Italian novelist penning hard copy (4)
I believe the answer is:
echo
'copy' is the definition.
(echo can mean a copy or duplication)
'italian novelist penning hard' is the wordplay.
'italian novelist' becomes 'eco' (I've seen this before).
'penning' is an insertion indicator.
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'eco' enclosing 'h' is 'ECHO'.
(Other definitions for echo that I've seen before include "Send back" , "Sound heard before" , "Evocation" , "Noise heard again" , "Comms code word for E" .)