Bungling writer brought up in centre of Linlithgow (5)
I believe the answer is:
inept
'bungling' is the definition.
('inept' can be a synonym of 'bungling')
'writer brought up in centre of linlithgow' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (I've seen this before).
'brought up' says the letters should be written backwards (down clues only).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'centre of' indicates the central letters.
The middle of 'linlithgow' is 'it'.
'pen' backwards is 'nep'.
'nep' placed inside 'it' is 'INEPT'.
(Other definitions for inept that I've seen before include "Cack-handed" , "Unskilful or unsuitable" , "Unsuitable, clumsy" , "lacks skill" , "Hopeless; bungling" .)