Honest old writer (4)
I believe the answer is:
open
'honest' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'old writer' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (abbreviation).
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'o'+'pen'='OPEN'
(Other definitions for open that I've seen before include "Frank - accessible" , "Frank - unsettled" , "with no clear favourite" , "Public" , "unresolved" .)