Tries to be outrageously sassy after early start (6)
I believe the answer is:
essays
'tries' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'outrageously sassy after early start' is the wordplay.
'outrageously' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'start' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'early' is 'e'.
'sassy' is an anagram of 'ssays'.
'ssays' after 'e' is 'ESSAYS'.
'to be' is the link.
(Other definitions for essays that I've seen before include "Written works" , "Attempts, writing" , "Students' works" , "Endeavours" , "Attempts - written compositions" .)