Holding a match for the writer (5)
I believe the answer is:
twain
'the writer' is the definition.
(author Mark Twain)
'holding a match' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is present in the answer.
'match' could be 'twin' (synonyms) and 'twin' is present in the remaining letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for twain that I've seen before include "Mark in American literature" , "the two destined never to meet?" , "Two (arch.)" , "Two items of the same kind and well-known author" , "that was a low number" .)