
* Phyllis Shand Allfrey (1908-1986), Dominican novelist, poet and journalist
* Ruth Almog (born 1936), Israeli novelist and journalist
* Lisa Alther (born 1944), US novelist
* Merlie M. Alunan (born 1943), Philippine poet
* Julia Alvarez (born 1950), Dominican-US novelist and poet
* Miriam Alves (born 1952), Brazilian poet and short-story writer
* Ifi Amadiume (born 1947), Nigerian poet, ethnographer and essayist
* Ambai (C. S. Lakshmi) (born 1944), Indian writer and researcher

B

* Mariama Bâ (1929-1981), Senegalese novelist & essayist
* Ingeborg Bachmann (1926-1973), Austrian novelist, short story writer and poet
* Liana Badr (born 1951), Palestinian novelist
* Bai Fengxi (born 1934), Chinese playwright
* Beryl Bainbridge (born 1934), English novelist and short story writer
* Salwā Bakr (born 1949), Egyptian novelist
* Laylā Balabakkī (born 1936), Lebanese novelist, short story writer and journalist
* Solvej Balle (born 1962), Danish prose writer
* Ioana Bantaş (Elena Mustaṭǎ) (1937-1987), Romanian poet
* Maria Banuş (1914-1999), Romanian poet and translator
* Hudā Barakāt (born 1952), Lebanese novelist
* Natalia Vladimirovna Baranskaia (born 1908), Russian prose writer
* Joan Barfoot (born 1946), Canadian novelist
* Pat Barker (born 1934), English novelist
* Fevziye Rahgozar Barlas (born 1955), Afghan poet, journalist and short story writer
* Christiane Baroche (born 1935), French novelist, short story writer and poet
* Maria Isabel Barreno (born 1939), Portuguese fiction writer and essayist
* Miryana Ivanova Basheva (born 1947), Bulgarian poet
* Hannah Bat Shahar (born 1944), Israeli fiction writer
* Nina Bawden (born 1925), British novelist and children’s writer
* Ann Beattie (born 1947), US short story writer and novelist
* Beatrix Beck (born 1914), French-Belgian novelist and poet
* Jean Bedford (born 1946), Australian novelist and short story writer
* Patricia Beer (1924-1999), British poet and non-fiction writer
* Maya Bejerano (born 1949), Israeli poet
* Hélé Béji (born 1948), Tunisian essayist
* Gioconda Belli (born 1948), Nicaraguan poet and novelist
* Louise Bennett (born 1919), Jamaican poet and folklorist
* Netiva Ben Yehuda (born 1928), Israeli author and editor
* Nina Nikolaevna Berberova (1901-1993), Russian prose writer, poet, autobiographer, critic and translator
* Alexandra Berková (born 1949), Czech novelist and essayist
* Sabina Berman (born 1955), Mexican playwright
* Louky Bersianik (born 1930), French-Canadian novelist and poet
* Agustina Bessa Luís (born 1922), Portuguese novelist
* Marion Bethel (born 1953), Bahamian poet
* Calixthe Beyala (born 1961), Cameroonian novelist
* Mannu Bhandari (born 1931), Indian fiction writer, playwright and scriptwriter
* Simin Bihbahani (born 1927), Iranian poet
* Stéphanie Corinna Bille (1912-1979), Swiss short story writer, dramatist, poet and novelist
* Raphaële Billetdoux (born 1951), French novelist
* Natalka Bilotserkivets’ (born 1954), Ukrainian poet
* Maeve Binchy (born 1940), Irish novelist and short story writer
* Bing Xin (1900-1999), Chinese poet, fiction writer and essayist
* Bint al-Shāti (1913-1998), Egyptian prose writer, short story writer and literary critic
* Sandra Birdsell (born 1942), Canadian novelist
* Marie-Claire Blais (born 1939), French-Canadian novelist
* Ana Blandiana (Otolia-Valeria Coman) (born 1942), Romanian poet
* Jaroslava Blazková (born 1933), Slovak novelist and editor
* Marion Bloem (born 1952), Dutch novelist
* Judy Blume (born 1938), US children’s writer and novelist
* Merlinda Bobis (born 1959), Philippine-Australian poet, dramatist and fiction writer
* Cecil Bødker (born 1927), Danish novelist
* Eavan Boland (born 1944), Irish poet and critic
* Elena Bonner (born 1923), Russian memoirist
* Boonlua (M. L. Boonlua Kunchon Thepyasuwan) (1911-1984), Thai novelist
* Botan (Supa Sirisingha) (born 1947), Thai novelist, short story writer and children’s writer
* Fernanda Botelho (born 1926), Portuguese novelist
* Tereza Boučková (born 1957), Czech prose writer
* Carmen Boullosa (born 1954), Mexican novelist and poet
* Nina Bouraoui (born 1967), French novelist
* Marilyn Bowering (born 1949), Canadian poet and novelist
* Clare Boylan (born 1948), Irish novelist
* Zuzana Brabcová (born 1959), Czech novelist
* Marion Zimmer Bradley (1930-1999), US novelist
* Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (born c. 1948), Philippine fiction writer and essayist
* Dionne Brand (born 1953), Trinidadian-Canadian poet and essayist
* Gerd Brantenberg (born 1941), Norwegian novelist
* Jean 'Binta' Breeze (born 1956), Jamaican poet and film writer
* Erna Brodber (born 1940), Jamaican novelist
* Suzanne Brøgger (born 1944), Danish novelist
* Christine Brooke-Rose (born 1923), British novelist and critic
* Anita Brookner (born 1928), English novelist
* Nicole Brossard (born 1943), Canadian poet and essayist
* Rita Mae Brown (born 1944), US novelist and poet
* Christine Brückner (born 1921), German novelist and fiction writer
* Andreas Burnier (Catherine Irma Dessaur) (born 1931), Dutch novelist and essayist
* Sharon Butala (born 1940), Canadian short story writer and essayist
* Octavia E. Butler (born 1947), US novelist and short story writer
* A. S. Byatt (Antonia Susan Byatt) (born 1936), English novelist and critic

