This is a container category. Due to its scope, it should contain only subcategories.

For a list of all American novelists, including those in all sub-categories of American novelists, click this link.

Categorization guidelines for American novelists
Per current consensus, this category should not directly include any American novelists. All American novelists should be in one or more by-century categories based on when they wrote novels:

• Category:18th-century American novelists (1701–1800)
• Category:19th-century American novelists (1801–1900)
• Category:20th-century American novelists (1901–2000)
• Category:21st-century American novelists (2001–2100)

Novelists should also be placed into Category:American women novelists or Category:American male novelists as appropriate, and into any relevant genre or ethnic/national categories as well. However, a novelist should never only be in a genre, ethnic, or gender-based category – all novelists should be in the century-categories at a minimum.

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