Wishing all translators out there...

... a wonderful NEW YEAR!

May there be work for all.

May it be proudly done!

101 Tips to Succeed as Freelance Translator

TRANSLATION
1. Make sure that you want to be a freelance translator
2. Don’t quit your day job in the beginning.
3. Restrict free (sample translation) to 300 words
4. Translate into your native language only.
5. Always keep a very close eye on quality.
6. Always meet deadlines.
7. You're really only as good as your last translation.
8. Conduct terminology research.
9. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
10. Do some volunteer translation work.
11. Consider 2000 target words to be a normal day and 3000 target words to be very good.
12. Have different rates for general, semi-specialized and specialised texts.
13. As a beginner, be careful in taking large volume jobs.
14. Do not accept any assignment if you are not confident that you can do it.
15. Do not accept anything in an area that you are not familiar with.
16. Do not work for a rock-bottom rate.
17. Do not accept any assignment for which you are not fully qualified
18. Read forum posts and translation blogs like Tips for translators (http://www.getdirectclient.blogspot.com)
LEARNING
19. Specialization - This is definitely advantageous for you
20. Learning translation properly once at a postgraduate programme.
21. Make yourself familiar with the entire CAT and similar programs out there.
22. A writing course and a course of stylistics always come in handy.
23. Learn how to improve your translation even after becoming a professional translator to find the best translation.
24. Improve writing.
25. Continue to invest in necessary training.
26. Learn to translate by reviewing other people's work.
27. Practice translating something that one hasn't read in the target language.
28. Ask professional translators to send you translations they just finished and read those translations carefully
29. Try Proficiency tests: Try IELTS (for English) or UN exams or TOEFL (for English)
30. Get certification by NAATI (Australia) or ATA (USA) or other associations.
31. Answer Kudoz and similar questions.
32. Become member of PROZ, Aquarius, and Translators base and other portals but search for life beyond them.
33. Participate in forum discussions.
CLIENTS
34. If your clients are happy, you seem to be doing something right.
35. Do not depend only on one client.
36. Do not assume your current rate of incoming work will continue unabated.
37. Expand your client base.
38. Have portfolio of regular clients.
39. Create Credentials.
40. Ask for feedbacks.
41. Ask for testimonials.
42. Keep your clients happy- repeat jobs will come your way
ATTRIBUTES
43. A bit of luck is always in the game, the rest is hard work.
44. Do what you really like. Then money will flow.
45. Have desire, passion, and dedication and do hard work.
46. Remember your job is not a hobby but a profession.
47. Remember your success is judged by the quality of the end result.
48. Remember your success is judged by having the money in the bank.
49. This profession requires ethics at every level.
50. Successful translator needs to have talent, drive, energy, commitment, confidence - and luck.
51. Study and research before you start.
52. Endeavor to translate with utmost accuracy and fidelity.
53. Convey to the readers of the translation the same meaning and spirit of the original.
54. Master the target language equivalent to that of an educated native speaker.
55. Have Up-to-date knowledge of the source language.
56. Have Up-to-date knowledge of the subject area.
57. Be truthful about your qualification.
58. Continuously self-improve.
59. Inspire hope.60. Have common sense and apply it.
61. Know your own limitations.
62. Always follow you gut instincts.
63. Have Attitude!
BUSINESS
64. Consider freelance translation as a business.
65. Have a business plan how you’re going to get work
66. Consider translation as for-profit activity
67. Tell everyone you know that you’re available for Translation jobs
68. Keep sending your CV to agencies.
69. Market yourself everyday even when you have a job at hand.
70. Be truthful about your business.
71. Become member of translation portals.
72. Invest in paid memberships. And test it.
73. Advertise your services through all means and test it.
74. Have business acumen.
75. Become member of local chamber of commerce
76. Become member of translator's organizations.
77. Join network of translators.
78. Reply to emails within 3 hours, if possible.
79. Create a good CV
80. Follow successful translators
81. Create a website/Blog and promote and track posts.
82. Create or buy a database of agencies.
HEALTH
83. Take regular breaks when working.
84. Take care of your health
85. Take care of your family
86. Take vacations.
87. Do Yoga exercises for hand, neck and back.
88. Have your eyes tested at least once a year.
89. Quit Smoking
FAMILY
90. Make your family happy
91. Love your spouse
92. Play with your children
93. Take care of your parents
TOOLS
94. Use dictionaries, Google, Wikipedia, etc.
95. Use CAT tools and speech recognition if possible.
96. Invest in Hardwares, softwares, CAT tools, dictionaries
HOME OFFICE
97. Manage your home office.
98. Keep track of your finance
99. Send invoice along with the job
100. Create multiple options of payments for Client- cheque, paypal, moneybookers, bank transfer etc.
101. Keep all records for 2 years minimum.

