Total expert penning new expression (9)

I believe the answer is:

utterance

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'new expression' is the definition.
'utterance' can be an answer for 'expression' (I have seen 'Vocal expression' mean 'utterance' so perhaps 'expression' could also mean 'utterance'). I am not sure about the 'new' bit.

'total expert penning' is the wordplay.
'total' becomes 'utter' (I've seen this before).
'expert penning' becomes 'ance' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'utter'+'ance'='UTTERANCE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for utterance that I've seen before include "Remark" , "Something said" , "Vocal expression" , "Statement" , "Spoken word(s)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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