Writer took dips here in tanks built close to island (8)
I believe the answer is:
inkstand
'writer took dips here' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
'in tanks built close to island' is the wordplay.
'built' indicates anagramming the letters.
'close to' says to take the final letters (the 'close' to the word).
The final letter of 'island' is 'd'.
'tanks' is an anagram of 'kstan'.
'in'+'kstan'+'d'='INKSTAND'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inkstand that I've seen before include "could hold a pen" , "old-fashioned writer may need this" , "stationery store" , "Holder for writing materials" , "Kind Stan (anag.)" .)