Crossword Genius

Imagine writer dropping names? It's a sign (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leo

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'sign' is the definition.
(star sign)

'imagine writer dropping names? it's a' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'it' could be 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT') and 'e' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'lo' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leo that I've seen before include "Name taken by 13 popes, the last dying in 1903 aged 93" , "certain stars" , "sign of summer" , "of pride" , "Horoscope sign" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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