Writer in bliss before seeing cheque ... gutted (5)
I believe the answer is:
joyce
'writer' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'bliss before seeing cheque gutted' is the wordplay.
'bliss' becomes 'joy' (I've seen this in another clue).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'seeing cheque' becomes 'cheque'.
'gutted' suggests removing the centre (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'cheque' with its centre taken out is 'ce'.
'joy'+'ce'='JOYCE'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for joyce that I've seen before include "James . . . . ., great Irish novelist" , "lady" , "James --, Irish writer" , "James . . . . ., William . . . . ." , "James -, Ulysses author" .)