Write a story about saint subject to punishment (8)
I believe the answer is:
penalise
'subject to punishment' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'write a story about saint' is the wordplay.
'write' becomes 'pen' (synonyms).
'story' becomes 'lie' (story can mean a fabrication).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'saint' becomes 's'.
'lie' enclosing 's' is 'lise'.
'pen'+'a'+'lise'='PENALISE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for penalise that I've seen before include "Disadvantage unfairly" , "Inflict punishment on" , "See plain (anag.)" , "Perhaps, fine" .)