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Adventures in Freelance Translation

Adventures in Freelance Translation. Kat Hall Peabody Ink. https://peabodyink.com/ peabodyink74@gmail.com. My atypical profile. BA German studies, literary PhD, lecturer full-time translator/editor in 2016 Did NOT have BA, MA, PhD in translation

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Adventures in Freelance Translation

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  1. Adventures in Freelance Translation Kat Hall Peabody Ink. https://peabodyink.com/ peabodyink74@gmail.com

  2. My atypical profile • BA German studies, literary PhD, lecturer full-time translator/editor in 2016 Did NOT have • BA, MA, PhD in translation • IoL qualifications (DipTrans)* • Professional or agency experience

  3. Assets • Taught translation for two decades • Hands on: editing, some translation • Connections: New Books in German, Goethe Institut-London, publishers • USP: academic/literary/crime expertise (‘Mrs Peabody Investigates’ blog*) • 18 years in high-pressure workplace • Prepared to work like a

  4. Early days/retraining • One year to ‘turn the ship’ • Cardiff Uni MOOC on translation • Joined Emerging Translators Network* & • Society of Authors/Translators Association* • TA symposium* (Katy Derbyshire) • London Book Fair • BCLT translation summer school* • Super-supportive community

  5. Early days/clients • Charlotte Ryland / NBG fairygodmother • Crime articles • Fischer crime sample • Piper catalogue for LBF • Frankfurt Book Fair work • Copy-editing translation of German thriller • Leo Baeck Institute Year Book copy-editing SAY YES TO ALL YOU CAN!

  6. It’s good to • Join professional associations/groups • Make connections in your language area • Attend industry events • Have a USP (crime/quality) • Diversify (editing & translation; ‘edlating’) • Specialise (academic, publishing, literature) • Ride the freelancer’s wave

  7. Riding the wave!

  8. Riding the wave: Frankfurt Book Fair

  9. Riding the wave (cont.)

  10. Added value from jobs • FBF press release: industry intel • Article on German crime fiction: industry intel • Copy-editing thriller: contact to top translators, publisher, author • Translating fiction: bliss! SašaStanišić Terézia Mora Ferdinand von Schirach 

  11. Stay solvent  • Translate German crime novel • Identify, pitch, lobby, translate • Enter inner sanctum of go-to translators • Practice, practice, practice (Schirach/Bell) • Build profile & convert lucky breaks Be patient – no one owes you anything

  12. Brexit uncertainties • Which Brexit? • Sterling fluctuations? • More paperwork? • EU clients prefer EU-based translators? • Boom in some sectors (e.g. politics, trade, law), but threat to arts? • Funding withdrawn? • Translation still classified as a service?

  13. Managing uncertainties Have clients in EU and UK Dual citizenship if possible Stay up to date Be adaptable Have a Plan B

  14. Links • https://www.societyofauthors.org/groups/translators • https://www.societyofauthors.org/Events/Events/It%E2%80%99s-Time-to-Talk-TA-Translation-Symposium-2019 • https://emergingtranslatorsnetwork.wordpress.com/ • http://www.bclt.org.uk/summer-school • https://www.ciol.org.uk/DipTrans • https://mrspeabodyinvestigates.wordpress.com/ • https://peabodyink.com/

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