Writers use it incomplete, feeling strain (9,5)

'writers use' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'it incomplete feeling strain' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is found within the answer.
'strain' could be 'tense' (synonyms) and 'tense' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?