Test translations, whereby a potential client, often a translation company, asks a translator to complete an "audition" translation for free before beginning work with the client, are a frequent subject of controversy in the industry. Translators wonder if they should complete unpaid translations, … [Read more...] about A few thoughts on test translations
Freelancing
Home or away?
In the past few months, I've spoken with a few translators who fall into a small but interesting group; people who hate working from home. One, who I'll be profiling in an upcoming post, switched to an in-house job after a lengthy tenure as a freelancer and says he's "never going back;" a couple of … [Read more...] about Home or away?
Translators and proofreading: a love/hate relationship
Recently, the Colorado Translators Association held a great workshop with local editor and editing instructor Alice Levine. This session was really enlightening in a number of ways; Alice is a lively and engaging presenter and she seemed to enjoy speaking to a group of fellow "word geeks," and it … [Read more...] about Translators and proofreading: a love/hate relationship
Keeping up your source language skills
Many translators insist that talking to anyone (clients, potential clients, colleagues, beginning translators, etc.) is unnecessary and detracts from their true calling, which can only be fulfilled by spending at least 10 hours a day at the computer. While that's somewhat of a joke, I think that … [Read more...] about Keeping up your source language skills
Let out the book inside you
I'm starting to work on the second edition of my book How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, and it makes me realize that more translators really should write books. Really, the market for specialized glossaries, translation technique manuals, translation business practice guides and more is wide … [Read more...] about Let out the book inside you