List of women writers (A–L)

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 adult)

A

Aa–Ag Karen Aabye (1904–1982, Denmark), nv. & travel wr. Uma Aaltonen (1940–2009, Finland), YA wr. Jane Aamund (1936–2019, Denmark), col. & nv. Jane Aaron (b. 1951, Wales), wr. & scholar Madiha Abdalla (fl. 2010s, Sudan), newspaper editor Masoumeh Abad (b. 1962, Iran), mem. & academic Mercedes Abad (b. 1961, Spain), fiction wr. Ines Abassi (b. 1982, Tunisia/UAE), poet & travel wr. Florencia Abbate (b. 1976, Argentina), fiction wr., poet & es. Eleanor Hallowell Abbott (1872–1958, United States), poet & fiction wr. Rachel Abbott (b. 1952, England), thriller wr. Shaila Abdullah (b. 1971, Pakistan/United States), fiction & ch. wr. Yassmin Abdel-Magied (b. 1991, Sudan/Australia), wr. & media person Hafsat Abdulwaheed (b. 1952, Nigeria), poet & fiction & non-f. wr. Rreze Abdullahu (b. 1990, Kosovo), wr. & war diarist Louise Abeita (1926–2014, United States), wr. Josette Abondio (b. 1949, Ivory Coast), nv. & ch. wr. Sara Aboobacker (1936–2023, India), Kannada wr. Marguerite Abouet (b. 1971, Ivory Coast), comics wr. Leila Aboulela (b. 1964, Sudan), wr. Leila Abouzeid (b. 1950, Morocco), social wr. Abiola Abrams (b. 1976, United States), wr. & filmmaker Minnie F. Abrams (1859-1912, United States), non-f. wr. Liliana Abud (b. 1948, Mexico), TV screenwriter Umayya Abu-Hanna (b. 1961, Palestine/Finland), fiction & non-f. wr. Susan Abulhawa (b. 1970, Palestine/United States), nv. Lama Abu-Odeh (b. 1962, Palestine/United States), wr. on Islamic law Juliet Ace (1938–2015, Wales), pw. & scriptwriter Maddalena Aceiaiuoli (1557–1610, Tuscany), poet Nora Aceval (b. 1953, Algeria/France), story teller Maria Dolores Acevedo (1932–1998, Spain), nv. Anna Maria Achenrainer (1909–1972, Austria/Austria-Hungary), wr. Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (1951–2014, Nigeria), poet & social wr. Kathy Acker (1947–1997, United States), nv., poet & pw. Maximiliane Ackers (1896–1982, Germany), fiction wr. Bertilda Samper Acosta (1856–1910, Comoros), poet & nun Ofelia Uribe de Acosta (1900–1988, Comoros), suffragist Soledad Acosta (1833–1913, Comoros), sociologist Eliza Acton (1799–1859, England), cookery wr. & poet; Modern Cookery for Private Families Joyce Ackroyd (1918–1991, Australia), wr. & academic Avis Acres (1910–1994, New Zealand), ch. wr. & illustrator Angelina Acuña (1905–2006, Guatemala), sonneteer Dora Acuña (1903–1987, Paraguay), poet & col. Rosario de Acuña (1850–1923, Spain), poet, pw. & es. Alma Flor Ada (b. 1938, Cuba), ch. wr., poet & nv. Barbara Adair (living, South Africa), nv. in English Varsha Adalja (b. 1940, India), nv. & pw. Juliette Adam (1836–1936, France), wr. & editor Pip Adam (living, New Zealand), fiction wr. Gabriela Adameșteanu (b. 1942, Romania), fiction wr. & es. Draginja Adamović (1925–2000, Serbia), poet Abigail Adams (1744–1818, United States), First Lady of the United States, letter wr. & diarist Glenda Adams (1939–2007, Australia), fiction wr. Lois Bryan Adams (1817–1870, United States), wr., journalist & ed. Mary Mathews Adams (1840–1902, Ireland/United States), wr. Patricia J. Adams (b. 1952, Anguilla), poet, wr. & broadcaster Sarah Fuller Flower Adams (1805–1848, England), poet & lyricist Patsy Adam-Smith (1924–2001, Australia), historian Catherine Adamson (1868–1925, Australia/New Zealand), homemaker & diarist Gil Adamson (b. 1961, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr. & poet Alison Adburgham (1912–1997, England), non-f. wr. & social historian Fleur Adcock (1934–2024, New Zealand/England), poet & editor Caroline Adderson (b. 1963, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr. Yda Addis (1857–1902, United States), wr. & translator Lucia H. Faxon Additon (1847–1919, United States), wr. Kim Addonizio (b. 1954, United States), poet & nv. Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (b. 1988, Nigeria), nv. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (b. 1963, Nigeria), wr. & policy advocate Sade Adeniran (b. 1960s, Nigeria), nv. Anne-Marie Adiaffi (1951–1994, Ivory Coast), nv. