This is a list of writers' halls of fame. Institutions in at least five U.S. states have each created a program explicitly named as a "

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

" for writers, and there are at least two national-level programs focused on genres of writing also named as halls of fame. In addition, there are a number of annual awards for authors programs not using "Hall of Fame" in their name but which are likewise focused on complete, life-long bodies of work; the cumulative lists of awardees of these, especially if systematic and publicized by the awarding body, may be considered to constitute a hall of fame and to be included here. The goals of these programs are generally to increase public awareness of important writers, especially those associated with a given geographical area or literary genre, and to honor the authors included. These are given for achievements of substantial collected works of writing, not for individual novels, scripts, poems, or other individual works. This list does not include certain awards naming promising "Early" or "Mid-Career" authors, or aiming to further authors' development (such as the Windham–Campbell Literature Prizes (2011) that gives large financial sums "to provide writers the opportunity to focus on their work independent of financial concerns"). Nor does this list include "lifetime achievement awards" which are occasionally but not systematically awarded by an awards program (for example the Academy Awards'

Academy Honorary Award The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Moti ...

Special Achievement Academy Award The Special Achievement Award is an Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most pres ...

which might honor a screenwriter's lifetime achievements). Unlike the

Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

(1901), persons may be named after their death, in some of these. Unlike the Pulitzer Prizes for literature or journalism, or the Newbery Medal for children's literature, these awards are not focused upon a single work published. Unlike, say the Academy Awards, the writers nominated might not be present at an awards ceremony for many of these. The award is an honor that may be appreciated, but nominees might not be expected or pressured to attend. The University of Georgia Libraries' example is one where living author arwardees would be invited to campus to give a speech, and creators of the program hoped it would attract donors. John D'Agata, in his book ''Halls of Fame: Essays'' (2001) commented on the phenomenon of halls of fame. Per a review of the book, "In these refreshingly bold, creative, and incisive essays, John D'Agata journeys the endless corridors of American's myriad halls of fame and faithfully reports on what he finds there. In a voice all his own, he brilliantly maps his terrain in lists, collage, and ludic narratives." Halls of fame for writers which appear to meet these criteria include (ordered by year of founding):

Songwriters Hall of Fame (1969)

The ''Songwriters Hall of Fame'' was founded in 1969. See List of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970)

The ''Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame'' was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc.

National Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent (1988)

The Chicago State University inaugurated the National Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent in 1988 with 39 initial inductions. In 1999, the audience "buzzed" when one of the 30 inductees was announced to be

Studs Terkel Louis "Studs" Terkel (May 16, 1912 – October 31, 2008) was an American writer, historian, actor, and broadcaster. He received the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1985 for '' The Good War'' and is best remembered for his oral his ...

. Professor Haki Madhubuti "pointed out that Studs 'is not part of the black community’s genealogical line but its psychological line.', to their relief.

Nevada Writers Hall of Fame (1988)

The Nevada Writers Hall of Fame has given annual awards since 1988.

Michigan Author Award (1992)

The Michigan Library Association has named one author per year for the ''Michigan Author Award'' since 1992 for their collective works ("an outstanding published body of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or play script").

Georgia Writers Hall of Fame (2000)

The ''Georgia Writers Hall of Fame'' was established in 2000 by the University of Georgia Libraries. Writers are eligible for nomination if they were born in Georgia or if they produced an important work while living in the state. It was hoped that the program "would attract donors by bringing living authors to campus and celebrating those of the past; also the ceremony and exhibits, ideally growing each year, could draw in funds for the Libraries' much-needed new buildings and its endowments, along with opening up possibilities for cultural programs and attracting additional writers (or their estates) who might choose to house their archives."

Indiana Authors Awards (2009)

The ''Indiana Authors Awards'', also known as the "Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards", was started in 2009. Through 2022, it has given 26 awards based on authors' lifetime bodies of work.

New York State Writers Hall of Fame (2010)

The ''New York State Writers Hall of Fame'' was established in 2010 "to highlight the rich literary heritage of the New York State and to recognize the legacy of individual New York State writers."

Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame (2013)

The Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame was begun in 2013 by the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, a

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

institution. and on January 24, 2013 the inaugural class was inducted.Herald-Leader article
/ref> Selected news coverage includes coverage by KTVQ and WUKY in 2022. KYWHOF inductees are: *2013:

Harriette Arnow Harriette Simpson Arnow (July 7, 1908 – March 22, 1986) was an American novelist and historian, who lived in Kentucky and Michigan. Arnow has been called an expert on the people of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, but she herself loved citie ...

, William Wells Brown,

Harry Caudill Harry Monroe Caudill (May 3, 1922 – November 29, 1990) was an American author, historian, lawyer, legislator, and environmentalist from Letcher County, in the coalfields of southeastern Kentucky. Biography Caudill served in World War II ...

