Central idea from the compiler? (5)
I believe the answer is:
theme
'central idea' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'the compiler?' is the wordplay.
'compiler?' becomes 'me' (the person who is writing these clues).
'the'+'me'='THEME'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for theme that I've seen before include "A subject or repeated melody" , "He met (anag) - subject" , "Topic, leitmotif" , "Recurrent unifying idea" , "(Writer's) topic" .)