C

* Lydia Cabrera (1899-1991), Cuban short story writer
* Hazel Campbell (born 1940), Jamaican short story writer
* Julieta Campos (born 1932), Cuban-Mexican novelist and critic
* Can Xue (born 1953), Chinese fiction writer
* Paola Capriolo (born 1962), Italian novelist, short story wroter and translator
* Marie Cardinal (born 1929), French novelist
* Magda Cârneci (born 1955), Romanian poet and art critic
* Anne Carson (born 1950), Canadian poet
* Angela Carter (1940-1992), English novelist, short story writer and essayist
* Maria Judite Carvalho (1921-1998), Portuguese short story writer
* Nina Cassian (born 1924), Romanian poet and composer
* Orly Castel-Bloom (born 1960), Israeli short story writer and novelist
* Rosario Castellanos (1925-1974), Mexican poet and novelist
* Ana Castillo (born 1953), US poet, fiction writer and essayist
* Nancy Cato (1917-2000), Australian novelist
* Adriana Cavarero (born 1947), Italian philosopher
* Ina Césaire (born 1942), French-Martinican dramatist
* Ana Cristina César (1952-1983), Brazilian poet and essayist
* Ruxandra Cesereanu (born 1963), Romanian poet
* Cynn Chadwick (born 1959), US novelist
* Rahel Chalfi (Rachel Chalfi) (born c. 1940s), Israeli poet
* Chamnongsri Rutnin (Khunying Chamnongsri Hanchanlash) (born 1939), Thai poet, biographer and translator
* Françoise Chandernagor (born 1945), French novelist and biographer
* Marie Chauvet (Marie Vieux) (1919-1972), Haitian novelist
* Denise Chavez (born 1948), US novelist and playwright
* Chantal Chawaf (born 1943), French writer
* Andrée Chedid (born 1920), French novelist and poet
* Chen Jingrong (1917-1995), Chinese poet, essayist and translator
* Chen Ran (born 1962), Chinese fiction writer
* Chen Ruoxi (Ch'en Jo-hsi; Chen Lucy) (born 1938), Chinese/Taiwan fiction writer
* Kema Chikwe (born 1947), Nigerian children’s writer, nonfiction writer and publisher
* Chiranan Pitpreecha (Chiranan Prasertkul) (born 1955), Thai poet
* Ch'oe Chǒnghǔi (1906-1990), South Korean fiction writer
* Ch'oe Yun (Choi Hyunmoo) (born 1953), Korean fiction writer and literary critic
* Inger Christensen (born 1935), Danish poet and novelist
* Chuah Guat Eng (born 1943), Malaysian novelist and stort story writer
* R. Chudamani (born 1931), Indian short story writer and novelist
* Leila Chudori (born 1962), Indonesian short story writer
* Ismat Chughtai (1915-1991), Indian fiction writer
* Lidiia Korneevna Chukovskaia (born 1907), Russian critic, editor, memoirist, novelist and poet
* Caryl Churchill (born 1938), British playwright
* Fausta Cialente (1898-1994), Italian novelist
* Sandra Cisneros (born 1954), US fiction writer and poet
* Hélène Cixous (born 1937), French writer and dramatist
* Amy Clampitt (1920-1994), US poet
* Gillian Clarke (born 1937), Welsh poet
* Catherine Clément (born 1939), French essayist and novelist
* Michelle Cliff (born 1946), Jamaican-US novelist
* Lucille Clifton (Thelma Lucille Clifton) (born 1936), US poet and children’s writer
* Marina Colasanti (born 1937), Brazilian short story writer and journalist
* Lindsey Collen (born 1948), Mauritian novelist
* Merle Collins (born 1950), Grenadian poet and novelist
* Maryse Condé (born 1937), Guadeloupean novelist
* Paule Constant (born 1944), French novelist
* Lena Constante (born 1909), Romanian writer
* Afua Cooper (born 1958), Jamaican-Canadian poet
* Wendy Cope (born 1945), British poet
* Gilda Cordero-Fernando (born 1930), Philippine fiction writer and essayist
* Patricia D. Cornwell (born 1956), US novelist
* Clara Pinto Correia (born 1960), Portuguese novelist and journalist
* Hélia Correia (born 1949), Portuguese novelist, dramatist and poet
* Natália Correia (1923-1993), Portuguese fiction writer, poet and dramatist
* Maria Corti (1915-2002), Italian literary critic and novelist
* Ajeet Cour (born 1934), Indian fiction writer
* Sonia Coutinho (born 1939), Brazilian novelist and short story writer
* Christine Craig (born 1943), Jamaican poet
* Helena Parente Cunha (born 1929), Brazilian novelist, poet, and short story writer
* Rachel Cusk (born 1967), British novelist

