Thoughtful writers I have followed (7)
I believe the answer is:
pensive
'thoughtful' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'writers i have followed' is the wordplay.
'writers' becomes 'pens' (writing implements).
'i have' becomes 'I've' (contraction of 'I have').
'followed' says to put letters next to each other (some letters go after others).
'pens'+'ive'='PENSIVE'
(Other definitions for pensive that I've seen before include "Meditative" , "Engaged in deep thought" , "Thinking deeply" , "Preoccupied" , "Deeply thoughtful" .)