Creative works penned by English novelist succeeded, initially (3,8)
I believe the answer is:
for starters
'initially' is the definition.
'creative works penned by english novelist succeeded' is the wordplay.
'creative works' becomes 'art' (I've seen this in another clue).
'penned by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'english novelist' becomes 'forster' (I've seen this before).
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'art' placed into 'forster' is 'forstarter'.
'forstarter'+'s'='FOR STARTERS'
(Other definitions for for starters that I've seen before include "In favour of race officials" , "To begin with (colloq.)" , "at first" .)