Getting into book translation from movies
May 4, 2009 2:40 AM Subscribe
How do I move into book translation? Do I want to?
I'm a movie translator. I've done scripts, subtitles, promo materials, the works.
Although it's a fun industry, the real joy of it for me gets squashed by the tight deadlines and picky clients. I love getting into language, tweaking things so they're just right, and the research surrounding a project. But film operates on immensely tight deadlines, and as a friend says, "a project is never done, just due." The endless revisions, micromanaging directors/producers/screenwriters, and layers of agents and secretaries and production assistants don't really help either.
Example - I recently got the promo materials for an upcoming Confucius biopic. It's gonna be insanely expensive, and Hollywood is involved, so getting a good English translation is key. Can you imagine a cooler project? I'm getting paid to read the Analects! But they revised and revised and revised and finally sent me the final draft with two days to spare, one day of which I told them ahead of time I had things going on. So, one day to translate & proof a 10-page document, half in classical Chinese, the other half in Hollywood biospeak, research all the history and filmographies, and get it in. And now, it's been sent to three different people for checking, all of whom are coming back to me for explanation, none of whom are English-speakers, and none, I suspect, who are among the original authors.
That's not an isolated example. I love the work, but I'm just finding, again and again, that I don't have the time or incentive to delve in and indulge myself in a project in the movie industry.
I can take that for what it is (a day job), but it's not giving me the enjoyment or credit where I want it. I've read some very good novels, history books, and other stuff, that at least I think is interesting, and would have a lot of fun translating. Some, like an imminently readable colloquial-language analysis of the impact of the warlord-era generals on modern politics after the May 4th Movement here (by a credible historian), would be fantastic resources for grad students. I can imagine how a lot of what I've read would succeed with English-speaking audiences.
The process of translating a book doesn't intimidate me, but I have no idea how to approach publishers/authors with the idea, or even to get hired to do this, especially when I'm in Beijing, and the publishers who'd be interested in this information are scattered all over the world. Networking is key, and I'm out there trying to meet people in literary circles, but without knowing how to market the idea (or product if I translate a book first) and who to market to, I'm kind of running in circles. I'm willing to do one or two for free, maybe even more, if that's what it takes to get me established.
Here are the questions I can think of for the moment:
1) Would it be best if I just translated a book first, then tried to sell it?
2) Assuming I'm going to translate a book, should I contact authors first and get their permission/assent? Should I approach them and try to negotiate a contract, or just approach them and ask if they'd like their book translated and like to handle publishing arrangements themselves?
3) How should I approach American/English-world publishers? Should I secure cooperation with Chinese-language publishers before I go about this, or would it be more ideal if I notified English-world publishers of my intent, got their interest, then brought them projects?
4) Should I find an agent?
5) I know my book will be edited, but should I find my own editor, or pair with a publisher and let them edit?
These are the questions I can think of for now. I'd appreciate any advice you have. This is a big transition, it'll take a long time, and the more preparation I've got the better.
I'm a movie translator. I've done scripts, subtitles, promo materials, the works.
Although it's a fun industry, the real joy of it for me gets squashed by the tight deadlines and picky clients. I love getting into language, tweaking things so they're just right, and the research surrounding a project. But film operates on immensely tight deadlines, and as a friend says, "a project is never done, just due." The endless revisions, micromanaging directors/producers/screenwriters, and layers of agents and secretaries and production assistants don't really help either.
Example - I recently got the promo materials for an upcoming Confucius biopic. It's gonna be insanely expensive, and Hollywood is involved, so getting a good English translation is key. Can you imagine a cooler project? I'm getting paid to read the Analects! But they revised and revised and revised and finally sent me the final draft with two days to spare, one day of which I told them ahead of time I had things going on. So, one day to translate & proof a 10-page document, half in classical Chinese, the other half in Hollywood biospeak, research all the history and filmographies, and get it in. And now, it's been sent to three different people for checking, all of whom are coming back to me for explanation, none of whom are English-speakers, and none, I suspect, who are among the original authors.
That's not an isolated example. I love the work, but I'm just finding, again and again, that I don't have the time or incentive to delve in and indulge myself in a project in the movie industry.
I can take that for what it is (a day job), but it's not giving me the enjoyment or credit where I want it. I've read some very good novels, history books, and other stuff, that at least I think is interesting, and would have a lot of fun translating. Some, like an imminently readable colloquial-language analysis of the impact of the warlord-era generals on modern politics after the May 4th Movement here (by a credible historian), would be fantastic resources for grad students. I can imagine how a lot of what I've read would succeed with English-speaking audiences.
