Tired editor bolstering talent with hesitation (9)
I believe the answer is:
knackered
'tired' is the definition.
'editor bolstering talent with hesitation' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'editor' could be 'ed' (abbreviation) and 'ed' is found within the answer.
'talent' could be 'knack' (as in having the knack for something) and 'knack' is located in the answer.
'hesitation' could be 'er' (sound made while hesitating - um, er) and 'er' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for knackered that I've seen before include "Worn out" , "Exhausted (slang)" .)