D

* Dai Houying (1938-1995), Chinese novelist and essayist
* Dai Qing (born 1941), Chinese journalist and writer
* Ruth Dallas (Ruth Mumford) (born 1919), New Zealand poet and children’s writer
* Tsitsi Dangarembga (born 1959), Zimbabwean novelist, playwright and filmmaker
* Sarah Daniels (born 1956), British playwright
* Simin Danishvar (born 1921), Iranian novelist and short story writer
* Edwidge Danticat (born 1969), Haitian-US novelist and short story writer
* Kamala Das (Madhavikutty) (born 1934), Indian poet and short story writer
* Mahadai Das (born 1954), Indo-Guyanese poet
* Shobha De (born 1948), Indian novelist and columnist
* Alba de Cèspedes (1911-1997), Italian novelist, journalist and poet
* Alma De Groen (born 1941), Australian dramatist
* Carolina Maria de Jesus (1915-1977), Brazilian fiction writer
* Ana Maria del Rio (born 1948), Chilean novelist and short story writer
* Márcia Denser (born 1949), Brazilian fiction writer
* Anita Desai (born 1937), Indian novelist
* Kamal Desai (born 1928), Indian novelist
* Dominique Desanti (born 1921), French novelist and biographer
* Gauri Deshpande (born 1942), Indian fiction writer, poet and translator
* Shashi Deshpande (born 1938), Indian novelist
* Noémia De Sousa (born 1927), Mozambican poet, journalist and activist
* Eunice de Souza (born 1940), Indian poet and literary critic
* Subha Devakul (1928-1993), Thai fiction writer and TV scriptwriter
* Saroop Dhruv (born 1948), Indian poet and social activist
* Nafissatou Niang Diallo (1941-1982), Senegalese novelist
* Joan Didion (born 1934), US novelist and essayist
* Annie Dillard (born 1945), US nonfiction writer and poet
* Ophelia O. Dimalanta (born 1934), Philippine poet
* Blaga Nikolova Dimitrova (born 1922), Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright
* Kiki Dimoula (born 1931), Greek poet
* Ding Ling (1904-1986), Chinese fiction writer
* Nurhayati Srihardini Dini (born 1936), Indonesian novelistand short story writer
* Diane Di Prima (born 1934), US poet and dramatist
* Jenny Diski (born 1947), US novelist
* Tove Ditlevsen (1918-1976), Danish poet and novelist
* Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni (born 1956), Indian-US poet and fiction writer
* Assia Djebar (Fatima-Zohra Imalhayene) (born 1935), Algerian novelist and filmmaker
* Djura (born 1949), Algerian-Kabyle writer
* Geneviève Dormann (born 1933), French novelist
* Renate Dorrestein (born 1954), Dutch novelist
* Maro Douka (born 1947), Greek novelist
* Rita Dove (born 1952), US poet
* Margaret Drabble (born 1939), English novelist and critic
* Slavenka Drakulić (born 1949), Croatian novelist and essayist
* Imme Dros (born 1936), Dutch children’s writer
* Marilyn Duckworth (born 1935), New Zealand novelist
* Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955), British poet and playwright
* Maureen Duffy (born 1933), British poet, novelist and playwright
* Helen Dunmore (born 1952), British poet and novelist
* Nell Dunn (born 1936), British novelist, playwright and nonfiction writer
* Duong Thu Huong (born 1947), Vietnamese novelist and fiction writer
* Francesca Duranti (born 1938), Italian writer and journalist
* Marguerite Duras (1914-1996), French novelist and screenwriter

