10 across
Novelist
in
a
state
penning
article
(4)
Novelist in a state penning article (4)
hints
0
checks
0
hints
The definition is at the beginning of the clue.
How the clue works
The definition is Novelist — specifically Thomas Mann. For the wordplay, "a state" gives you MN (Minnesota's abbreviation), and that state is "penning" (i.e., containing) AN, your article, slotted right inside: M-AN-N.