| TRITER | Short time with author, not West, who is more hackneyed (6) |
| TRIER | Writer, not West, turned judge (5) |
| KANYE | Rapper West who is married to Kim Kardashian |
| MAE | West who is known for "her lighthearted bawdy double entendres," according to Wikipedia |
| ZIMMER | Frame last character I'm taking who is more than half merry (6) |
| STALER | More hackneyed passage from "The Winter's Tale" related (6) |
| BETTER | Gambler who is more successful (6) |
| FITTER | Workman who is more suitable (6) |
| LEBRON | James who is more than a little forward? |
| PARENT | One who is more than just a child's friend |
| LOOSEN | After card-game, three players, not west, slacken (6) |
| SAMUAL | Mr West, who played Anthony Blunt in The Crown, prepared meal with us (6) |
| STERNE | Anne Cutler-Rees worked with author (8,6) |
| HORROR | Genre of literature associated with author Stephen King (6) |
| BORZOI | Boo Ritz (not West End) performing dog |
| LONDON | US author not enough for single academic (6) |
| BELLOW | US author not above adding extra line (6) |
| RETIRE | English author not starting to get up, go to bed (6) |
| OPPOSE | Not favour work by ancient author, not started, picked up |
| KEYPAD | On the phone to sweetheart in Kerry with writer's block? (6) |