G

* Nathalie Gassel (born 1964) feminist writer and essayist

M

* Ma Sanda (born 1947), Burmese writer
* Ann-Marie McDonald (born 1959), Canadian dramatist and novelist
* Sharman MacDonald (born 1951), Scottish playwright
* Shena Mackay (born 1944), Scottish novelist
* Sindiwe Magona (born 1943). South African novelist, memoirist, and short-story writer
* Mahasweta Devi (born 1926), Indian novelist, short-story writer and journalist
* Maryam Mahbub (born 1953), Afghan short-story writer
* Margaret Mahy (born 1936), New Zealand children's writer
* Jennifer Maiden (born 1939), Australian poet and prose writer
* Antonine Maillet (born 1929), Canadian novelist and dramatist
* Nancy Mairs (born 1943), US essayist and poet
* Sara Maitland (born 1950), British novelist
* Elena Grigoryevna Makarova (born 1951), Russian prose writer and essayist
* Nāzil al-Malā'ika (born 1923), Iraqi poet and literary critic
* Ileana Mǎlǎncioiu (born 1940), Romanian poet
* Françoise Mallet-Joris (born 1930), Francophone Belgian novelist
* Ma Ma Lay (1917-1982), Burmese writer
* 'Āliya Mamdūh (born 1944), Iraqi novelist, short-story writer and journalist
* Samīra al-Māni' (born 1935), Iraqi novelist, playwright and short-story writer
* Eeva-Liisa Manner (1921-1995), Finnish poet, playwright and translator
* Joyce Mansour (1928-1986), Egyptian poet
* Hilary Mantel (born 1952), British novelist and critic
* Dacia Maraini (born 1935), Italian novelist, dramatist and poet
* Mariana Marin (Marianna Pintilie) (born 1956), Romanian poet
* Kamala Markandaya (born 1924), Indian novelist
* Daphne Marlatt (born 1942), Canadian poet and novelist
* Monika Maron (born 1941), East German novelist
* Paule Marshall (born 1929), Barbadian-US novelist
* Carmen Martín Gaite (1925-2000), Spanish novelist
* Bobbie Ann Mason (born 1940), US short-story writer and novelist
* Olga Masters (1919-1986), Australian fiction writer and journalist
* Jenny Mastoraki (born 1949), Greek poet and translator
* Angeles Mastretta (born 1949), Mexican novelist and short-story writer
* Ronit Matalon (born 1959), Israeli fiction writer
* Ana María Matute (born 1926), Spanish fiction writer
* Novella Matveeva Nikolaevna (born 1934), Russian poet, songwriter and singer
* Marina Ama Omowale Maxwell, Trinidadian novelist and dramatist
* Friederike Mayröcker (born 1942), Austrian poet and fiction writer
* Anne McCaffrey (born 1926, US novelist
* Sue McCauley (born 1939), New Zealand novelist, scriptwriter and journalist
* Colleen McCullough (born 1937), Australian novelist
* Val McDermid (born 1955), Scottish novelist
* Alice McDermott (born 1953), US novelist
* Medbh McGuckian (born 1950), Irish poet
* Terry McMillan (born 1951), US novelist
* Cilla McQueen (born 1949), New Zealand poet
* Candia McWilliam (born 1955), Scottish novelist and short-story writer
* Gita Mehta (born 1943, Indian novelist, essayist and documentary film-maker
* Alda Merini (born 1931), Italian poet
* Fatima Mernissi (born 1940), Moroccan sociologist and memoirist
* Anja Meulenbelt (born 1945), Dutch essayist and novelist
* Leila Míccolis (born 1947), Brazilian poet and fiction writer
* Hanny Michaelis (born 1922), Dutch poet
* Anne Michaels (born 1958), Canadian poet and novelist
* Farzaneh Milani (born 1947), Iranian poet and literary critic
* Sue Miller (born 1943), US novelist
* Krystyna Miłobedzka (born 1932), Polish poet
* Marga Minco (born 1920), Dutch novelist and short-story writer
* Ana Maria Miranda (born 1951), Brazilian poet and novelist
* Waltraud Anna Mitgutsch (born 1948), Austrian novelist
* Mo Mo (Inya) (1945-1990), Burmese writer
* Karin Moe (born 1945), Norwegian sexual/textual reformer
* Malika Mokeddem (born 1949), Francophone Algerian novelist
* Silvia Molina (born 1946), Mexican novelist and short-story writer
* Sylvia Molloy (born 1938), Argentine novelist and literary critic
* Libuše Moníková (1945-1998), Czech-German novelist and essayist
* Rosa Montero (born 1951), Spanish novelist and journalist
* Margriet de Moor (born 1941), Dutch novelist
* Lorrie Moore (born 1957), US short-story writer and novelist
* Finola Moorhead (born 1947), Australian novelist, playwright, essayist and poet
* Cherrie Moraga (born 1952), US playwright, poet and editor
* Giuliana Morandini (born 1944), Italian novelist and essayist
* Elsa Morante (1912-1985), Italian novelist
* Marta Morazzoni (born 1950), Italian novelist
* Dea Trier Mørch (born 1941), Danish writer
* Pamela Mordecai (born 1942), Jamaican poet and children's writer
* Nancy Morejón (born 1944), Cuban poet and translator
* Virginia R. Moreno (born 1925), Philippine playwright and poet
* Sally Morgan (born 1951), Australian autobiographer and biographer
* Irmtraud Morgner (1933-1990), East German novelist
* Iunna Petrovna Morits (born 1937), Russian poet and essayist
* Toni Morrison (born 1931), US novelist and essayist
* Micere Githae Mugo (born 1942), Kenyan poet, critic, playwright and activist
* Hazel de Silva Mugot (born 1947), Kenyan novelist
* Penina Muhando (born 1948), Tanzanian playwright
* Bharati Mukherjee (born 1940), US fiction writer
* Meenakshi Mukherjee (born 1937), Indian literary critic
* Herta Müller (born 1953), German-Romanian novelist
* Alice Munro (born 1931), Canadian short-story writer
* Iris Murdoch (1919-1999), British novelist

N

* Kishwar Naheed (born 1940), Pakistani poet
* Huda al-Namani (born 1930), Syrian poet
* Suniti Namjoshi (born 1941), Indian-Canadian-British fabulist and poet
* Hamida Nana (born 1946), Syrian novelist, poet and journalist
* Carmen Naranjo (born 1931), Costa Rican novelist and poet
* Naravadee (born 1931), Thai fiction writer and poet.
* Valeriia Spartakovna Narbikova (born 1958), Russian writer and painter
* Emily Nasrallah (born 1931), Lebanese novelist, short-story writer and journalist
* Taslima Nasrin (born 1962), Bangladeshi poet and essayist
* Gloria Naylor (born 1950), US novelist
* Marie NDiaye (born 1967), French novelist
* Lauretta Ngcobo (born 1931), South African novelist, editor and fiction writer
* Giulia Niccolai (born 1934), Italian poet and writer
* Grace Nichols, Guyanese-British poet, children's writer and novelist
* Eilean Ni Chuilleanain (born 1942), Irish poet
* Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill (born 1952), Irish poet
* Nie Hualing (born 1925), Chinese fiction writer and literary critic
* Anupama Niranjana (1934-1991), Indian novelist and short-story writer
* Rebeka Njau (born 1939), Kenyan novelist, playwright and critic
* Francine Noël (born 1945), Canadian novelist
* Olga Nolla (born 1938), Puerto Rican poet
* Marsha Norman (born 1947), US playwright
* Amélie Nothomb (born 1967), Francophone Belgian novelist
* Nu Nu Yi (or Inya) (born 1957), Burmese short-story writer and novelist
* Flora Nwapa (1931-1993), Nigerian novelist, dramatist, short-story writer and children's author

O

* O Chong-hui (born 1947), Korean fiction writer
* Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), US novelist, short-story writer, poet and playwright
* Edna O'Brien (born 1932), Irish novelist
* Julia O'Faolain (born 1932), Irish novelist and short-story writer
* Grace Ogot (born 1930), Kenyan short-story writer and novelist
* Morola Ogundipe-Leslie (born 1940), Nigerian poet, critic, editor and activist
* Ohba Minako (born 1930), Japanese novelist
* Ifeoma Okoye, Nigerian novelist and children's writer
* Sharon Olds (born 1942), US poet
* Mary Oliver (born 1935), US poet
* Maria-Antònia Oliver y Cabrer (born 1946), Catalan novelist
* Tillie Olsen (born 1913), US novelist and short-story writer
* Tess Onwueme (born 1955), Nigerian playwright
* Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) (1920-1993), Australian poet
* Olga Orozco (born 1920), Argentine poet
* Elivira Orphée (born 1930), Argentine novelist and short-story writer
* Anna Maria Ortense (1914-1998), Italian novelist, short-story writer and journalist
* Lourdes Ortiz (born 1943), Spanish novelist
* Alicia Ostriker (born 1937), US poet and critic
* Aysel Őzakin (born 1940), Turkish novelist, short-story writer and poet
* Cynthia Ozik (born 1928), US short story writer, novelist and essayist

