If you’re interested in becoming a literary translator, you need to be literate and familiar with the language of the source material. A literary translator must be a passionate reader of the original language, as well as familiar with the language’s literature. Being able to access sources and read them out loud is important for achieving success as a literary translator. Listed below are some of the best ways to get started on your career as a literary translator.
What is a Literary Translation?
Aspiring literary translators should have some knowledge of the English language and be familiar with the works of other language-speaking writers. They should be able to speak at translation launches and literary events. To make the most of networking opportunities, translators should become familiar with the translation community and join organizations that cater to the needs of the literary translator community. A good example is the Translators Association, which holds an annual symposium just before the London Book Fair. This event hosts inspiring speakers and panel discussions, as well as a drinks reception for members.
A good literary translator should be well-known and knowledgeable about the literature of their target country, like experts at TheWordPoint. They have a passion for the literature of their source language, and they should know how to access its sources. Translation of literary works from other languages requires close reading and expert knowledge of the source language. Once a literary translator has the knowledge needed, they can start preparing translations and submitting them to literary magazines or translation competitions.
How to Become a Literary Translator
A good literary translator must have a name, and he or she must market himself accordingly. In addition to submitting samples to literary publishers, he or she should also know the tastes of other writers. If the book is a bestseller in one country, a literary translator can try submitting it to foreign publishers independently. If the project is successful, a publisher will be willing to pay a higher rate.
An important prerequisite for becoming a literary translator is a good command of the English language. Reading a wide variety of texts in the target language will help you identify the characteristics of the work. In addition to fluency in the target language, it will also help if you have an understanding of the culture of the source country. Learning the culture of the country you’ll be translating from is also important. For instance, if you’re planning to translate work from the Czech language, you should spend some time there to familiarize yourself with the language.
Education for Literary Translators
It is not uncommon for literary translators to work for unpaid or paid internships in publishing houses. However, there are many other issues that affect literary translators, including gender, race, and class. Despite the diversity of the field, it seems that white people are more likely to find a job. In the U.S., 60 percent of literary translators are female. The publishing industry, as a whole, has a low rate of diversity among translators.
Many literary translators do not apply for these grants, as they fear that the FvdL will not see the value of the literary work they submit. In the Netherlands, for example, publishers tend to prioritize non-fiction over fiction, and literary translators may be more likely to deal with non-fiction when translating it. The Dutch Foundation for Literature, which supports literary translators, wants to reassess the value of translating culturally important non-fiction.
The Guild’s legal staff is currently working on a model contract for literary translators, which will address many of the issues that were revealed by the survey. The draft of the contract will be released in early 2018 as part of the organization’s Fair Contract Initiative. The Guild has a history of fighting for the rights of translators and recognizing them as workers. And, because the Guild has attorneys on staff, it is the only organization that offers a model contract for literary translators.
The Authors Guild, in conjunction with the American Literary Translators Association, the American Translators Association, and PEN America’s Translation Committee recently published a survey to determine the working conditions of literary translators. The survey included questions on compensation, copyright, and education. The results of the survey showed that working conditions for literary translators remain difficult, even for many US-based professionals. And while these are the best available data, there is much room for improvement.
Pay For Literary Translators
If you’re looking for a challenging, but rewarding career, you might consider becoming a literary translator. These translators specialize in translating fiction and poetry from one language to another. To succeed in this field, you need to be fluent in both the source and target language. Literary translators usually work on their own, and many support themselves by teaching or volunteering at colleges or organizations that require translations. They can earn a hefty salary, but it depends on the type of work they do.
According to the Authors Guild, a new survey has revealed that only a small percentage of literary translators earn more than $20,000 per year. The average literary translator makes between $29,000 and $39,000 per year, with a bonus of $691 on top. In contrast, the average salary for literary translators in the United States has remained largely unchanged over the last five years, according to the survey. Only 17% of literary translators earn more than half of their income from translation work. A recent survey shows that literary translators spend more than half of their time translating, and a few earn more than their peers.
For those who don’t mind translating into a variety of languages, the highest pay rate for literary translators is Spanish-to-English and Italian-to-English. Both languages have high demand. For the highest rate, however, you must work quickly, maintaining the quality of the original text. As a general rule, a literary translator in Germany can expect to earn between $19,000 and $45,000 per year, while a literary translator in India can make less than $2,600. In India, however, the annual income for literary translators is rarely higher than Rs 938,208 ($13,500).
Becoming Translator & Finding Literary Translation Clients
A career in literary translation requires a high level of language proficiency. Most literary translators are authors themselves, so translating is an extension of their work. Literary translation has gained in visibility in recent years due to the popularity of global literature and the corresponding need for translated texts. To become a literary translator, you must be fluent in both languages and have a natural feeling for the style and language of the Author.
To land a job as a literary translator, it is important to get your name out there. While translating a text is a technical process, it requires creativity to convey the original author’s intentions. The original author may not have expressed himself or herself in the language of the target audience, so translators must use their own interpretation, and often use poetic license to convey the author’s message.
One of the best ways to get noticed is to network with other writers in the field. You can attend translation launches and literary events. While networking with strangers may not be as easy for shy people, it is an excellent way to showcase your skills and build contacts. Also, social media sites like Twitter are great places to network with people in the field. Having a website will help you gain a wider audience.
If you’re not a native speaker, you can always start by creating a profile on sites like Zingword. Zingword allows users to search for translation jobs. You can list your education, experience, and specialties, and set your own price, so you can charge what you’re worth. You can also ask former clients for references, and follow up with them regularly. This way, your former clients will be able to tell you about the quality of your work.