Elizabeth Madox Roberts Elizabeth Madox Roberts (October 30, 1881 – March 13, 1941) was a Kentucky novelist and poet, primarily known for her novels and stories set in central Kentucky's Washington County, including ''The Time of Man'' (1926), "My Heart and My Flesh," ...

, James Still, and Robert Penn Warren *2014:

Rebecca Caudill Rebecca Caudill Ayars (February 2, 1899 – October 2, 1985) was an American writer of children's literature. More than twenty of her books were published. '' Tree of Freedom'' (Viking, 1949) was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. ''A Pocketful of ...

Thomas D. Clark Thomas Dionysius Clark (July 14, 1903 – June 28, 2005) was an American historian. Clark saved from destruction a large portion of Kentucky's printed history, which later became a core body of documents in the Kentucky Department for Libraries and ...

, Janice Holt Giles, James Baker Hall,

Etheridge Knight Etheridge Knight (April 19, 1931 – March 10, 1991) was an African-American poet who made his name in 1968 with his debut volume, '' Poems from Prison''. The book recalls in verse his eight-year-long sentence after his arrest for robbery in 1960. ...

Thomas Merton Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. On May 26, 1949, he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood and giv ...

, and Jesse Stuart. *2015: Guy Davenport, Elizabeth Hardwick, Jim Wayne Miller,

Effie Waller Smith Effie Waller Smith (January 6, 1879 – January 2, 1960) was an African-American poet of the early twentieth century. Her published output consisted of three volumes of poetry: ''Songs of the Month'' (1904), ''Rhymes From the Cumberland'' (190 ...

Hunter S. Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement. He rose to prominence with the publication of '' Hell's Angels'' (1967), a book for which he s ...

, and the first living writer inducted into the Hall of Fame, Wendell Berry (b. 1934). *2016: Bobbie Ann Mason, Harlan Hubbard,

James Lane Allen James Lane Allen (December 21, 1849 – February 18, 1925) was an American novelist and short story writer whose work, including the novel '' A Kentucky Cardinal'', often depicted the culture and dialects of his native Kentucky. His work is charac ...

, Alice Hegan Rice, Jean Ritchie *2017:

Irvin S. Cobb Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb (June 23, 1876 – March 11, 1944) was an American author, humorist, editor and columnist from Paducah, Kentucky, who relocated to New York in 1904, living there for the remainder of his life. He wrote for the ''New York Worl ...

, Joseph Seamon Cotter, Sr.,

A. B. Guthrie, Jr. Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr. (January 13, 1901 – April 26, 1991) was an American novelist, screenwriter, historian, and literary historian known for writing western stories. His novel ''The Way West'' won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and ...

, Gayl Jones,

Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver (born April 8, 1955) is an American novelist, essayist and poet. She was raised in rural Kentucky and lived briefly in the Congo in her early childhood. Kingsolver earned degrees in biology at DePauw University and the Univers ...

*2018: Annie Fellows Johnston,

bell hooks Gloria Jean Watkins (September 25, 1952December 15, 2021), better known by her pen name bell hooks, was an American author and social activist who was Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College. She is best known for her writings on ...

(1952 – 2021), John Fox, Jr., Walter Tevis *2019: Ed McClanahan (1932 – 2021), Gurney Norman (b. 1937), Alice Dunnigan (1906 – 1983), Jane Gentry (1863 – 1925),

Sue Grafton Sue Taylor Grafton (April 24, 1940 – December 28, 2017) was an American author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the "alphabet series" (''"A" Is for Alibi'', etc.) featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fic ...

(1940 – 2017), Helen Thomas (1920 – 2013) *2020: Cleanth Brooks (1906 – 1994),

Lucy Furman Lucy S. Furman (June 7, 1870 – August 24, 1958) was an American novelist, short story writer, and animal rights activist. Her fiction was a foundational influence on what would become Appalachian literature. Biography Lucy Furman was born in He ...

(1870 – 1958), Hollis Summers (1916 – 1987), Sam Shepard (1943 – 2017),

Sena Jeter Naslund Sena Jeter Naslund (born June 28, 1942) is an American writer. She has published seven novels and two collections of short fiction. Her 1999 novel, ''Ahab's Wife'', and her 2003 novel, ''Four Spirits'', were each named a ''New York Times'' Nota ...

(b.1942) *2021: Nikky Finney (b.1957), John Egerton (1935 — 2013), Robert K. Massie (1929 – 2019), John Jacob Niles (1892 – 1980), Caroline Gordon (1895 – 1981), Albert Stewart *2022:

George Ella Lyon George Ella Lyon (born April 25, 1949, in Harlan, Kentucky) is an American author from Kentucky, who has published in many genres, including picture books, poetry, juvenile novels, and articles. Biography George Ella Lyon was born April 25, 194 ...

