The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word DICKENS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
I
C
K
E
N
S
More clues leading to the result DICKENS
- Returning hero knows Scots writer
- Deuce shuffled in decks
- Devoid of energy, heartily sickened author
- Author‘s daughter becomes ill, not son
- Devil put neck out in hell
- Charles or Monica down to replace children in layers
- Sweet man spotted with some camera, wiping face
- Studies should encompass one case of cook becoming author
- Detective being created by author
- A devil of a writer
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "writer" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case writer = dickens.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.
What does DICKENS mean?
DICKENS noun- The devil.
- In the phrase the dickens (Used as an intensifier).
- A disturbance or row.