P

* Manjula Padmanabhan (born 1953), Indian short-story writer, dramatist and illustrator
* Pak Hwasŏng (Pak Kyŏngsun) (1904-1988), Korean fiction writer and essayist
* Pak Kyŏngni (born 1927), Korean fiction writer
* Pak Wansŏ (born 1931), South Korean fiction writer
* Marina Anatolyevna Palei (born 1955), Russian prose writer and poet
* Grace Paley (born 1922), US short-story writer
* Connie Palmen (born 1955), Dutch novelist and memoirist
* Kirsti Paltto (born 1947), Sami novelist, short-story writer, children's writer and poet
* Mrinal Pande (born 1946), Indian short-story writer
* Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo (born 1944), Philippine fiction writer and essayist
* Sara Paretsky (born 1947), US novelist
* Ruth Park (born 1918), Australian novelist, children's writer, dramatist and nonfiction writer
* Shahrnush Parsipur (born 1946), Iranian novelist
* Vesna Parun (born 1922), Croatian poet
* Gudrun Pausewang (born 1928), German fiction writer
* Solomea Dmytrivna Pavlychko (or Solomiia Dmytrivna Pavlychko) (born 1958), Ukrainian critic, memoirist, essayist and translator
* Urmila Pawar (born 1945), Indian short-story writer
* Iva Pekárková (born 1963), Czech novelist
* Cristina Peri Rossi (born 1941), Uruguayan novelist, short-story writer, poet
* Synnøve Persen (born 1950), Sami poet and visual artist
* Ioana Emanuela Petrescu (1941-90), Romanian literary critic and essayist
* Sandra Petrignani (norn 1952), Italian journalist and short-story writer
* Lyudmila Petrushevskaya (born 1938), Russian prose writer, playwright and journalist
* Pham Thi Hoai (born 1960), Vietnamese novelist and short-story writer
* Phan Thi Vang-Anh (born 1968), Vietnamese short-story writer
* Marlene Nourbese Philip (born 1947), Tobagan-Canadian poet and novelist
* Jayne Anne Phillips (born 1952), US novelist and short-story writer
* Marge Piercy (born 1936), US poet and novelist
* Hava Pinchas-Cohen (born 1955), Israeli poet
* Gisèle Pineau (born 1956), Guadeloupean novelist
* Ping Lu (born 1953), Chinese-Taiwan fiction writer and journalist
* Nélida Piñon (born 1937), Brazlian fiction writer
* Alejandra Pizarnik (1936-1972), Argentine poet and translator
* Sylvia Plath (1932-1963), US poet and novelist
* Agneta Pleijel (born 1940), Swedish playwright
* Irina Nikolaevna Polianskaia (born 1952), Russian prose writer
* Velma Pollard (born 1937), Jamaican poet and fiction writer
* Katha Pollitt (born 1949), US essayist and poet
* Elena Poniatowska (born 1933), Mexican novelist and journalist
* Halina Poświatowska (1935-1967), Polish poet and autobiographer
* Adélia Prado (born 1935), Brazilian poet and fiction writer
* Amrita Pritam (born 1919), Indian poet and fiction writer
* Lenka Procházková (born 1951), Czech prose writer
* Francine Prose (born 1947), US novelist and essayist
* Suzanne Prou (1920-1995), French novelist
* E. Annie Proulx (born 1935), US novelist and short-story writer
* Anne Provoost (born 1964), Flemish children's writer
* María Luisa Puga (born 1944), Mexican novelist and short-story writer

Q

* Suhayr al-Qalamāwī (1911-1997), Egyptian novelist, short-story writer and literary critic
* Magaly Quiñones (born 1945), Puerto Rican poet

