Plan to give an indication to the retiring editor (6)
I believe the answer is:
design
'plan' is the definition.
(I know that plan can be written as design)
'an indication to the retiring editor' is the wordplay.
'an indication' becomes 'sign' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'the retiring' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'editor' becomes 'ed' (abbreviation).
'ed' backwards is 'de'.
'sign' put after 'de' is 'DESIGN'.
'to give' is the link.
(Other definitions for design that I've seen before include "Drawing before an object is made" , "Devise, create, make out a plan" , "Plan for specific purpose" , "Signed up for fashion plan" , "Preliminary sketch or plan" .)