Simply Translated

For  a while I've been thinking that this translation thing has been a failure.  Well, maybe not a failure, but not going as well as I would like it to, but then a thought came to me the other day.  Even though I'm not making a fortune from translation and it's not yet a career it is definately getting me out of debt!!  For this I am thankful.  AND I enjoy doing it!  My ability to speak French has not been wasted!

I have totally redesigned my whole website!  In my opinion it appears much more professional and polished. I also designed a new advertisement that I send with emails to translation agencies.  The need to remarket myself has come from the fact that I feel as if I've hit a wall lately.  I was reading another translators blog the other day and something popped out at me.  He was saying how a translators greatest enemy is not the other competition but, rather, laziness on the part of the translator!  So true!!  I realized that I have been lazy these past couple months.  It is so easy to think negatively and become unmotivated, but that is all turning around now. 

I am determined to move forward and not be discouraged!  My previous translations speak for themselves and now it is just a matter of perseverence. 

So I have been waiting for payment from this client for almost two months!  At this point it is just unacceptable to me.  I even wrote up a contract.  After talking to several other translators about this they suggested that next time I should submit in increments my work, getting paid after each section is submitted.  This way I am sure to get my money (or at least most of it) on time.  I did ask for a down payment, but have now learned that what I asked for was nothing compared to the norm. 

This is just so frustrating!  I beilieve it is a case of a collaborative effort.  But it's just not fair - I did my part.  Why should I not get paid because others are dropping the ball? 

I will keep you posted on this saga......

So far 2010 has been an awesome year me!  I have been very fortunate to have several projects in a row. 

I recently finished the translation of a website which I have never done before.  This is a new branch of translation that I hope to continue.  It is bizarre to actually go online and see your work!  It's a great feeling. 

I hope to be able to update this blog on a more regular basis from now on. 

To be continued......

If there is one thing that being a translator has taught me, it is to slow down.  And it has.  I'm the type of person that shoots from the hip, I am spontaneous and don't always think things through.  A little ADD maybe. They say most creative people are. So translating is good for me.  I have to concentrate.  I have to pay attention to detail.  I have to SLOW DOWN.  By slowing down I have realized what I need to work on as a translator.  For instance, I sometimes tend to overtranslate or translate too literally (which I have been called out on).  I have been really working on these two faults recently.  I know I have made progress.  People are happy with my work and give me more.  This doesn't mean it ends here.  We are always improving upon our selves and our work.  Slowing down really gives us the occasion to look at what we do, see where we can make improvements, and lets us produce quality work.  I will never give up my spontanaeity, I will always be somewhat impulsive...the challenge is to not let that influence or become part of my work.