Approach the free translator

As a free translator, there are often other translators, translators, or people who deal with me as asking me, how did the free translator make a living? How can I become a professional translator? How can I succeed? Wait, some people ask such questions on the forum. So I wrote my experience and experience for readers for reference.

(1) One day of free translator

I usually do not set my time, but I usually get up at eight in the morning so that I can reply from the translation company and customers. I am in California, some customers are in the east, and they often contact important things in the morning. A small number of customers even forgot the time difference, and wake me up at around 6 am, and told me to translate them. I usually record the calls with the phone call machine, because at that time, my mind was not particularly sober and organized.

After getting up, there are many arrangements for the next time, depending on how many workloads and time limit for work that day. Now I explain them one by one.

When the workload is large, I will work in front of the computer before nine o'clock, until the work is completed, or at least meet the requirements of the workload that day. When I receive the task, I will count the length of the source files, and calculate the daily workload, and then complete a little more every day than that.

When translating, when I encounter a word that I do n’t understand, I will remember them alone on one page, and then check it later. Sometimes I go to the nearby library to check or call. I usually spend more than four hours to check dictionary in the library, encyclopedia, yearbook, and map.

When the workload is not large, I will still complete the job that day first, and then find more tasks, that is, send a letter to the translation company and call customers. The most important thing is to find a new source of work.

When there is no job to do, I will look for work. Unfortunately, I still have any days. We often say that this line is "either to die or hungry." Either be drowned by a large number of work, do not work day and night, and strive to finish the deadline before the deadline, and even suffer from wrist tunnel syndrome. Either guarding Hou on the phone and praying for "the guardian of the translation".

Maybe you have noticed the contradiction here. When the translator has a lot of work, they have no time to sell themselves. When you can do it without work, it is too late to sell yourself. It can be seen that free translators should not forget to sell themselves at all times!

(2) Does the free translator make a lot of money?

People often ask me: Do you make a lot of money? Alas, you have to look at two things: First, how much do you think is a lot of money? Second, which year do you mean?

I have not seen any translator's income from this business at the age of 30 or 40. You know, in the United States, the income of the translator is generally based on the word calculation unit (0.05 ~ 0.2 US dollars per word), and other countries are generally based on rows or pages as calculating units. Few translators can translate more than 2500 words a day, with a 0.2 US dollars per word, every Saturday day, 52 weeks a year, and a year of $ 156,000. It looks good, but let's see how to achieve this theoretical value.

First of all, you have to find your own customers, because no translation company will pay you at $ 0.2 per word, and they give translators at $ 0.05 ~ 0.1. Secondly, you must be an high -efficiency translator who can translate 2500 words and set a manuscript every day. Again, you have to find the work that has been done for so long. Finally, you have to typesetting, printing, sending, etc. in other words. In other words, you have enough time to deal with these miscellaneous things and sleep.

There is a faster, easier, and richer. As long as bilingual talents receive corresponding education, they will do well in international law and international finance. If you want to get rich quickly, don't be a translator.

So, what is the average income of a free translator? Alas, more income from the author. According to statistics from the American Writers Association, the average income of the author is $ 7,000 per year. The statistics of another organization are $ 20,000. Most translator's income will be better than it. However, the author usually only needs one or two dictionaries, and the average translator requires much more dictionaries, and there are other professional related expenditures. The translator is very similar to the author, except for an exception: there is no exception -not a best -selling writer like Stephen Kim.

Those who dream of translating a masterpiece or book, and then live on the version of the tax, forget this idea! The author usually can only get the 10%version of the work of the work of the work, and it is difficult to get it. They did not intend to share it for the translator. I have also translated some books, and the way to pay is: according to the word. Many years ago, the translator had a special relationship with the publisher. But to this day, the only benefit of translating a book is that you have a lot of long -term work.

If you want to translate literary works, think twice. Translation art works have a lot of time, and it takes even more time to publish. Maybe you will get some taxi taxes, but compared with your publishers, editors, authors (if you are still alive), are not competent. You can do it unless you love literature.

