English writer picked up pay-off (7)
I believe the answer is:
ransome
'english writer' is the definition.
'ransome' can be an answer for 'writer' (I have seen 'British writer' mean 'ransome' so perhaps 'writer' could also mean 'ransome'). I'm unsure of the 'english' bit.
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ransome that I've seen before include "A children's writer" , "Arthur -, Swallows and Amazons author" , "Arthur --, English children's author" , "Author of the Swallows and Amazons books, d. 1967" , "4 ---, children's author" .)