Crossword Genius

Dairy product kept by a writer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

diary

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'dairy' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'product kept by a writer' is the wordplay.
'product' becomes 'dry' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'kept' indicates putting letters inside.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'writer' becomes 'I' (the person who is writing these clues).
'a' put after 'i' is 'ia'.
'dry' going around 'ia' is 'DIARY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for diary that I've seen before include "Pepys' daily record" , "Personal journal" , "Personal record book" , "Pepys's record" , "Daily record of personal activity" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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