C. D. Payne (born C. Douglas Payne; July 5, 1949) is an American writer of absurdist fiction, best known for his series of novels about fictional teenager Nick Twisp. The series is often referred to as the "Youth in Revolt" series or "The Journals of Nick Twisp".

In these novels, the protagonist, Nick, strives to balance his budding sexual urges while maintaining his intellectualism in a world filled with moronic adults. Along with the "Youth" series, Payne is the author of several other novels, including Frisco Pigeon Mambo and Civic Beauties, a parody of politics in the United States that follows the lives of teenage twin girls whose father is campaigning to be Vice President. He has also published a play titled, Queen of America: A Royal Comedy in Three Acts.

Additionally, Frisco Pigeon Mambo was acquired by Fox Animation but never made into a film. However, Youth in Revolt was developed and distributed by Dimension Films in January 2010.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Payne spent his early years in West Virginia and southern Ohio, moving back to Akron as a child. He attended public schools in Akron and graduated from Harvard College, where he majored in history and participated in the annual spring riot. In 1971, he moved to California, where he held over 50 jobs, including newspaper editor, book publisher's assistant, proofreader, trailer park handyman, and catalog writer.

Since 2004, he has been the proprietor of the Eyelusion Museum, a mobile discovery museum housed in a restored and polished 1964 Airstream trailer.