Self-editing a manuscript is essential, even if you are planning to use a professional editor too. Read on for how to self-edit
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Arja Salafranca is a South African writer and content creator for Now Novel. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Wits University (2012) and currently lives in Johannesburg.
Her first poetry collection, A life stripped of illusions, received the 1994 Sanlam Award for poetry, while a short story, ‘Couple on the Beach’ received a Sanlam Award in 1999. Her second collection of poetry, The fire in which we burn, was published by Dye Hard Press in 2000. She received the 2009 Dalro Award for poetry. Her third poetry collection, Beyond touch, was a co-winner of the 2016 Sala Awards. Her debut collection of short stories, The Thin Line, was published by Modjaji Books in 2010. It was long-listed for the Wole Soyinka Award in 2012.
She has edited three anthologies of prose most recently Fool’s Gold (2019), which was shortlisted for the 2020 Awards.
She edited the Life supplement in the Johannesburg-based The Sunday Independent from 2003 to 2016.
Her next publication is a collection of creative non-fiction to be published in 2024, consisting of memoir and travel stories.
Self-editing a manuscript is essential, even if you are planning to use a professional editor too. Read on for how to self-edit
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