Finding book translation jobs Thread poster: Jessie Nelson
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Hi everyone,
I need some advice on obtaining translating jobs involving books.
I am working for an agency, but the assignments are always very hurried.
I do understand that is their need and am not complaining.
I am just thinking it would be pleasanter and more rewarding to translate a longer project
but dont know how to go about it.
Jesse
| | | | David Young (X) 
Denmark
Local time: 19:32
Danish to English
| With great difficulty! | Jan 31, 2011 |
That's the short answer to your question Jessie, in my experience.
It depends on what you mean by book Fiction or non-fiction?
I have translated two non-fiction books and I got those through my network. I had been doing some translating for a magazine and the commissioning editor of the magazine recommended me to the author of the first book. The same publishers approached me for the second one. Unfortunately it's a... See more That's the short answer to your question Jessie, in my experience.
It depends on what you mean by book Fiction or non-fiction?
I have translated two non-fiction books and I got those through my network. I had been doing some translating for a magazine and the commissioning editor of the magazine recommended me to the author of the first book. The same publishers approached me for the second one. Unfortunately it's a very small publishers so when the next one might come is uncertain, if at all.
So you could try approaching some French on-line magazines in an area of interest and seeing if they wanted any articles translated to English.
Fiction is another ball-game. For one thing, it's not very well paid. For the second, only 3% of novels published in the US and in the UK are translated (compared to 60% in Denmark, where I live). So English language publishers are not very active, probably because there are plenty of authors in English. What you need to do is find a French book that you think absolutely MUST be translated to English, check with the French publishers that they haven't sold the international rights to the US, and get their permission to try and find a US publisher. You will need to do a synopsis of the story and translate, say, the first 4 chapters at your own cost. Then you need to pitch it to some publishers. And then you need to do it again and again - be persistent. I also recommend finding out when and where the big Book Trade Fairs are in the US and attending to do some networking, Be prepared for a low level of interest. It will really need to be something you are passionate about, so you can communicate that.
Also, get in contact with other literary translators and network with them - find out names of editors who have an interest in foreign literature.
The used to be a website at http://www.literarytranslators.org/ but I see it has expired recently.
The other link I have is http://www.ata-divisions.org/LD/index.htm
Dalkey Archive Press in the US have a good reputation for publishing books in translation. Last year they brought out an anthology called Best of European Fiction 2010. Find some books by foreign authors published in translation in the US and see who the publishers were.
But I think this area is very much a question of, it's who you know, not what you know, that counts. Contacts, contacts and more contacts.
I'm off to the London Book Fair in April with two or three books in my bag.
Good luck.
Dave Young
[Edited at 2011-01-31 22:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Speaking of books... | Jan 31, 2011 |
Is it just me, or has the market for translated books collapsed? I've done about 20 non-fiction titles, mostly coffee-table stuff. I used to get one or two a year, some from agencies and some from direct clients, but I've had nothing for about three years.
By the way, Jesse, if you are going to tackle books, make sure you have some kind of empathy with the subject matter, because otherwise it can be torture working on the same job week after week.On the plus side, some of the book... See more Is it just me, or has the market for translated books collapsed? I've done about 20 non-fiction titles, mostly coffee-table stuff. I used to get one or two a year, some from agencies and some from direct clients, but I've had nothing for about three years.
By the way, Jesse, if you are going to tackle books, make sure you have some kind of empathy with the subject matter, because otherwise it can be torture working on the same job week after week.On the plus side, some of the books I've done have sparked a lifelong interest in the subject. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jessie Nelson
United States
Local time: 13:32
French to English
TOPIC STARTER
Hi David,
Thanks so much for your reply.
My interest would be in non-literary translating.
I never thought about magazines, but I think it is worth a try.
My background is in nursing and most of my translating is in the medical field, so I just might find someone interested.
The book fair idea also sounds interesting. I am sure I could find a number of fairs, shows or conventions and poke around to find someone interested in translating some health material.
T... See more Hi David,
Thanks so much for your reply.
My interest would be in non-literary translating.
I never thought about magazines, but I think it is worth a try.
My background is in nursing and most of my translating is in the medical field, so I just might find someone interested.
The book fair idea also sounds interesting. I am sure I could find a number of fairs, shows or conventions and poke around to find someone interested in translating some health material.
Thanks again.
Jessie ▲ Collapse
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Jessie Nelson
United States
Local time: 13:32
French to English
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Phil,
Thanks for your message.
I can appreciate what you say about being very interested before you start a large project.
I love translating health and medical articles (having been in the nursing field for a considerable time), so I am hoping I can ferret out some work.
Thanks again.
Jessie
| | | | | My self-education | Feb 1, 2011 |
I prefer translation of textbooks so that I can enjoy learning of the contents at the same time. But textbooks (e.g. technical contexts) contain many graphics and photos that translation handling become complicate. Of course, the payment is not good but you can arrange for copyright fee out of the publication volume sizes (if the textbook is sold well).
Soonthon Lupkitaro
| | | | Jessie Nelson
United States
Local time: 13:32
French to English
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you and copyrite fee ? | Feb 1, 2011 |
Hello Soonthon,
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Do you happen to know, if a consent is required to translate a text or an article?
Thanks again.
Jessie
| | | | | consent issue | Feb 1, 2011 |
Hello Jessie,
Having studied intellectual property law, I would advise you to always, always get written consent from the author before translating any text or article. Legally, the text belongs to the author and he or she has a right to decide whether or not the text will be translated.
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| For what purpose? | Feb 1, 2011 |
Jessie Nelson wrote:
Do you happen to know, if a consent is required to translate a text or an article?
If you want to publish said material and sell it, then of course you need permission.
If you're translating it for you own pleasure, then no. If you're translating some excerpts and shopping them around to publishers, I don't think you would need permission at that stage, either. Just let them know the IP rights are not (yet) yours.
| | | | Jessie Nelson
United States
Local time: 13:32
French to English
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks to Chammer and Farkas for enlightening me.
Jessie
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