One determined to be an essayist? (5)
I believe the answer is:
trier
'essayist?' is the definition.
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for trier that I've seen before include "One who refuses to give up -- German city on the Moselle" , "Marx's birthplace" , "Test" , "Determined person" , "One who doesn't give up - judge?" .)