Award-winning author Ishara Pillay, with five book titles under her belt, continues to make her mark in the literary world.

She won the AfriCAN Honoree Award for 2020 and was nominated for the 2025 Book Behind Awards for Alyssa’s Secret.

Following the release of her latest book, The Gentle Giant of Thundergrove, the Standerton Advertiser asked Pillay for tips to help aspiring writers finish their books and navigate the publishing process.

Pillay began her writing journey in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I had always wanted to write a book, but never had the time. The Covid shutdowns gave me enough time to focus on writing and complete my book,” said Pillay.

According to Pillay, starting to write a book is often the hardest part. She said she begins with a concept before developing the story. Admittedly, her latest book started with the concept of kindness.

“I wanted to write a book themed around kindness and built the story outwards from there,” explained Pillay.

On the other side of the spectrum, she based Alyssa’s Secret on the concept of abuse. Pillay wanted to write a novel to raise awareness about abuse and encourage victims to come forward.

“I wanted abuse victims to know they are not alone, that the abuse was not their fault, and that help is available,” said Pillay.

Choosing a genre is also key. Pillay enjoys writing in various genres and hopes to write a horror novel one day.

She shared tips for aspiring writers to help turn that unfinished manuscript into a completed book, taking that locked file on your PC to readers who will enjoy your work:

• Just start writing and pursue it daily. Pillay says even writing one or two sentences a day will encourage progress;
• Make notes, whether on your phone or in a notebook. It is crucial to write down your ideas so you don’t forget them;
• Good writers are avid readers. Pillay believes writers who read a range of genres will develop their own style better and become better writers;
• “You can write at any time; you do not have to set aside a certain time for writing,” said Pillay. She enjoys writing during quiet evenings.
• Do not be afraid to put your story out there.
Pillay recounted her first bad review and how she regretted publishing her work after reading it.

“You have to realise that you will not always get good reviews, but it does not mean you are a bad writer,” said Pillay.
Her advice for ending books is to end on a happy note.

“Because I typically do not plan my books and see how the story unfolds as I am writing, the ending comes more naturally,” said Pillay.

She explained that adapting the ending as the story unfolds is totally acceptable. Pillay is a self-published author. She said authors have many options when publishing a book and that different publishers offer different prices and printing quality.

“You can meet publishers by regularly attending book readings and book fairs,” explained Pillay.

A good publisher can be spotted by how they communicate with authors. According to Pillay, the best publishers keep open lines of communication with their clients.

By far the most vital tip Pillay received in her writing journey is to develop your own style and not copy the work of others.