Coward say to strike out verse from fictional work (4)
I believe the answer is:
noel
'coward say' is the definition.
(playwright Noel Coward is an example)
'verse from fictional work' is the wordplay.
'verse' becomes 'v'.
'from' suggests deleting specific letters.
'fictional work' becomes 'novel' (I've seen this before).
'novel' with 'v' removed is 'NOEL'.
'to strike out' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
(Other definitions for noel that I've seen before include "Another word for 7 Across" , "Festive season" , "Yuletide" , "Festivity" , "Christmastime" .)