How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator [Paperback]

Corinne McKay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2006

freelance, translator, translation, home business, Business, Economics, Careers, Jobs

Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent introductory text. ...gives the aspiring translator a comprehensive idea of what to expect and how to succeed... -- The Rat Race Rebellion, June 22, 2006

About the Author

Corinne McKay is an American Translators Association-certified French to English translator specializing in legal, financial and marketing translation. After earning a B.A. and an M.A. in French and teaching high school French for eight years, she launched her own freelance translation business and has never looked back! Based on her experiences "in the trenches" of starting a freelance business, Corinne developed and teaches the popular online course, "Getting Started as a Freelance Translator." She wrote "How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator" to help beginning and experienced translators find enjoyment and profitability in the legitimate work from home opportunity that the translation industry offers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: LULU (May 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411695208
• ISBN-13: 978-1411695207
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Corinne McKay is certified by the American Translators Association as a French to English translator. Based on her own experiences building a freelance translation business from the ground up, she published How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator in 2008, with a second edition in 2011. It has since become a go-to reference for beginning and experienced translators alike. In 2013, Corinne published Thoughts on Translation, a book-length compilation of entries from her blog by the same name.

Corinne lives and works in Boulder, Colorado and specializes in international development, corporate communications and legal translation; she also enjoys translating non-fiction books, and her translation of Gilbert Legay's Dictionary of North American Indians and Other Indigenous Peoples was published by Barron's Educational Series in 2007.

In addition to her translation and writing work, Corinne teaches courses for beginning and aspiring freelance translators; see her website http://www.translatewrite.com for more information.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent practical guide for beginning / aspiring translators July 17, 2006

By Thomas D. Hedden

Format:Paperback

It has long been very difficult to get information about careers in foreign languages: translation, interpreting, etc. Even at the college level, most foreign language departments are focused on purely academic subjects such as literature, grammar, etc., and few instructors can provide guidance to their students about what they can actually DO with their education once they complete it. This book does an excellent job of filling that need. I have been a full-time free-lance professional technical translator for over ten years, and I had a rocky road getting where I am today. I wish I had had a book like this to guide me when I was younger.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction to the Business Side of Freelancing June 13, 2007

By Nick

Format:Paperback

To make things clear right from the beginning, this book is not about teaching you how to translate, this book is about managing your business as a freelance translator.

I read it in one go and I found it very informative on a lot of very useful things. It's the basic knowledge any freelancer should know.

Well written and easy to read (complete with a glossary of jargon terms), "How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator" is a good first step in the business. I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering a career, or to anyone who happens to be bilingual.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any freelance translator April 6, 2007

By Morgan 17

Format:Paperback

The definition of a translator is a person who translates written messages from one language to another. Unfortunately, when you study to become one in college, you do not learn the business side of it. There is no textbook or class on that subject. It is just not part of the college cursus. They only teach you to become an in-house translator.You usually try to get some experience first before you start your freelance business.

So, when you are not prepared at all, you waste time, energy, and money in setting your business in doing so. By taking Corinne's class ( yes, she even offers an online class (6-weeks) to support her book) and reading her book: you avoid all that. As a new freelance translator, this is the PERFECT class to take before starting working. Gradually, Corinne will explain to you what to do and how to do it. One piece of advice though: ORGANIZATION. Without it, you will not go very far. I know... by experience.

Good Luck and Enjoy the book and ....the class.