R

* Valentina Dimitrova Radinska (born 1951), Bulgarian poet, essayist and translator
* Nasrin Rahimieh (born 1958), Iranian literary critic and editor
* Hanna Rambe (born 1940), Indonesian fiction writer and journalist
* Franca Rame (born 1929), Italian dramatist
* Fabrizia Ramondino (born 1936), Italian writer, essayist and screenwriter
* Ravinder Randhawa (born 1952), Indian-British short-story writer and novelist
* Irina Borisovna Ratushinskaia (born 1954), Russian poet, memoirist and prose writer
* Muniru Ravanipur (born 1954), Iranian novelist
* Dahlia Ravikovitch (born 1936), Israeli poet
* Pratibha Ray (born 1944), Indian novelist
* Hannie Rayson (born 1957), Australian playwright and freelance writer
* Marie Redonnet (born 1948), French novelist and dramatist
* Ruth Rehmann (born 1922), German novelist and short story writer
* Christa Reinig (born 1926), German novelist
* Gerlind Reinshagen (born 1926), German playwright
* Ruth Rendell (born 1930), English mystery writer and short-story writer
* Fahmida Riaz (born 1945), Pakistani poet and fiction writer
* Esmeralda Ribeiro (born 1958), Brazilian poet, short-story writer and journalist
* Anne Rice (born 1941), US novelist
* Adrienne Rich (born 1929), US poet and essayist
* Sylvie Richterová (born 1945), Czech prose writer
* Alifa Rifaat (1930-1996), Egyptian short-story writer
* Christine de Rivoyre (born 1921), French novelist and journalist
* Michèle Roberts (born 1949), British novelist and poet
* Régine Robin (born 1939), French-Canadian novelist
* Marilynne Robinson (born 1944), US novelist
* Mireya Robles (born 1934), Cuban-US poet, novelist and short-story writer
* Christiana Rochefort (1917-1998), French novelist
* Mercè Rodoreda (1908-1983), Catalan fiction writer
* Judith Rodriguez (born 1936), Australian poet and editor
* Astrid Roemer (born 1947), Surinamese novelist and poet
* Romano Lallo (born 1909, Italian novelist
* Rong Zi (born 1928), Chinese-Taiwan poet
* Nitotchka Rosca (born 1946), Philippine fiction writer and essayist
* Amelia Rosselli (1930-1996), Italian poet
* Arundhati Roy (born 1961), Indian novelist
* Gabrielle Roy (1909-1983), Canadian novelist
* Ru Zhijuan (born 1925), Chinese fiction writer
* Dina Il'inichna Rubina (born 1953), Russian prose writer
* Gillian Rubinstein (born 1942), Australian novelist and children's dramatist
* Renate Rubinstein (1929-1900), Dutch journalist, essayist and memoirist
* Helga Ruebsamen (born 1936), Dutch novelist and short-story writer
* Jane Rule (born 1931), Canadian novelist and short-story writer
* Carol Rumens (or Carol-Ann Rumens) (born 1944), British poet
* Layla Sarahat Rushani (born c. 1952-4), Afghan poet
* Joanna Russ (born 1937), US science fiction writer and feminist critic
* Gig Ryan (Elizabeth Ryan) (born 1956), Australian poet and songwriter

* Astrid Saalbach (born 1955), Danish playwright
* Souad al-Sabah (born 1942), Kuwaiti poet and economist
* Nawāl al-Sa'dāwī (born 1930), Egyptian noevlist, short-story writer and activist
* Mallika Sengupta (born 1960), Indian Bengali poet, writer, gender activist and sociologist
* Nina Mikhailovna Sadur (born 1950), Russian prose writer and playwright
* Elif Şafak (born 1971), Turkish novelist and historian
* Tahirih Saffarzedeh (born 1936), Iranian poet
* Françoise Sagan (born 1935), French novelist and dramatist
* Nayantara Sahgal (born 1927), Indian novelist
* Bahar Said (born c. 1954), Afghan poet
* Titie Said (born 1935), Indonesian fiction writer
* Lisa St Aubin de Teran (born 1953), British novelist, poet and travel writer
* Zdena Salivarová (born 1933), Czech prose writer
* May Jo Salter (born 1954), US poet
* Ghāda al-Sammān (born 1942, Syrian novelist
* Helke Sander (born 1937), German film-maker and prose writer
* Francesca Sanvitale (born 1928), Italian novelist and journalist
* Nathalie Sarraute (1900-1999), French novelist and dramatist
* Ratna Sarumpaet (born 1949), Indonesian dramatist
* Munā al-Sa'ūdī (born 1945), Jordanian poet
* Cathleen Schine (born 1953), US novelist
* Annie M. G. Schmidt (1911-1995), Dutch children's writer
* Solveig von Schoultz (1907-1996), Finland-Swedish poet and short-story writer
* Simone Schwartz-Bart (born 1938), Guadeloupean novelist
* Leïla Sebbar (born 1941), French-Algerian novelist and short-story writer
* Olga Aleksandrovna Sedakova (born 1949), Russian poet and prose writer
* Anna Seghers (1900-1983), German novelist and short-story writer
* Mabel Segun (born 1930), Nigerian fiction writer, essayist and poet
* Nava Semel (born 1954), Israeli fiction writer and dramatist
* Nabaneeta Dev Sen (born 1938), Indian fiction writer, poet and critic
* Olive Senior (born 1941), Jamaican short-story writer and poet
* Anne Sexton (1928-1974), US poet
* Ntozake Shange (born 1948), US dramatist, poet and novelist
* Hanān al-Shaykh (born 1945), Lebanese novelist and short-story writer
* Galina Nikolaevna Shcherbakova (born 1932), Russian prose writer and scriptwriter
* Tatiana Georgievna Shcherbina (born 1954), Russian poet
* Shen Rong (born 1936), Chinese fiction writer
* Shi Shuqing (born 1945), Chinese-Taiwan fiction writer
* Carol Shields (born 1935), Canadian novelist
* Shin Kyǒgsuk (born 1963), South Korean novelist
* Janice Shinebourne (born 1947), Guyanese short-story writer and novelist
* Elaine Showalter (born 1941), US feminist literary critic
* Shu Ting (born 1952), Chinese poet
* Elena Andreevna Shvarts (born 1948), Russian poet
* Si Pha (M. L. Sipha Ladavalya Mahawann) (born 1930), Thai writer
* Sidaoruang (Wanna Sawatsi) (born 1943), Thai fiction writer
* Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938), Pakistani novelist
* Raija Siekkinen (born 1953), Finnish novelist
* Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir (born 1940), Icelandic novelist and short-story writer
* Steinunn Sigurðardóttir (born 1950), Icelandic novelist, short-story writer, poet and playwright
* Leslie Marmon Silko (born 1948), US novelist, poet and short-story writer
* Kirsti Simonsuuri (born 1945), Finnish poet, essayist and prose writer
* Mona Simpson (born 1957), US novelist
* Maj Sjöwall (born 1935), Swedish crime fiction writer
* Michelle Cruz Skinner (born 1965), Philippine fiction writer
* Jane Smiley (born 1949), US novelist and short-story writer
* Elizabeth Smither (born 1941), New Zealand poet and fiction writer
* Krishna Sobti (born 1925), Indian fiction writer
* Zulu Sofola (1935-1995), Nigerian playwright
* Cathy Song (born 1955), US poet
* Susan Sontag (born 1933), US essayist
* Aminata Sow Fall (born 1941), Senegalese novelist
* Sevgi Soysal (1936-1976), Turkish short-story writer and novelist
* Muriel Spark (born 1918), Scottish novelist, poet and short-story writer
* Maria Spaziani Luisa (born 1924), Italian poet and critic
* Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (born 1942), Indian-US cultural theorist
* Eintou Pearl Springer (born 1944), Trinidadian poet and dramatist
* Verena Stefan (born 1947), Swiss-German prose writer and poet
* Ginka Steinwachs (born 1942), German novelist, dramatist and essayist
* Eira Stenberg (born 1943), Finnish poet and novelist
* Anne Stevenson (born 1933), British poet and biographer
* Jennifer Strauss (born 1933), Australian poet, essayist and critic
* Eva Ström (born 1947), Swedish poet, novelist and critic
* Su Weizhen (born 1954), Chinese-Taiwan fiction writer and editor
* Sara Suleri Goodyear (born 1953), Pakistani-US prose writer and critic
* Rajeswari Sunder Rajan (born 1950), Indian feminist cultural critic
* Supunpasaj Supasiri (born 1948), Thai short-story writer and memoirist
* Efua Theodora Sutherland (1924-1996), Ghanaian playwright and activist
* Suwanni Sukhontha (Suwanni Sukhonthiang) (1932-1984), Thai fiction writer
* Anna Swir (1909-1984), Polish poet and playwright
* Meera Syal (born 1963), British-Indian screenwriter and novelist
* Wislawa Szymborska (born 1923), Polish poet

