Q&A with Banks Benson – Author Interview

We’re excited to bring you an exclusive Q&A with the fearless and fiercely original Banks Benson, a rising literary voice known for their raw honesty, vivid storytelling, and unapologetic approach to the written word. Banks has quickly become a standout name in contemporary fiction, blending emotion, tension, and truth in a way that captivates and challenges readers. In this intimate interview, they open up about their creative process, the themes they’re passionate about, and how personal experience shapes every story they tell.

From bold character choices to tackling complex social issues, Banks Benson doesn’t hold back—and neither does their writing. This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a storyteller unafraid to push boundaries and speak their truth. Whether you’re a fan of emotionally charged fiction or looking for inspiration from a writer with something real to say, this Q&A is packed with insight, fire, and a powerful dose of literary authenticity.

About The Author

Tell us more about you.

Hi! My name is Banks Benson and I’m a screenwriter turned author. I’ve just turned 40 but I was writing since I was 19. What you need to know about me is that I knew I was fascinated with science fiction way before I knew I was gay (which I knew I was gay when I was 12 and a half, mind you). What I remember about my childhood is watching StarWars, Terminator, Matrix movies on repeat. And the Fifth Element But not only had the stories fascinated me but also the special effects, and the whole production aspect of it, and…Hollywood! But for some reason it didn’t click in my head that I could somehow be a part of it until I came out to my entire family and subsequently felt like if I could do that, I could do anything in this world. That was when I’ve finally picked up a few Screenwriting for Dummies books and got cracking.

It took me seven years to get a movie deal. And in that time I’ve written over a dozen screenplays and I’ve got (wait for it) over a thousand rejection letters from agents, producers and production companies. For all those in the query trenches, the struggle is real. I feel you. But I’ve got my one Yes eventually, I’ve signed a contract and the production started. They’ve kept the budget under 10 mil, so it was relatively a small-budget movie. It was scifi. Aliens were involved. I was welcome to come to the set, say hi to the actors. I didn’t get any say in the casting choices or production design though. The studio had rewritten my screenplay and I’ve signed off all the rights to them until the end of times. I did get my check but losing the ownership of the thing that I’ve so painstakingly created felt bitter. Everyone was nice to me but I’m not gonna lie, I felt pretty insignificant on the set. That was maybe the first time I’ve considered moving from screenwriting to authoring. Because from the looks of it, authors had much more gravitas in the industry. The second thing that made me reconsider my screenwriting career was that the production on the movie stopped halfway and was never resumed. The movie never came out and I was again a nobody. But I still had my passion and I knew in my heart I could tell a story. That was about the same time Amazon introduced KDP and, once again, I got cracking.

What are the three items you’d take on a deserted island?

A solar battery, a laptop and headphones. They have coconuts on the island, right? I should be good.

Who is your biggest role model?

So… she who must not be named was my biggest role model. As far as writing goes, her story inspired me the most. The stroke of genius that was the idea of a boy with a scar on his forehead. But also the struggle she went through to get it done. I could relate and still do to it so much. But what she’s doing now is kind of a cautionary tale for me (and hopefully others) not to use your power for evil. Not to justify her actions or anything, but I think she might be venting her frustrations from inability to create something as magical (pun intended) as she did before. It must feel like the road goes only downhill from there. I wouldn’t want to end up like that, bitter. I think the key is never to stop challenging yourself no matter how many billions you have on your bank account. Obviously, she’s not my role model anymore.

The other author who’s been really inspiring me lately is Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. If you haven’t read about his success story, please do. Especially indies. It’s simply remarkable.

What is your favourite book and who is your favourite author?

My favourite book is The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough but my favourite author is Andy Weir at the moment. I’d buy anything he’s putting out there, no questions asked. 

Do you prefer e-books, physical books or audiobook?

I prefer audiobooks because I have tension headaches that worsen when I read. So I have to reserve reading for my own books only, hehe.

Is writing your full-time profession or a hobby?

It’s a full-time job, though the paychecks I’ve been getting lately would beg to disagree.

What social media platform do you like and use the most?

Threads and DeviantArt are my favs at the moment.

Your Writing Process

How do you go about starting a new novel?

If I already have an idea that’s been time-tested for at least a couple weeks, I plot out the three-act structure first. Coming from a screenwriting background, I’m a big proponent of the three-act structure because it gives the story solid logic and good pace. Then I write the 1^st draft, then the 2^nd, and so forth until I feel like the book is complete.

Where do you like to write?

I was writing at my desk for years but recently I’ve started writing on my phone as well. And that greatly diversified my writing locations of late.

What do you like most about writing?

I like that it supplements my life with events, emotions and locations that otherwise wouldn’t have been a part of it. I also like the promise of potentially reaching millions of people with my stories.

What do you find stops you from writing more?

I could have done without my headaches, hehe. But I don’t think I actually need to write more. I think I’ve found a good balance.

What genres do you like to write and why?

Science fiction, romance, YA. I love out-of-this-world stuff just as much as I love sweet, happy-ending stuff.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring writers?

Don’t expect your first book to be brilliant. I know it’s hard but you have to understand that it takes time and practice. You have to start small and grow. If you were baking your first cake, for instance, you wouldn’t expect for it to turn out picture-perfect, right? Not on the first try. It does happen sometimes that someone’s first book becomes a bestseller but I think it’s very unlikely. I think you have to prepare yourself for a race not a sprint, if you’re serious about writing.

Showcase Your Book!

How many books have you written and if more than one, what’s your favourite?

I’ve written/published over a dozen books, mostly gay. They were under a different pen name, though that I’m not revealing. I want to start a new chapter and write new books. So my favourite book is the one that I’m working on right now, actually. But it’ll take me about three more years to finish, so stay tuned.

How long did 5 Elements take you to write?

My last book, 5 Elements, has taken me, coincidentally, five years to write. It was also five drafts. But I was working on another book at the same time, my current WIP.

Lastly, what is your favourite thing about being an author?

I don’t know. I think being an author is just who I am. It comes with its own ups and downs, advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything else, regardless.

Get Your Copy