Breaking into the book translation market (Workshop)

Formats: Webinar presentations
Topics: Business of Translation and Interpreting
Business skills for translators
Course summary
Start time:Feb 23, 2023 15:00 GMT     Add to calendar

The session has already taken place.

If you purchased the webinar please find a link to the video at https://www.proz.com/translator-training/my-courses

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Language:English
Duration:120 minutes
Description

Would you love to translate books, but don't know where to start?

In this nuts-and-bolts three-hour class, you'll learn about the lifecycle of a book translation, from the idea stage to the rights arrangement, to finding a publisher and signing a contract, to marketing the book.

We'll also talk about self-publishing, translating books in the public domain, and submitting translations to literary journals.

For many would-be book translators, doing the translation is the easy part: this class will allow you to confidently approach the not-so-easy, business-related parts of the book translation equation, and to anticipate how a book translation can go wrong.

Open to translators who want to translate fiction, non-fiction, poetry, textbooks, or any other literary media.



What’s included?

✓ 23 February 2023: Live 3-hour workshop with Corinne

✓ Recordings for registered attendees

✓ ProZ.com Certificate of completion


Ready to start working in the new domain?







Created by
 Corinne McKay    View feedback | View all courses
Bio: Corinne McKay, CT is an ATA-certified French to English translator and Colorado court-certified French interpreter based in Boulder, Colorado. A full-time freelancer since 2002, she specializes in international development, corporate communications, and non-fiction book translations, and in court and conference interpreting. In addition to her own translation work, Corinne has written books and taught courses for other freelance translators since 2005; her book, How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, has become a go-to reference for the industry, with over 12,000 copies in print. Through her online platform Training for Translators, she teaches business development classes for other translators. Corinne co-hosts the podcast Speaking of Translation with Eve Bodeux, and served on the Board of the American Translators Association for seven years, including as ATA president from 2017-2019. She holds a Bachelor's degree in French and English, a Master's degree in French Literature, and is a current student in the Glendon College/York University Master's in Conference Interpreting program.
General discussions on this training

Breaking into the book translation market (Workshop)
Gioia Marini
Gioia Marini Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 18:07
Member (2016)
Dutch to English
Question about workshop Breaking into the book translation marketFeb 6, 2023

I would like to edit/translate more books in the academic sector, specifically in the social sciences and humanities field (I have a strong background in international relations and Asian studies). Will this workshop cover how a freelancer should go about approaching established academic publishers?

 
Michael Newton
Michael Newton Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 12:07
Japanese to English
+ ...
Book translation Feb 7, 2023

The best advice I can give is to plan to be independently wealthy. Book translations do not pay well. They are more in the realm of hobbies.

P.L.F. Persio
Rachel Waddington
Miranda Drew
 
Rachel Waddington
Rachel Waddington Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:07
Dutch to English
+ ...
AgreeFeb 7, 2023

Michael Newton wrote:

The best advice I can give is to plan to be independently wealthy. Book translations do not pay well. They are more in the realm of hobbies.



I agree with this. I did some non-fiction book translations when I was starting out and it was not particularly lucrative but OK. Nowadays, people seem to do them for virtually nothing to build their reputation.

I'd love someone to tell me I'm wrong, but this is my impression.

 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:07
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TenureFeb 7, 2023

Michael Newton wrote:

The best advice I can give is to plan to be independently wealthy. Book translations do not pay well. They are more in the realm of hobbies.


You need to be a tenured professor in an American university. That's the only way for you to live whilst translating.

 
Corinne McKay
Corinne McKay Identity Verified
Local time: 10:07
Member (2011)
French to English
To answer your questions...Feb 7, 2023

Hi there, this is Corinne, the class instructor, with a few thoughts for you:

-I've never translated for an academic press, but I will give information on how to contact publishers in general (via the acquisitions or foreign rights departments), and I believe that would be applicable to academic presses as well.

-In terms of the income potential from translating books, I think it's important to distinguish between book translation that pays little to nothing (often that app... See more
Hi there, this is Corinne, the class instructor, with a few thoughts for you:

-I've never translated for an academic press, but I will give information on how to contact publishers in general (via the acquisitions or foreign rights departments), and I believe that would be applicable to academic presses as well.

-In terms of the income potential from translating books, I think it's important to distinguish between book translation that pays little to nothing (often that applies to fiction, plays, poetry, etc.) and book translation that pays less than commercial translation but does pay somewhat decently. As an example, all of my direct clients pay 20-25 US cents per word, the few agencies I work for pay 14-16, and for non-fiction book translations I find that publishers will often offer around 10 US cents per word. I would never work for a commercial translation client for that rate, but for a large project with a long deadline, where you're earning probably $6,000-$9,000 total, I find it viable to translate one to two books per year.

-I do agree that if you want translate fiction, plays, poetry, etc. there is a lot of competition from people who really don't need the money (as someone mentioned, this is a common sideline for people who work in academia and might see a few hundred dollars as a totally acceptable payment for translating a book). And you'll see sites like Babelcube based only on royalties, where I would assume that most of the translators are earning little to nothing. However I do find a pretty steady flow of non-fiction book translation work at around 10 US cents per word.

Let me know if that helps!
Corinne McKay ▲ Collapse


Christopher Schröder
Dan Lucas
 

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