Awkward finding swan caught up in it (5)
I believe the answer is:
inept
'awkward' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'swan caught up in it' is the wordplay.
'swan' becomes 'pen' (pen is a kind of swan).
'caught up' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'pen' back-to-front is 'nep'.
'nep' going inside 'it' is 'INEPT'.
'finding' is the link.
(Other definitions for inept that I've seen before include "Unskilful, awkward" , "Futile" , "Ham-fisted" , "Maladroit" , "Lacking skill" .)