The process of translating a book doesn't intimidate me, but I have no idea how to approach publishers/authors with the idea, or even to get hired to do this, especially when I'm in Beijing, and the publishers who'd be interested in this information are scattered all over the world. Networking is key, and I'm out there trying to meet people in literary circles, but without knowing how to market the idea (or product if I translate a book first) and who to market to, I'm kind of running in circles. I'm willing to do one or two for free, maybe even more, if that's what it takes to get me established.
Here are the questions I can think of for the moment:
1) Would it be best if I just translated a book first, then tried to sell it?
2) Assuming I'm going to translate a book, should I contact authors first and get their permission/assent? Should I approach them and try to negotiate a contract, or just approach them and ask if they'd like their book translated and like to handle publishing arrangements themselves?
3) How should I approach American/English-world publishers? Should I secure cooperation with Chinese-language publishers before I go about this, or would it be more ideal if I notified English-world publishers of my intent, got their interest, then brought them projects?
4) Should I find an agent?
5) I know my book will be edited, but should I find my own editor, or pair with a publisher and let them edit?
These are the questions I can think of for now. I'd appreciate any advice you have. This is a big transition, it'll take a long time, and the more preparation I've got the better.
I've translated a couple books, mainly technical ones. I made contacts at the university here in Amsterdam (note this Skyanth!). Maybe that'd be a good place to start? Many students/professors need academic works/articles/books translated and it may be a good place to get your foot in the door sans agent. At least here in NL most departments have funding set aside just for translation. From what I remember about life in Beijing (at least life 5 years ago) this was not the case. Maybe things have changed though. Anyway, the university route is worth investigating.
posted by mateuslee at 3:33 AM on May 4, 2009
posted by mateuslee at 3:33 AM on May 4, 2009
If you're interested in translating non-fiction, finding a field in which to specialise might help. (Background: I recently had a professional translator translate a document from English into Dutch, and had to heavily edit their end product because they got most of the technical and privacy-related terminology wrong. I imagine that clients in specialised fields would be happy to have a translator who they can rely on to get it right.)
posted by rjs at 4:10 AM on May 4, 2009
posted by rjs at 4:10 AM on May 4, 2009
Although I can't offer any specifics, the Chinese-English literary translation blog http://www.paper-republic.org seems like it might be useful, their FAQs there answer many of the questions that you ask.
There is also an annual literary translation bootcamp sponsored by Penguin China every year - unfortunately it has just passed about a month ago - but it's likely well worth trying to get into that for next year.
posted by so much modern time at 4:40 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
There is also an annual literary translation bootcamp sponsored by Penguin China every year - unfortunately it has just passed about a month ago - but it's likely well worth trying to get into that for next year.
posted by so much modern time at 4:40 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
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I'm in the same boat as you and have talked at length with established book translators about this. I'm trying to become a book translator from English and Swedish into Dutch though, so the market I'm trying to get into is different from yours (the proportion of books that get translated is far greater, but so is the number of translators). But here's what I've learned so far:
1) No. You can of course do this, but there's a good chance that it will become an unpublished labour of love. If you want to translate a book, see what the scope is like, practice, see if it works for you - do go ahead with it. But be aware that you will need to be an established translator with good contacts to actually get it published. From a getting-in-contact-with-publishers point of view, you'll be better off translating the first two chapters and sending those out, so that people can see what you can do.
2) No. I've done this - actually had my favourite writer tell me he wanted me to translate his books. But (and he told me this at the same time) it's ultimately useless. English language publishers pick up the foreign rights, and then give the project to a translator they feel would be good for the job. Again, there may be a freak chance that this will work, but it's not how it usually goes.
3) As you don't have any previously translated books, the best you can do is send them letters with a resume detailing the things you've done that have come closest, and perhaps some sample chapters. If you want to translate into English, I don't really see the use for getting in contact with Chinese language publishers. Though it can't hurt of course.
4) I don't know. In the Netherlands, translators do not have agents. But I know I would be happy if I had one. :)
5) Normally the publisher would give your translation to an editor once you're done. This editor will then do his/her mojo and send the book back to you, and you get to decide what the final product will be. However, as publishers these days try to cut costs I've heard horror stories about translators actually hiring their own editors to at least have a good product, because publishers won't even go through the trouble (read: pay the money) to have the translations edited. These are isolated incidents though - normally your publisher should handle the editing and everything should work out fine.
Best of luck. I'd like to hear how this works out for you.
posted by Skyanth at 3:24 AM on May 4, 2009