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (b. 1977, Nigeria), fiction & non-f. wr. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (living, Nigeria), wr. & educator Opal Palmer Adisa (b. 1954, Jamaica), poet, nv. & educator Halide Edib Adıvar (1884–1964, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), nv. & rights activist Zoe Adjonyoh (b. 1977, England), wr. & cook Carine Adler (b. 1948, Brazil), screenwriter Emma Adler (1858–1935, Austria/Austria-Hungary), nv. & non-f. wr. Renata Adler (b. 1937, United States), wr., col. & critic Sophie Adlersparre (1823–1895, Sweden), feminist editor & wr. Etel Adnan (1925–2021, Lebanon/United States), poet, es. & artist Pilar Adón (b. 1971, Spain), nv., ss. wr., poet, & translator Wilna Adriaanse (b. 1958, South Africa), nv. in Afrikaans Aesara of Lucania (4th or 3rd century BC, Ancient Greece), philosopher Ethel Afamado (b. 1940, Uruguay), poet & songwriter Gladys Afamado (1925–2024, Uruguay), poet & artist Anastasia Afanasieva (b. 1982, Ukraine), physician, poet, writer & translator Janet Afary (living, Iran/Persia/United States), historian & religious wr. Mahnaz Afkhami (b. 1941, Iran/Persia/United States), wr. & rights activist Ishrat Afreen (b. 1956, Pakistan), poet Vittoria Aganoor (1855–1910, Italy), poet Smita Agarwal (b. 1958, India), poet & academic Sheetal Agashe (b. 1977, India), poet Patience Agbabi (b. 1965, England), poet Berthe-Evelyne Agbo (living, Benin/France), poet Charlotte Agell (b. 1959, Sweden/United States), nv. & ch. wr. Adalet Ağaoğlu (1929–2020, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), nv., pw. & essayist Süreyya Ağaoğlu (1903–1989, Azerbaijan/Turkey/Ottoman Empire), legal wr. Pinky Agnew (b. 1955, New Zealand), pw. Kelli Russell Agodon (b. 1969, United States), poet, wr. & editor Marjorie Agosín (1955—2025, Chile), rights activist Gerty Agoston (living, Hu/United States), pw. & nv. Marie d'Agoult (1805–1876, France), fiction wr. & historian Agripina Samper Agudelo (1833–1892, Comoros), poet Brígida Agüero (1837–1866, Cuba), poet Silvia Agüero (b. 1985, Spain), feminist wr. Josefa Toledo de Aguerri (1866–1962, Nicaragua), social wr. Grace Aguilar (1816–1847, England), nv. & wr. Mila D. Aguilar (1949—2023, Philippines), poet & es. Anna Aguilar-Amat (b. 1962, Spain), poet & es. in Catalan Francisca Aguirre (1930–2019, Spain), poet Mirta Aguirre (1912–1980, Cuba), poet & nv. Milena Agus (b. 1959, Italy), nv. Ucu Agustin (b. 1976, Indonesia), wr. & filmmaker Delmira Agustini (1886–1914, Uruguay), poet

Ah–An Freda Ahenakew (1932–2011, Canada/Newfoundland), wr. & academic Cecelia Ahern (b. 1981, Ireland), nv. Catharina Ahlgren (1734 – c. 1800, Sweden), feminist wr., poet & editor Rukhsana Ahmad (b. 1948, Pakistan/England), wr. & translator Pegah Ahmadi (b. 1974, Iran/Persia), poet, scholar & critic Mimoza Ahmeti (b. 1963, Albania), poet & wr. Merete Ahnfeldt-Mollerup (b. 1963, Denmark), wr. & academic Astrid Ahnfelt (1876–1962, Sweden), fiction wr. Zeynep Ahunbay (b. 1946, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), conservation wr. Ilse Aichinger (1921–2016, Austria/Austria-Hungary), wr. Renate Aichinger (b. 1976, Austria/Austria-Hungary), pw. & director Ama Ata Aidoo (1940–2023, Ghana/Gold Coast), wr. & pw. Naja Marie Aidt (b. 1963, Denmark), poet & wr.cat Victoria Aihar (b. 1978, Uruguay), nv. Ginny Aiken (b. 1955, Cuba/United States), fiction wr. Joan Aiken (1924–2004, England), nv. Aganice Ainianos (1838–1892, Greece), poet Sarona Aiono-Iosefa (b. 1962, New Zealand), ch. wr. Ashia (died 1009/1010, Spain), poet in Arabic Amanda Aizpuriete (1956—2023, Latvia), poet & translator Tobiloba Ajayi (living, Nigeria), wr. & campaigner Iris Akahoshi (1929–1987, United States), wr. for Amnesty International Miriam Akavia (1927–2015, Poland/Israel), mem. & Hc. survivor Akiko Akazome (赤染晶子, 1974–2017, Japan), fiction wr. Akazome Emon (赤染衛門, late 950s/early 960s – post-1041), poet & historian Miriam Akavia (1927–2015, Poland/Israel), wr. & translator Grace Akello (b. 