Cruciverbali, Novalis, Crofter, Mad max, Matydalover et al - I think I've got the gist of this one. Have the whole outside filled in, so please confrim - this person who gave the quote is full of bright ideas and close to my heart if I'm right?
You're right -- and his name is entered as the first and last unclued answers. What the quote refers to is entered as the middle unclued answer. The quote spelt out by the corrected letters is by Arthur Conan Doykle and begins with "Mediocrity knows nothing....."
Happy solving. If you get stuck please post. Hope you can finish it in time to send it in.
Best wishes.