Prepare text — need hints regularly (4)
I believe the answer is:
edit
'prepare text' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'need hints regularly' is the wordplay.
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'need'+'hints'='needhints'
The alternating letters of 'needhints' are 'EDIT'.
(Other definitions for edit that I've seen before include "Prepare (text) for issue" , "Be in charge (of paper)" , "Amend text" , "Manage a newspaper" , "Prepare (material) for publication" .)