While Odysseus was away, did she run off with a writer? (8)
I believe the answer is:
penelope
'while odysseus was away did she' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'run off with a writer?' is the wordplay.
'run off' becomes 'elope' (synonyms).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a writer?' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'elope' put after 'pen' is 'PENELOPE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for penelope that I've seen before include "girl" , "The wife who waited for years for Odysseus" , "Odysseus's wife" , "Ulysses' faithful wife" , "Wife of Odysseus or Ulysses" .)