| DREAR | Read out, say, writing that's depressingly dull in literary terms |
| KNIFEEDGE | Point that's critical about, say, writing material to limit what's eaten (5,4) |
| LIVEANDLETDIE | Re this 1973 hit, Paul says: "Writing a [James] Bond song is a bit of an accolade, and I always had a sneaking ambition to do it" |
| DREARY | Depressingly dull back in outskirts of Derby |
| LEADEN | Depressingly dull field study (6) |
| SCRIBBLE | Old writer captures barman in writing that's difficult to read (8) |
| DRAB | Dull in colour; lacking in spirit (4) |
| DISMALLY | Depressingly little is invested in home improvements |
| RECIT | French literary term for a book's narrative, as opposed to its dialogue; the novel consisting largely of such an account; or, in music, a swell organ (5) |
| SCREENED | Carefully checked piece of writing that's penned in French (8) |
| BRAILLE | Writing that's raised a couple of pounds for son in stew (7) |
| PFENNIG | Mark's part of following into writing that's put out one November |
| SECRETCODE | Writing that's hard to read |
| SEMIPROSE | Piece of writing that's half in verse? |
| PROSY | Like writing that's dull and commonplace |
| BRUME | Literary term for heavy mist (5) |
| TRISTESSE | Melancholy, often as a literary term |
| CINCTURE | Literary term for a girdle or belt (8) |
| COFFERS | Literary term for a store of money (7) |
| VISAGE | Literary term for the face (6) |