If you think that $ 25,000 ~ 35,000 a year is enough for you to support your family and spend after retirement, then money will not become a problem for you to be a translator. Of course, the number above is only the theoretical maximum value, and you can also increase income by creating your own customers and providing other services. Think about the US per capita income of $ 19,000 at the same time, and the translation looks pretty good.

However, the situation is different every month to every year. The translation line is fragile, which is closely related to the political and economic, just like a few occupations. In 1988, the market's demand for Arabic translation was extremely low. In 1990, with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, its demand rose immediately. The market's demand for Japanese translation has always been a lot, until the crushing of the Japanese economic bubble. Therefore, a high income of a certain year does not mean that the second year's income is good. In fact, it does nothing. Unless you take a stable and translated field in the field of high demand and low competition, you can do this.

Not only that, your income will fluctuate month by month. Some month's income is only enough to buy and pay for myself and pets, and the income of other months is enough to cross a luxurious leave. Unfortunately, I know that the income will fall directly within a month or two, and it will fall straight. Some of them deposit into the bank.

In short, if you like income changes and unpredictable, free translator is suitable for you. If you like to receive a fixed salary every month and the salary increases year by year, then find the living or change of the translation in the office.

(3) How to make a living of free translator

The free translator has two basic principles. Most successful translators follow. There are also a few successful translators that have not followed.

Principle 1: Work in the country of your second language

Principles 2: Marry the person in the ethnic language of your second language

These two principles are not jokes. A company refused to work for me because my wife was not a Japanese (Japanese is one of my foreign languages). Several companies once asked me why I was not working in Japan. More asked me if I grew up in Japan. When I denied the answer, they decided not to give me work. Although I found enough jobs, I still noticed these two principles.

So, what should I do when there is not much translation work? One may depend on the income of the spouse (not necessarily feasible, unless you are married), and the other may depend on your bank's deposit (if you have enough money), and the other may be*some short workers (if you are not a person, there is no one, no one is not a person. Several money single Han).

Most translators have some sidelines. I treat myself as a language consultant and provide consultation to those who need to serve. In the past few years, I have taught English, Japanese and Spanish. I have done a reputation editor, proofreading, and writing abstracts. I have done short -term desktop publishing and database consulting work, and I have painted people with computers (this is really my amateur hobby, but also helped me make some money. Around the room, you will see a Japanese banner, which is my masterpiece).

Don't forget: the various abilities of the translator can play a role in many related fields. Translators are usually competent for Editor, School Division and Desktop Publishing. Write a manual to a computer company, write articles for local newspapers and magazines, and even write short stories and books, translators can also be easily adapted. Translators can also teach language and write related reference materials. Some translators are even involved in the translation, but it should be noted that the interpretation of the same translation is two codes, and the interpretation needs to undergo strict synonymal interpretation training (I have been fully trained and identified through the interpretation of the meeting, but I still give up the interpretation because I don't like it).

The characteristics of the translation are what to translate, and the cycle changes, so leaving a retreat is a good idea. I don't know which translator's customers are so reliable and can provide a constant workload. You have to prepare for the situation of no rice. If you need money, go to a short job or do some side business. You can also work for some temporary institutions. If you don't need money, then start with what you want to do all day long.

(4) How to become a free translator of successful success

How can I become a free translator of success? There is no doubt that success comes from hard work. Sorry, this is all the facts. You can sit in the family office and watch the screen guarantee program drawing various patterns on the display. The reason why you fail to fail: you have not found that Bole finds, the foreign language needs you learn are small, there is no background or equipment, and so on. However, the facts are extremely simple:

If you are not successful, it is not enough for you to work hard.

Of course, it is assumed that you have the basic hardware of translation (now the translation of hand -copy is not accepted) and software (with a certain foreign language ability, and you do not learn small languages, such as Hawaii or Basque). What do I mean? Very simple: free translator involves many transactions. You must sell yourself timely, so that customers realize your existence and let people understand everything you promise. No matter how long you enter the industry, you have to sell yourself uninterruptedly. Send your resumes everywhere, call translation companies and potential customers, and visit local companies (such as lawyers' buildings or consultants) to see what they need. Contact the local chamber of commerce or related ambassadors and consuls.

