Writing surface for composing tales (5)
I believe the answer is:
slate
'writing surface' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'composing tales' is the wordplay.
'composing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tales' is an anagram of 'SLATE'.
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for slate that I've seen before include "Metamorphic rock that can be split into thin layers" , "Grey metamorphic rock" , "Scold; hard rock" , "Rubbish" , "Stone used for roofing" .)