Carolyn See (born Caroline Laws; January 13, 1934 – July 13, 2016) was an American writer and teacher whose work spanned fiction, memoir and cultural criticism. She combined a strong interest in Los Angeles life with practical advice about writing and literary careers. Over several decades she published novels, a candid memoir and a popular handbook for aspiring authors, and she maintained a high public profile as a reviewer and commentator.

Life and academic career

See taught in the English department at the University of California, Los Angeles and held the title professor emerita. Her academic role informed both her classroom teaching and her public writing, and she became known for supporting new writers while remaining a vigorous critic of contemporary books and publishing. Her professional profile included both university service and regular contributions to national newspapers and magazines.

Writing, themes and style

See's fiction often explored relationships, family life and the particular rhythms of Southern California. She wrote with directness and wit, favoring clear storytelling and closely observed domestic detail over experimental forms. In non‑fiction she combined personal anecdote with practical counsel, aiming to demystify the literary life for readers and newcomers to writing.

Notable works

  • Dreaming: Hard Luck and Good Times in America — a memoir that mixes personal history with cultural commentary.
  • Making a Literary Life — an accessible book of advice about the craft and career of writing.
  • Novels including There Will Never Be Another You, Golden Days and The Handyman, which demonstrate her recurring concerns with love, aging and social change.

Public role and reception

For nearly three decades See served as a book critic for a major national newspaper, where she reviewed a wide range of fiction and non‑fiction and helped shape public conversation about literature. Her reviews combined candid judgment with an accessible voice, and she was frequently praised for her commitment to writing as both craft and vocation. See's dual presence in academe and popular media made her a bridge between scholarly and everyday readers of books.

Death and legacy

See died in Santa Monica on July 13, 2016, at the age of 82. Her passing was noted for the body of work she left behind: novels that capture aspects of American life, a memoir of personal highs and lows, and a pragmatic guide to making a living as a writer. Her career illustrates how teaching, criticism and creative work can coexist and inform one another.

Further information and archival materials can be found through various biographical and institutional resources: see a general biographical entry at biographical source, the University of California, Los Angeles page at UCLA, her long association with the Washington Post, local reporting from Santa Monica and notices about her illness at health coverage.