1950, Uganda), poet, es. & folklorist Anna Åkerhjelm (1647–1693, Sweden), wr. & traveler Rachel Akerman (1522–1544, Austria/Austria-Hungary), poet Sonja Åkesson (1926–1977, Sweden), poet, wr. & artist Bella Akhmadulina (1937–2010, Soviet Union/Russia), poet Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966, Russia/Soviet Union), poet; Requiem Shaheen Akhtar (b. 1962, Bangladesh), fiction wr. Sakina Akhundzadeh (1865–1927, Azerbaijan), pw. & teacher Gülten Akın (1933–2015, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), poet Risu Akizuki (秋月りす, b. 1957, Japan), manga creator Layla al-Akhyaliyya (7th century, Ancient Arabia), poet Elena Akselrod (b. 1932, Soviet Union/Israel), poet Seza Kutlar Aksoy (b. 1945, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), ch. wr. Ogdo Aksyonova (1936–1995, Soviet Union/Russia), poet in Dolgan Magaly Alabau (b. 1945, Cuba/United States), poet & theater director Susanna Alakoski (b. 1962, Finland), nv. & lecturer in Swedish Zuleika Alambert (1922–2012, Brazil), feminist wr. Mathilde Alanic (1864–1948, France), nv. & ss. Outi Alanne (b. 1967, Finland), autobiographer Abimbola Alao (living, Nigeria), poet, fiction wr. & storyteller Alev Alatlı (1944—2024, Turkey/Ottoman Empire), economist & nv. Ave Alavainu (1942–2022, Estonia), poet Suzanne Alaywan (b. 1974, Lebanon), poet & painter Caterina Albert (1869–1966, Spain), modernist wr. Eva Allen Alberti (1856–1938, United States), non-f. wr. & drama. Anne-Marie Albiach (1937–2012, France), poet Alice Albinia (b. 1976, England), non-f. wr. Jordie Albiston (1961–2022, Australia), poet & academic Daniela Albizu (1936–2015, Spain), academic, wr,, & councillor Núria Albó (b. 1930, Spain), poet & nv. Aurora de Albornoz (1926–1990, Spain), poet Martha Albrand (1914–1981, Germany/United States), nv. Vera Albreht (1895–1971, Austria/Austria-Hungary/Slovenia), poet & YA wr. Madeleine Albright (1937–2022, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/United States), political wr. & mem. Florența Albu (1934–2000, Romania), poet Erlinda K. Alburo (living, Philippines), Cebuano scholar Isabel Alçada (b. 1950, Portugal), ch. wr. Deborah Alcock (1835–1913, Ireland/England), nv. Mary Alcock (c. 1742–1798, England), poet & philanthropist Sinforosa Alcordo, Cebuano fiction writer. Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888, United States), nv.; Little Women Josefina Aldecoa (1926–2011, Spain), fiction wr. Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841–1930, United States), ch. wr. Julia Carter Aldrich (1834–1924, United States), wr. Sarah Aldridge (1911–2006, Brazil/United States), feminist wr. Claribel Alegría (1924–2018, Nicaragua), poet, es. & nv. Lidiia Alekseeva (1909–1989, Latvia), poet & wr. of short stories Georgia Alexander (1868–1928, United States), textbook wr. & edu. Grace Alexander (1872–1951, United States), wr. & journalist Concepción Aleixandre (1862–1952, Spain), medical wr. Marilar Aleixandre (b. 1947, Spain), nv. & poet in Galician Sibilla Aleramo (1876–1960, Italy), nv. Tatiana Aleshina (b. 1961, Soviet Union/Russia), poet & musician Brigitte Alexander (1911–1995, Germany/Mexico), pw. & screenwriter Elizabeth Alexander (b. 1962, United States), poet, es. & pw. Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895, Ireland/England), hymnist & poet Eleanor Jane Alexander (1857–1939, Ireland), poet & nv. Meena Alexander (1951–2018, India), poet & scholar Eva Alexanderson (1911–1994, Sweden), wr. & translator Elena Alexieva (b. 1975, Bulgaria), fiction wr. & poet Svetlana Alexievich (b. 1948, Ukraine/Belarus), non-f. wr. & col.; 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature Elli Alexiou (c. 1894–1986, Greece/Hungary), fiction wr. & educator Munira Al-Fadhel (b. 1958, Bahrain), wr. & academic Mirra Alfassa (The Mother, 1878–1973, France), mystic & wr. Estrella Alfon (1917–1983, Philippines), fiction wr. in English Edna Alford (b. 1947, Canada/Newfoundland), fiction wr. & editor María Luisa Algarra (1916–1957, Spain/Mexico), pw. Asma al-Ghul (b. 1982, Palestine), political wr.