Hold all this and persevere.

Success belongs to those who are willing to do all of this and do better.

What is the secret of success? If there is a secret, I won't get this topic. Because if I say it, then I can't talk about secrets, and that in this way, add more competitors to myself. However, like most secrets, they are really not a secret. Speaking is often easier than doing.

The so -called successful secret is: time arrangement.

For translation, time arrangement means everything. It exists when you send your resume and attachment to potential customers; when you submit translation samples to the translation company; when you are on vacation and purchase items; most importantly, when you submit the formal translation.

Submit the formal translation to the translation company or customer to get compensation, and the company and customers need you to complete the task on time. That means that it cannot be mistaken at any time. If you think it may be wrong, you must tell them before the deadline for the time of the draft for re -arrangement. When negotiating the relevant provisions of the manuscript, remember to select the date and time and keep the company and customers. I often send translations at 9 am. Whether it is for personal or for business, it is best to have a plan. The best business purchase is best to be within the end of the year. It is best to buy a large private item when you receive a lot of jobs and the bank has a certain deposit. In addition, there must be extra deposits in the bank to prevent it.

As for vacation, this depends on your private life. However, it is easier to obtain tasks in Christmas and New Year, because few translators are working. In August, some translators moved to other places. If you are free, it is easier to get tasks. You must understand your working language mid -cycle*demand law, and understand when the peak season is the off -season.

When is the best time to sell yourself? I repeatedly emphasize sales because it is the difference between a successful translator and the failed translator. Although the sales involve many complex and intangible things, it is difficult to describe. But there is one more easy to point out that it is timely arrangement. You have to send your resume to the translation company and customers from time to time. Let the delivery time and demand peak season co -season. Call in a timely manner, wait for the resume to send them at least a few days before calling them. Call around nine in the morning, because people were not very busy at that time. The same reason, called them around Wednesday. The most important thing is to do it regularly.

Remember, the secret of success is the time arrangement, and experience is the best way to master it.

Finally, I briefly discussed the reasons for people to be translators. I think although other translators may have different views, they will feel familiar when they see what they are mentioned below. I also wrote some of the views heard from other translators. If you want to be a translator, this may help you make a decision. If you are dealing with translators, this will help you understand the mysterious people who are lonely created.

I became a translator because I like writing and language. Because they like to work for themselves, they become free translators. I have done a translation in the office in Japan and I have also taught them on both sides of the Pacific. I have done hospital care, desktop publishing, graphic design, database consultation. I have also worked as a truck driver, a tablory and a miscellaneous worker, and a cleaner. I like to work for myself. This is one of the reasons I like to translate.

Some translations are because they like to translate. They like to experience the challenge of the information conversion process. They like to wad in the unknown language. They thrive under the pressure of the stabbing interception and irregular work plan. They also like to get paid from it.

Some people become translators because they understand two or more languages ​​and a specialty. They want to give play to the knowledge of the place. Bilingual computer experts and software engineers naturally enter the field of technology translation, although not necessarily easy.

Other people blindly entered the field of translation. They did not realize that in the dictionary pile, they kept the computer alone, and the documents that had to be sent back the day before the day before the day before were continued to work for six to twelve hours.

Is there a correct reason to become a translator? I express doubt. Is there a reason to be wrong? certainly. Understanding two languages ​​do not have to be translators. This is just the beginning, becoming more required by translators. Love language is only the beginning. As far as I know, some people love language but hate translation (they are expected to develop towards linguists).

All in all: If you are a translator, it's not bad. If you want to be a translator, it's not bad. If you don't want to be a translator, it's not bad. In short. I like this profession, as far as I know, others may also like it. Fortunately, more of us will know each other more, and this profession will be better.

Author: Roger Cleis

Compilation: He Yunjian

Transfer: Translation teaching and research

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