Adventures in Freelance Translation Kat Hall Peabody Ink
Adventures in Freelance Translation Kat Hall Peabody Ink. https: //peabodyink. com/ peabodyink 74@gmail. com
My atypical profile • BA German studies, literary Ph. D, lecturer full-time translator/editor in 2016 Did NOT have • BA, MA, Ph. D in translation • Io. L qualifications (Dip. Trans)* • Professional or agency experience
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
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
Early days/clients • • • Charlotte Ryland / NBG fairy godmother 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!
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
Riding the wave!
Riding the wave: Frankfurt Book Fair Via CR in 2018: rescue Frankfurt Magazine translation Translate 4 FM articles (on topics such as children’s books) Translate FM author column (Saša Stanišić)
Riding the wave (cont. ) Repeat Frankfurt Magazine work in 2019 Rescue Frankfurt Book Fair press release translation Now on core list of press release translators / anchor client
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! Saša Stanišić Terézia Mora Ferdinand von Schirach
1. Stay solvent 2. Translate German crime novel • Identify, pitch, lobby, translate • Enter inner sanctum of go-to translators • Practice, practice (Schirach/Bell) • Build profile & convert lucky breaks Be patient – no one owes you anything
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? • • •
Managing uncertainties Have clients in EU and UK Dual citizenship if possible Stay up to date Be adaptable Have a Plan B
Links • https: //www. societyofauthors. org/groups/translators • https: //www. societyofauthors. org/Events/It%E 2%80%99 s-Time-to-Talk-TA-Translation-Symposium 2019 • https: //emergingtranslatorsnetwork. wordpress. com/ • http: //www. bclt. org. uk/summer-school • https: //www. ciol. org. uk/Dip. Trans • https: //mrspeabodyinvestigates. wordpress. com/ • https: //peabodyink. com/
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