Last year, Walt Kania of The Freelancery wrote a fantastic post called Follow your passion? Maybe not. Try this instead, and the whole "follow your passion" idea is one that I think about a lot. Some thoughts: I love translating, writing and teaching, and I can't imagine having a job where I was … [Read more...] about Doing things for money versus doing things for fun
Rates
Thoughts on word counts
Here's a nuts and bolts post about a nuts and bolts topic: how to count words. Billing by the word isn't always the best way to go, but let's say you're quoting on a project for which you will definitely bill by the word. What are some factors you need to consider? … [Read more...] about Thoughts on word counts
Billing by the word, the hour or the project
This topic started out as a Twitter discussion earlier this week, and I'm hoping that the translators who contributed there will join in here too! At the recent ATA conference, there was a lot of buzz about how translators should charge; not just the actual amounts, but whether it's better to charge … [Read more...] about Billing by the word, the hour or the project
Some thoughts on rates and quotes
I really enjoyed reading The Freelancery's recent post on whether or not to publish your freelance rates on your website. Since my website redesign a few years ago, I've struggled with this same dilemma: I grow weary of preparing quotes for clients whose budget turns out to be 1/3 of what I charge, … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on rates and quotes
Two cents, or $10,000?
If you're a freelancer, you probably conduct price negotiations with clients or potential clients almost every day of your professional life. For translators, especially translators who work with agencies, these negotiations often come down to a difference of one or two cents. Your minimum rate is … [Read more...] about Two cents, or $10,000?