Crossword Genius

Ben is out to be a writer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ibsen

'a writer' is the definition.
(dramatist Henrik Ibsen)

'ben is out' is the wordplay.
'out' is an anagram indicator (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'ben'+'is'='benis'
'benis' with letters rearranged gives 'IBSEN'.

'to be' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ibsen that I've seen before include "Norwegian playwright, d. 1906" , "Norwegian author of 'Peer Gynt' etc" , "Norwegian playwright (Peer Gynt)" , "Norwegian dramatist, d. 1906" , "See 7 Down" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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