Here's a very common question from my beginning translation students: "Do I need a...(Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, translation certificate, translator certification, etc.)" with corollaries such as "Am I better off getting a foreign language MA or a translation certificate?" "If I don't have … [Read more...] about Translation credentials: what are they and do you need them?
Getting started as a translator
Keeping your freelance finances in order
Disclaimer: I'm not an accountant or an attorney; these are just some tips from my own experience and what works for me in my freelance business. Managing your freelance finances is a) time-consuming and b) absolutely critical to your survival as a freelancer. So, it's worth taking some time to … [Read more...] about Keeping your freelance finances in order
Some thoughts on leaves of absence (maternity and otherwise)
A former student recently contacted me to ask some advice about taking maternity leave as a freelancer; she is pregnant with her first baby and her new freelance business has recently been gaining momentum, so she wants to take time off but doesn't want to lose all of the energy she's put into her … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on leaves of absence (maternity and otherwise)
Dear newbie translator
Dear newbie translator: I know. The first year (or two or three) as a freelancer is/are really hard, and it's easy to get discouraged. So for those days when you feel really down, here are a few things I want to tell you.As Dan Savage says about growing up gay, It Gets Better. The first few years as … [Read more...] about Dear newbie translator
A couple of freelance tips
Every now and again, I feel inspired to post a random freelance tip on my Twitter feed. I could say that these are Zen master-esque pearls of wisdom that distill in my mind over the course of a few years, but they're more like out-of-left-field thoughts that come to me while I'm washing the dishes … [Read more...] about A couple of freelance tips