This writer’s a male religious leader (4)
I believe the answer is:
imam
'religious leader' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'this writer's a male' is the wordplay.
'this writer' becomes 'im' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'a male' becomes 'am' (I've seen this in other clues).
'im'+'am'='IMAM'
(Other definitions for imam that I've seen before include "Muslim religious leader" , "Person leading devotions in a mosque" , "Strict religious leader" , "Muslim cleric" , "Maim (anag)" .)