Crossword Genius

He writes television play that is put out (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

novelist

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'he writes' is the definition.
(someone who writes novels)

'television play that is put out' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'play' could be 'no' (no or noh is a type of Japanese theatre) and 'no' is present in the answer.
'is' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for novelist that I've seen before include "Source of books" , "Spark produced, perhaps" , "James was one" , "I've written" , "Writer of long stories" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
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