Writer finds new lens is broke (9)
I believe the answer is:
penniless
'broke' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'writer finds new lens is' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'finds' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'new' is an anagram indicator.
'lens'+'is'='lensis'
'lensis' with letters rearranged gives 'niless'.
'pen'+'niless'='PENNILESS'
(Other definitions for penniless that I've seen before include "Skint, without a cent" , "Poverty-stricken" , "Without money, not a cent" , "Broke" , "Cleaned out" .)