The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CERVANTES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
C
E
R
V
A
N
T
E
S
More clues leading to the result CERVANTES
- Seven-act plays comprising run for writer
- Foreign author’s verse can’t, if translated
- Old Spanish writer shattered a TV screen
- Quixotic writer never acts in play
- As writer, Shakespeare’s surely holding leading place
- Author to wait on female relatives might you say?
- A TV screen distorted writer
- Shakespearean contemporary volume introducing soldier possibly imprisoned by goddess
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Quixotic writer" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case quixotic writer = cervantes.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.