T

* Véronique Tadjo (born 1955), Côte d'Ivoire poet and novelist
* Pia Tafdrup (born 1952), Danish poet and playwright
* Takahashi Takako (born 1932), Japanese novelist and fiction writer
* Takenishi Hiroko (born 1929), Japanese novelist and critic
* Marie Takvam (born 1926), Norwegian poet
* Susanna Tamaro (born 1957), Italian novelist, short-story writer and children's writer
* Amy Tan (born 1952), US novelist
* Goli Taraqqi (born 1939), Iranian novelist
* Latife Tekin (born 1957), Turkish novelist
* Lygia Fagundes Telles (born 1923), Brazilian novelist and short-story writer
* Emma Tennant (born 1937), British novelist
* Hilary Tham (born 1946), Asian-American poet
* Susie Tharu (born 1943), Indian feminist cultural theorist
* Audrey Thomas (born 1935), Canadian novelist
* Thomyanti (Wimol Siriphaiboon] (born 1945), Thai fiction writer
* Melanie Rae Thon (born 1957), US novelist and short-story writer
* Kirsten Thorup (born 1942), Danish novelist
* Tie Ning (born 1957), Chinese fiction writer
* Edith L. Tiempo (born 1919), Philippine poet and novelist
* Märta Tikkanen (born 1935), Finland-Swedish novelist and editor
* Totilawati Tjitrawasita (1945-1982), Indonesian fiction writer
* Miriam Tlari (born 1933), South African novelist, journalist and short-story writer
* Viktoriya Samoilovna Tokareva (born 1937), Russian prose writer, playwright and scriptwriter
* Tatyana Tolstaya (born 1951), Russian short-story writer
* Tomioka Taeko (born 1935), Japanese poet, novelist and fiction writer
* Rowena Tiempo Torrevillas (born 1951), Philippine poet, fiction writer and essayist
* Sue Townsend (born 1946), British novelist and playwright
* Marta Traba (1930-1983), Argentine-Columbian art critic, poet and novelist
* Rose Tremain (born 1943), British novelist and short-story writer
* Joanna Trollope (born 1943), British novelist
* Tsushima Yoko (born 1947), Japanese novelist
* Fadwā Tūqān (born 1917), Palestinian poet
* Surkka Turkka (born 1939), Finnish poet
* Patricia Turnbull (born 1952), St Lucian and Virgin Islands poet
* Esther Tusquets (born 1936), Spanish fiction writer
* Linda Ty-Casper (born c. 1930s), Philippine fiction writer
* Anne Tyler (born 1941), US novelist and short-story writer

U

* Dubravka Ugrešić (born 1949), Croatian fiction writer and literary scholar
* Adaora Lily Ulasi (born 1931), Nigerian journlalist and novelist
* Liudmila Evgen'evna Ulitskaia (born 1943), Russian prose writer and scriptwriter
* Luz Maria Umpierre-Herrera (born 1947), Puerto Rican poet and critic
* Uno Chiyo (1897-1996), Japanese novelist and essayist
* Jane Urquhart (born 1949), Canadian poet and fiction writer
* Laylā 'Usayrān (born 1934), Lebanese novelist and journalist
* Laylā al-'Uthmān (born 1945), Kuwaiti novelist, short-story writer and journalist