(b. 1949), James C. Klotter (living), Loyal Jones (writer and teacher of Appalachia, Berea College
About Loyal Jones
,

Ted Poston Ted Poston (July 4, 1906 – January 11, 1974) was an American journalist and author. He was one of the first African-American journalists to work on a mainstream white-owned newspaper, the ''New York Post''. Poston is often referred to as the "De ...

(1906 – 1974), Robert Hazel (1921 – 1993) *2023: Madison Cawein,

Blanche Taylor Dickinson Blanche Taylor Dickinson (April 15, 1896 – January 7, 1972) was an American writer associated with the Harlem Renaissance arts movement. In 2023, she was inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame. Early life and education Blanche Tayl ...

Marsha Norman Marsha Norman (born September 21, 1947) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play '' 'night, Mother''. She wrote the book and lyrics for such Broadway musicals as ''The Se ...

, Suzan-Lori Parks, Richard Taylor Thus living writers include: * Wendell Berry (b. 1934), born in, and later based in, Henry County, Kentucky *

(b. 1949, in Harlan, Kentucky), a Kentucky Poet Laureate * James C. Klotter, a State Historian of Kentucky * Nikky Finney (b. 1957), the Guy Davenport Endowed Professor of English at the University of Kentucky for twenty years. *

(b.1942), the writer in residence at University of Louisville and the program director for the MFA in Writing at Spalding University in the same city. In 2005, Governor Ernie Fletcher named Naslund Poet Laureate of Kentucky * Gurney Norman (b. 1937) Also, since-deceased: *2018:

(1952 – 2021), Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College. *2019: Ed McClanahan (1932 – 2021) M.A. at and later taught at the University of Kentucky, also taught at Northern Kentucky University These all seem to have significant Kentucky connections.

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (2013)

The ''Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame'' was founded in 2013 in Florida by two songwriters.

Authors' Hall of Fame (Colorado, 2019)

The Colorado Authors Hall of Fame "celebrates the accomplishments of living and passed authors that have been connected to Colorado". Its all-volunteer-run

501c3 A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 501 ...

, founded in 2014, had inductions in 2019 and 2021. 2021 inductees were: :Living authors: :*

Kevin J. Anderson Kevin James Anderson (born March 27, 1962) is an American science fiction author. He has written spin-off novels for ''Star Wars'', ''StarCraft'', ''Titan A.E.'' and ''The X-Files literature#Novels, The X-Files'', and with Brian Herbert is the ...

, writer in science fiction and fantasy genres :* Penny Rafferty Hamilton, writer of aviation, Western history, women's history :* Justin Matott, children's writing :* Sandra Dallas, fiction and nonfiction :* Carol Fenster, gluten-free cooking :*

W. Michael Gear William Michael Gear, better known as W. Michael Gear, (born May 20, 1955) is an American writer and archaeologist. He is the author of North America's Forgotten Past series, co-written with Kathleen O'Neal Gear. In 2021 he won the Owen Wister Aw ...

, historical fiction :* Charlotte Hinger, fiction and non-fiction :* Manuel Ramos, novelist, one of first Latinos in mystery genre :*

Patricia Raybon Patricia Raybon is an author and journalist. Her essays have been published in ''The New York Times Magazine'', ''Newsweek'', ''USA Today'', ''USA Weekend'', ''Chicago Tribune'', ''The Denver Post'', and ''Rocky Mountain News'', and reprinted in sev ...

, novelist about faith and race :* Richard "Dick" Weissman, writer about music and the music business, from a musician’s point of view, try Richard Weissman :* Flint Whitlock, military historian :* "Avi", or Edward Irving Wortis :Legacy authors: :* Robert Heinlein (1907 – 1988), "dean of science fiction" :* James Michener (1907 – 1997), novelist :* John Edward Williams (1922 – 1994), novelist :*

Hannah Marie Wormington Hannah Marie Wormington (September 5, 1914 – May 31, 1994) was an American archaeologist known for her writings and fieldwork on southwestern and Paleo-Indians archaeology over a long career that lasted almost sixty years. Background Marie Worm ...

