Writer in romances, say, is touching (8)
I believe the answer is:
essayist
'writer' is the definition.
(essayist is a kind of writer)
'in romances say is touching' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ESSAYIST' is hidden in the letters of 'romances say is touching'.
(Other definitions for essayist that I've seen before include "Writer such as Addison" , "Writer of pieces on various subjects" , "Writer (e.g. Lamb)" , "kind of writer" , "The venturer" .)