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Scottish author set off with no idea, might you say? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stevenson

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'scottish author' is the definition.
'Stevenson' can be an answer for 'author' (novelist Robert Louis Stevenson). I am unsure of the 'scottish' bit.

'set off with no idea might you say?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'set' is 'ste' which is present in the answer.
'no' could be 'o' (O resembles 0) and 'o' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stevenson that I've seen before include "Robert Louis -, Scots novelist" , "story-teller" , "R L -, Kidnapped author" , "Author of 12 2" , "Writer of Treasure Island, d. 1894" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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