Category: Freelancing
Here in the US, it’s now been almost four months since the covid-related shutdowns began, and it seemed like a good time to take stock of how things are going. I’ll give you a snapshot of life in my office, and then I’d love to hear your own thoughts in the comments. Back when this all …
One thing that I’ve been hearing from a lot of freelance translators–and that has proven true in my own business as well–is that freelancers with diverse businesses have been faring better during these strange economic times. For example in my own business, my translation work has been stable so far but I feel a summer dropoff …
“We’re thinking about translating our website!” Those words, “translate our website,” can strike both excitement and fear in the heart of a freelance translator. On the one hand: Website translations are generally interesting, and often involve a lot of content. Clients generally care a lot about their online presence, so they’re willing to put time, care, …
I’d normally start this post with, “I hope you’re doing well,” but at the moment, how about, “I hope you’re holding on to a few threads of sanity.” It’s a crazy time for sure; and let’s start with the reminder that health (mental and physical) and family come first right now. If it’s taking all of …
Wrapping up the year and looking ahead I think that we can now call the new year and the new decade well and truly started…finally! I took two weeks off over the holidays, then spent all of last week interpreting for a deposition and a trial, plus translated a set of press releases and some academic …
Some days, I feel like all anyone wants to talk about is “our changing profession/industry.” Some days I agree that it’s changing a lot, and sometimes I feel like “Yes! Things change…cope or try to stop the earth from turning.” But here’s something I’ve been thinking about lately: as the translation/interpreting professions change, is the career …
A version of this post originally appeared in my newsletter, and so many readers responded to me about it, that I decided to run it here as well, in an expanded version. Here’s a question that I’ve heard floating around lately: is it getting harder to make a living as a freelance translator? As usual with …
When I talk to freelancers about how their businesses are going (what’s going well and what needs to change), I often ask the same four questions: Do you have enough work in general? Are you earning enough money? Do you enjoy your work? Are you working too hard for the amount that you’re earning? As a …
Your first year as a freelancer is a time of overwhelming highs and lows, plus a whole lot of analysis paralysis (Should I work on my website? No, my resume! No, getting certified. No, my marketing plan! No, I have no idea how much to charge, so what on earth am I doing looking for clients…). …
Should you incorporate your freelance business? The information in this post is based on my knowledge of the US market, so these tips may or may not apply to other countries. Additionally, I am not an accountant or an attorney, and you should speak with an accountant or attorney for specific advice. When freelancers think about …
