A writer describing small ski resort (5)
I believe the answer is:
aspen
'ski resort' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a writer describing small' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (I've seen this before).
'describing' indicates putting letters inside (describe can mean to form the outline of).
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'a'+'pen'='apen'
'apen' going around 's' is 'ASPEN'.
(Other definitions for aspen that I've seen before include "Very timid" , "quill-like?" , "Panes (anag.)" , "Type of poplar" , "Tree that quivers" .)