A student in my online course asks: How do I decide if a translation specialization is viable? Hmm, interesting question, and one that nearly all freelancers have to grapple with at some point. Short answer: nearly any specialization is viable, depending on your marketing zeal and income needs. … [Read more...] about How to decide if a translation specialization is viable?
Translation technique
Per-word versus hourly income: can someone explain this?
One of the great things about having a blog is that I get to ask questions that I don't know the answers to, and then people who are smarter than I am will respond and fill me in. Here's one that's frequently asked by students in my online courses, and it honestly puzzles me as much as it puzzles … [Read more...] about Per-word versus hourly income: can someone explain this?
Bad translations as a marketing tool
A reader asks: I come across lots of bad translations in my language pairs. How can I use these to pitch my freelance services to new clients without sounding like a hyper-critical tattletale? This is a regular topic of conversation among translators who work with direct clients, and bad … [Read more...] about Bad translations as a marketing tool
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
Recording of Jost Zetzsche interview is online!
This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of interviewing translation technology guru Jost Zetzsche during a question and answer conference call. If you missed the live call, you can listen to the recording on the Speaking of Translation website (it streams from the conference call provider, so you … [Read more...] about Recording of Jost Zetzsche interview is online!