Mediocre writers wanting chops (5)
I believe the answer is:
hacks
This clue is a double definition.
'mediocre writers' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'chops' is the second definition.
('hack' can be a synonym of 'chop')
'wanting' is the link.
(Other definitions for hacks that I've seen before include "handles" , "Chops like lowly journalists" , "Shack up with plain reporters" , "Shack up with lowly journalists" , "Cuts roughly; bad writers" .)