V

* V. Vinichayakul (Khunying Vinita Diteeyont) (born 1949), Thai fiction writer
* Vaidehi (born 1945), Indian short-story writer and novelist
* Luisa Valenzuela (born 1938), Argentine novelist and short-story writer
* Larisa L'vovna Vaneeva (born 1953), Russian prose writer
* Aritha van Herk (born 1954), Canadian writer
* Ruth Vanita (born 1955), Indian feminist critic, literary historian and poet
* Edla Van Steen (born 1936), Brazilian novelist
* Inna Gustavovna Varlamova (Klavdiia Landau) (1922-1990), Russian prose writer
* Svetlana Vladimirovna Vasilenko (born 1956), Russian prose writer and scriptwriter
* Ana Lydia Vega (born 1946), Puerto Rican short-story writer
* Svetlana Velmar-Janković (born 1949), Serbian novelist and literary critic
* Yvonne Vera (born 1964), Zimbabwean short-story writer and novelist
* Anne-Cath. Vestly (Catharina) (born 1920), Norwegian children's writer
* Bea Vianen (born 1935), Surinamese novelist and poet
* Cecilia Vicuña (born 1948), Chilean poet
* Bjørg Vik (born 1945), Norwegian short-story writer, novelist and playwright
* Maruxa Vilalta (born 1932), Mexican dramatist and journalist
* Idea Vilariño (born 1920), Uruguayan poet
* Linda Vilhjálmsdóttir (born 1958), Icelandic poet and playwright
* Barbara Vine, see Ruth Rendell
* Helena Maria Viramontes (born 1954), US fiction writer and editor
* Paula Vogel (born 1951), US playwright
* Yona Volach (1944-1985), Israeli poet
* Juliia Nikolaevna Voznesenskaia (born 1940), Russian prose writer, poet and essayist
* Irena Vrkljan (born 1930), Serbian prose writer, poet and screenwriter

W

* Elly de Waard (born 1940), Dutch poet
* Charity Waciuma (born c. 1930s), Kenyan autobiographer and children's writer
* Surraya Wahidi (born 1955), Afghan poet
* Diane Wakoski (born 1937), US poet and essayist
* Alice Walker (born 1944), US novelist, poet, short-story writer and essayist
* Maxie Wander (1933-1977), German prose writer
* Wang Anyi (born 1954), Chinese fiction writer
* Lulu Wang (born 1960), Dutch novelist
* Marina Warner (born 1946), English novelist, critic and children's writer
* Myriam Warner-Vieyra (born 1939), Guadeloupian novelist
* Wendy Wasserstein (born 1950), US playwright
* Herbjørg Wassmo (born 1942), Norwegian novelist and poet
* Phyllis Webb (1927-1997), Canadian poet
* Sigrid Weigel (born 1950), German feminist literary theorist
* Fay Weldon (born 1933), English novelist, short-story writer and playwright
* Timberlake Wertenbaker (born 1951), English playwright and translator
* Susan Wicks (born 1947), British poet and novelist
* Zoë Wicomb (born 1948), South African short-story writer, essayist and activist
* Marianne Wiggins (born 1947), US novelist
* Dorrit Willumsen (born 1940), Danish novelist and short-story writer
* Jeanette Winterson (born 1959), British novelist and short-story writer
* Monique Wittig (born 1935), French writer
* Amy Witting (Joan Levick, née Fraser) (1918-2001), Australian fiction writer and poet
* Gabriele Wohlmann (born 1932), German novelist
* Christa Wolf (born 1929), East German fiction writer and essayist
* Bikwan Flora Wong, see Huang Biyun
* Judith Wright (born 1915), Australian poet, children's writer and essayist
* Sylvia Wynter (born 1928), Jamaican novelist and dramatist

X

* Xi Xi (born 1938), Chinese-Hong Kong fiction writer and essayist
* Xia Yu (born 1956), Chinese-Taiwan poet and songwriter
* Xiao Sa (born 1953), Chinese-Taiwan fiction writer

Y

* Yamada Eimi (Amy) (born 1959), Japanese novelist and fiction writer
* Lois-Ann Yamanaka (born 1961), US novelist and poet
* Yang Jiang (born 1911), Chinese dramatist and fiction writer
* Yang Kwi-ja (born 1955), Korean fiction writer
* Yang Mo (1914-1995), Chinese fiction writer
* Nazik Saba Yared (born 1928), Palestinian novelist
* Yoshimoto Banana (born 1964), Japanese novelist, short-story writer and essayist
* Ekaterina Petrova Yosifova (born 1941)
* Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987), French-writing novelist and translator
* Yu Lihua (born 1931), Chinese fiction writer
* Yu Luojin (born 1946), Chinese fiction writer
* Ovidia Yu (born 1960), Singaporean playwright
* Yuan Qiongqiong (born 1950), Chinese-Taiwan fiction writer

Z

* Oksana Stefanivna Zabuzhko (born 1960), Ukrainian poet, novelist and essayist
* Dina Zaman (born 1969), Malaysian poet and short-story writer
* Haifa Zangana (born 1950), Iraqi novelist
* Spojmai Raauf Zaryab (born 1952), Afghan short-story writer
* Latifa Zayyat (1923-1996), Egyptian novelist, writer and activist
* Alki Zei (born c. 1926), Greek children's writer and novelist
* Zelda (Zelda Shneurson Mishkowsky) (1914-1984), Israeli poet
* Zha Jianying (born 1959), Chinese fiction writer and essayist
* Zhai Yongming (born 1955), Chinese poet
* Zhang Ailing (Eileen Chang) (1920-1995), Chinese fiction writer and essayist
* Zhang Jie (born 1937), Chinese fiction writer
* Zhang Xinxin (born 1953), Chinese fiction writer
* Zheng Min (born 1920), Chinese poet and literary critic
* Zhong Ling (Chung Ling) (born 1945), Chinese-Taiwanese fiction writer, poet and translator
* Zhong Xiaoyang (born 1962), Chinese-Hong Kong fiction writer
* Zhu Tianwen (born 1956), Chinese-Taiwan fiction writer, screenwriter
* Zhu Tianxin (born 1958), Taiwan fiction writer and essayist
* Unica Zürn (1916-1970), German novelist and poet
* Fay Zwicky (Fay Julia Zwicky) (born 1933), Australian poet and essayist