Awkward writer turned up in it (5)
I believe the answer is:
inept
'awkward' is the definition.
('inept' can be a synonym of 'awkward')
'writer turned up in it' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (I've seen this before).
'turned up' is a reversal indicator.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'pen' in reverse letter order is 'nep'.
'nep' placed inside 'it' is 'INEPT'.
(Other definitions for inept that I've seen before include "Absurd or unskilful" , "Awkward, showing no skill" , "Incompetent or awkward" , "Incompetent or gauche" , "Unskilful, awkward" .)