It is NOT easy being a translator!

I can't resist this video.
I felt a sudden urge to share it once again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNKn5ykP9PU

Gurdy, gurdy to all!

Translator's lament!

To be a translator, believe me it’s sad,

To be a translator, you have to be mad-

Who else would sit in a room

Encased in loneliness more like a tomb?



Who else would fondle a microphone cable

Or typewriter keyboard when perfectly able

To fondle some better more pliant device?

(It happens to others, they say it’s quite nice.) :-o



Who else would apply so much love, care, devotion

To something that is another man’s notion?

Who else would spend hours to seek out one word

Just to ensure he writes nothing absurd?



Who else would read carefully through some epistle

Produced by a half-wit who had better whistle

Than write rotten copy that doesn’t mean much,

Yet expects a translation in, say, perfect Dutch?



Who else would accept that every job’s hot

When he knows that it’s probably not

And flog himself silly to see the work through

Then wait for three months not collecting one sou?



Who else would put up at social occasions

With statements like: “Oh, you do translations.-

There’s not much to that, after all it’s your lingo,

So where are the problems, why labour that thing so?”

Who else would be willing each day of the year

To sit exam where the pass-mark’s a mere

One hundred percent or perhaps just below?

If you think that’s easy, why not have a go?

And yet it’s a challenge which on reflection

Provides enormous job satisfaction.

Those who enjoy it will never desert

The odd fascination of the “foreign” word

-Wort, oh what the hell…

J.H. Hayes

It was about time!...

Esta resenha de ideias e desabafos já deveria ter aparecido neste mundo virtual há mais tempo, mas a verdade é que apareceu sempre algo a interferir. Pois bem... CHEGA!

Pela mão do Ilustre Fernando Ferreira Alves, tive o privilégio e a honra de estar presente num evento que juntou mentes brilhantes. Ouvi testemunhos fantásticos, experiências admiráveis e pude, por momentos, sorver da vivência de pessoas e profissionais geniais. Os nomes que aqui deveria colocar são mais, mas apenas escolho 3: a dupla-maravilha Danilo Nogueira & Kelly Semolini e a incrível Chris Durban. Falaram de dados concretos e não de saber livresco; expuseram situações reais e não cenários hipotéticos; ajudaram todos a chegar às suas conclusões – cada um à sua maneira.

Aos primeiros dois agradeço pela lufada de ar fresco: sempre olhada de soslaio por ter um sentido de humor… original, fiquei aliviada por ver que não sou a única a considerar que se pode ser um profissional sério, mas trabalhar bem disposto!

A Chris Durban, agradeço a dedicatória no meu livro e as dicas. Ao que parece não tenho errado por muito, mas tenho de me tornar menos invisível.

A todos os que na Universidade do Minho tiveram a palavra, o meu sincero obrigada – contribuíram para dar esperança a uma tradutora que se começava a sentir menos iluminada. Também estou certa de que os alunos de tradução presentes se sentiram com ainda mais força e inspiração para enveredarem por este espinhoso e trabalhoso, mas igualmente interessante e aliciante, universo da tradução!