Iain Banks: You kind of know if you are a writer or not.

The Guardian: What was your favourite book as a child?

Iain Banks:  I never really had a single favourite - but when I was about 12 or 13, I discovered science fiction and that became my "genre". So, I had a favourite genre rather than single book.

G: When you were growing up did you have books in your home?

IB:: Lots. My Dad was a keen reader. I remember being shocked when I discovered some of my school pals didn't have books in their homes. I thought it was like not having oxygen, or hot water. If I could have lived in the library at that time, I would have.

G: What made you want to write when you were starting out?

IB: I think it was because I discovered at school that I was good at it. I would get good marks and my Mum and Dad were happy that my teachers were pleased. Then I must have found out that there was such a thing as a professional writer.

G: Do you find writing easy?

IB: Yes. I love writing and can't imagine not being able to do it. I want an easy life and if it had been difficult I wouldn't be doing it. I do admire writers who do it even though it costs them.

G: What makes you write now?

IB: The contract - and to keep the wolf from the door! I'd like to think that if I really didn't enjoy it any more I'd be brave enough to stop and try something else - but I don't particularly want to find out.

G: What preparation do you do?

IB: As little research as I can get away with. I usually spend between three and six months planning the next novel. I do need to have it fairly well mapped out before I start, otherwise I end up writing several thousand words of rubbish. The preparation is all about trying to work out what's going to happen.

G: Do you have a daily routine?

IB: In theory, I work an eight-hour day and a five-day week which means I can socialise with my pals who mostly have normal jobs like teaching and computer programming. But in practice, if I wake up at 4am thinking about the book then I get up and start writing. Which is good because then I can finish my allocation of words for the day by breakfast and have the day off.

G: How do you survive being alone in your work so much of the time?

IB: I'm tied to the keyboard for about three months of the year and the rest of the time I have a normal life. I'm an only child so am happy with my own company and I don't really get lonely. I also have a partner who's here most of the day.

G: What good advice was given to you when you were starting out?

IB: I never got any. I didn't know any writers and wasn't aware of there being any books that told you how to write. Even if I had been, I was probably too convinced of my own genius to read them! I could have done with some advice though.

G: What advice would you give to new writers?

IB: The Three Ps: practice, practice, practice. Writing is like everything else: the more you do it the better you get. Don't try to perfect as you go along, just get to the end of the damn thing. Accept imperfections. Get it finished and then you can go back. If you try to polish every sentence there's a chance you'll never get past the first chapter.

G: Is there a secret to writing?

IB: Some people have just got it and some haven't. Although, I think it can be brought out of some people so it is worthwhile joining writers' groups or studying it. If a creative writing course produces one writer who wouldn't have been a writer otherwise then it's worthwhile. You kind of know if you are a writer or not. The real secret is to do it because you love writing rather than because you love the idea of being a Writer.

G: What are you working on now?

IB: I'm at the stage of gearing up to thinking about the next novel. I don't have to touch the keyboard until October so it's a bit early. It's an entirely necessary stage I have to go through and is not at all to be confused with laziness. Actually, I am working on a piece of music. I have pretensions to be a composer, and hope to be as successful a composer as Anthony Burgess, if not less so.

The Guardian, 7/2/2008