Liking writer to sing (8)
I believe the answer is:
penchant
'liking' is the definition.
(I know that penchant is a type of liking)
'writer to sing' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'to sing' becomes 'chant' (chanting is a kind of singing).
'pen'+'chant'='PENCHANT'
(Other definitions for penchant that I've seen before include "Leaning towards or liking for" , "Inclination, bent" , "weakness" , "Inclination; taste" , "Predilection, preference" .)