Start to make love to a writer (4)
I believe the answer is:
open
'start' is the definition.
(I know that open is a kind of start)
'love to a writer' is the wordplay.
'love' becomes 'o' (love means zero in tennis).
'to a writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'o'+'pen'='OPEN'
'to make' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for open that I've seen before include "Ready for business; spread out; manifest" , "This championship includes both professional and amateur golfers" , "Undecided" , "William --, English poet" , "Exposed; free" .)