Liking to write song (8)
I believe the answer is:
penchant
'liking' is the definition.
(I know that penchant is a type of liking)
'write song' is the wordplay.
'write' becomes 'pen' (synonyms).
'song' becomes 'chant' (song sung by a crowd).
'pen'+'chant'='PENCHANT'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for penchant that I've seen before include "Inclination, bent" , "weakness" , "Fondness (for) - bias (towards)" , "Disposition" , "Strong liking, inclination" .)