First exam covers writer with spirit (8)
I believe the answer is:
original
'first' is the definition.
('original' is associated in meaning with 'first')
'exam covers writer with spirit' is the wordplay.
'exam' becomes 'oral' (oral exam is a kind of exam).
'covers' indicates putting letters inside.
'writer' becomes 'i' (the person who is writing these clues).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'spirit' becomes 'gin' (I've seen this before).
'i'+'gin'='igin'
'oral' going around 'igin' is 'ORIGINAL'.
(Other definitions for original that I've seen before include "derivation" , "Genuine" , "Creative, new in design" , "First; (an) odd character" , "inspiration for fictional character" .)