Writer almost published following potential difference (8)
I believe the answer is:
voltaire
'writer' is the definition.
(Voltaire is an example)
'almost published following potential difference' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (almost the whole word is kept).
'published' becomes 'aired' (I've seen this in another clue).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'potential difference' becomes 'volt' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'aired' with its final letter removed is 'aire'.
'aire' after 'volt' is 'VOLTAIRE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for voltaire that I've seen before include "Candide satirist" , "French writer (Candide)" , "French writer/philosopher" , "French satirist" , "polemical writer" .)