(1914 – 1994), anthropologist try H. Marie Wormington :Lifetime Achievement Award :* Sue Lubeck (d. 2021) Not an author, but rather an independent businesswoman who created and nurtured the Bookies Bookstore

Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame (retired)

The Romance Writers of America's Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame honored romance writers who were three-time winners of the RITA Award in the same category, for "recognized excellence in published romance novels and novellas". The RITA Award, and hence also its Hall of Fame, was retired in 2020, after controversies. The year of awardees' third or fourth qualifying novels ranged from 1994 to 2015. It was awarded 18 times to 16 separate persons (Nora Roberts won in three separate categories): * Jo Beverley *

Kresley Cole Kresley Cole is an American bestselling author of paranormal romance and young adult novels. She has received three Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Awards and was inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame in 2009. Biography Kresley Cole is the ...

* Kathleen Creighton *

Justine Dare Justine may refer to: People * Jean-Lou Justine (born 1955), male French scientist * Saint Justine of Padua (died 304), a Christian martyr * Justine Bateman (born 1966), American film actress * Justine Clarke (born 1971), Australian actress * ...

Jennifer Greene Jennifer Greene is one of the pseudonyms for Jill Alison Hart (born in Michigan, United States). She is a writer of over 85 romance novels since 1980. She has also written novels as Jeanne Grant and Jessica Massey, and uses the name Alison Hart ...

Irene Hannon Irene Hannon (also known as Irene Hannon Gottlieb) is an American author of romance and romantic suspense novels. She was a communications executive with Anheuser-Busch. Early life and education Hannon was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Dorothy M ...

* Kathleen Korbel * Barbara O'Neal *

Susan Elizabeth Phillips Susan Elizabeth Phillips (born December 11, 1944 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a romance novelist from the United States. She is the creator of the sports romance and has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy.” Biography Phillips was born o ...

* Julia Quinn * Francine Rivers * Nora Roberts *

LaVyrle Spencer LaVyrle Spencer (born July 17, 1943) is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been ''New Y ...

* Karen Templeton * Jodi Thomas and * Cheryl Zach

Women Songwriters Hall of Fame (2021)

The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame (WSHOF) is a non profit organization founded, by entrepreneur, songwriter Dr. Janice McLean DeLoatch, to honor female songwriters, composers, and artists from around the world who have made significant contributions to the music industry. 2021 inductees: :* Tawatha Agee :* Mary Chapin Carpenter :* Jekalyn Carr :* Roberta Flack :* The Go-Go's :* Dr. Veryl Howard :* Bunny Hull :* Naomi Judd :* Klymaxx :* Dawnn Lewis :* Valerie Simpson :* Deniece Williams Lifetime Achievement and Legacy Award :* Cynthia Biggs :* Dee Dee Sharp 2022 inductees: :* Marilyn Bergman :*Doe :*

Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan (; born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García; born 1 September 1957) is a Cuban-American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been ...

:* Siedah Garrett :*

Indigo Girls Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. The two met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part o ...

:* Loretta Lynn :* Rose Marie McCoy :*

Jody Watley Jody Vanessa Watley (born January 30, 1959) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and artist,USA Today (February 16, 1996), Best Bets: Albums Jody Watley Greatest Hits, "Few singers fired up the disco like Jody Watley who set trends ...

:* Junko Yagami 2023 inductees: :* Toni Basil :* Angela Bofill :* Ann Hampton Callaway :*Jan Daley :* Olivia Newton-John :* Dorothy Norwood :*

Scherrie Payne Scherrie Ann Payne (born November 4, 1944) is an American singer. Payne is best known as a member of the R&B/Soul vocal group The Supremes from 1973 until 1977. Because of her powerful voice and petite stature (5'2"), Payne is sometimes referred ...

:* Jasmine Sandlas :* Pam Sawyer :*

Cynthia Weil Cynthia Weil (born October 18, 1940) is an American songwriter who wrote many songs together with her husband Barry Mann. Life and career Weil was born in New York City, and was raised in a Conservative Jewish family. Her father was Morris Wei ...

Lifetime Achievement and Legacy Award :* Dean Claudia Bornholdt :* Alyze Elyse :* Freda Payne 2024 inductees: :*

Maria Callas Maria Callas . (born Sophie Cecilia Kalos; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her ''bel cant ...

:* Shawn Colvin :* LaLa Cope :* Martha Munizzi :* Soon Hee Newbold :* Angie Stone :*

Crystal Waters Crystal Waters (born November 19, 1961) is an American house and dance music singer and songwriter, best known for her 1990s dance hits " Gypsy Woman", " 100% Pure Love", and 2007's " Destination Calabria" with Alex Gaudino. All three of her s ...

:* Allee Willis Educator of the Year :* Dr. Shakenna K. Williams

Missouri Writers Hall of Fame

The Missouri Writers Hall of Fame is a nonprofit institution, less salient than some others. Se
Writers Hall of Fame
Facebook page for the Missouri organization.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Writers' halls of fame Writers halls of fame American literary awards International literary awards Literary awards honoring writers Halls of fame Lists of awards