Hallo! I am a freelance translator: http://www.proz.com/translator/1201121.
I love working from home and would love to live like that till my very last
days. I have been translating books for many years, and about sixty have been
published. Book translator is ideal, very perfect dream job. Now and then you
can have other type of translation: technical instruction or anything, just to
brush up your brain. Nevertheless, translating of books is the best choice .
It is not too easy to get to regular book translator position. And you never
know what happens next. Sometimes the book market is attacked by political or
economic crisis. But if you are lucky enough and have book after book to
translate, you have a life of your own. Starting a new book is like commencing a
new life. Not all books are easy and pleasant to translate. Some may be very
hard or even hateful. Not always you agree with the author, and you have no
right to change the message.
Well, the very best about freelancing is that you can sleep as much as you
want. You can work when you like to and take your holidays when YOU chose. No
boss except editors who (sometimes) mutiliate your work. But you can fight. And
you must fight.
The bad thing about working from home is that you are relatively isolated
from the world and may grow quite wild and aloof in your behaviour. Let us say,
you start an interesting passage, and suddenly - unwelcome visit or a long
telephone call from somebody. You are sullen and irritated and cannot do your
translation as you would like to.
If you are lucky and willing, you take your holidays and travel. Most
translators are crazy about travelling. It is more than wonderful to visit
places from your books. For instance, translating Ian Rankin you start longing
for Edinburgh. You must go there, and you go, not always at once, but you do,
anyway,
Oh, and if you gain some recognition, then you are more than happy. Just to
hear a good word about your translated book is a reward. And when a little girl
asks to sign a book, you are close to tears (the old sentimental bag, but you
cannot help).
A bookshelf with your translated books... Nothing can be compared to that.
Sometimes you cannot believe your eyes. Your books are your children, and you
love them ALL. Well, not all are nice, beautiful and clever, BUT all of them are
your children.
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