Are you looking to get your book translated? Or are you looking for a linguist to run your foreign marketing? But where to find those professionals and how to check their credentials? In this article, I will give you 5 places where you can find a translator.
Their personal website
One simple solution is simply to open your browser and search for the language combination you are looking for. However, I know from experience that entering “English to French translator” will often send you back an entire page of online dictionaries!
Before my relaunch, I was very lucky to appear very high in the search rank for the key phrases “French”, “literary translator” and “historical romances”. I will try to keep that ranking with that new website, though I am also trying to grow my reach towards Notion fans.
Find a translator through word of mouth
As it can be daunting to select a translator through Google, one thing you can do is ask colleagues about their own translators. Some do not want to “lend” their team in the middle of a series – and I understand it perfectly. However, it can often be the easiest way if you trust that other writer.
If you don’t know them personally, go to their website and their Amazon page and search for the name of their translator. They are usually credited as co-authors or appear in the front matter under the copyright notice. A lot of freelance literary translators also have a personal website or a profile on social media, and you will be able to check that you are a match.
Social media profiles
This brings me to LinkedIn and, to a certain extent, Facebook and Twitter. Being a purely professional network, LinkedIn is a great place to check people’s credentials. Simply type “literary translator” and the languages you are searching for.
Some of the credentials you are looking for are:
- A BA or Master’s Degree in translation or literature
- A catalogue of previous publications (here is mine!)
- Membership in a professional body relevant to their field of expertise
Syndicates and professional bodies
Those bodies keep searchable databases of their members. In order to join, translators usually have to provide proof of training and professional experience. Some even ask for a test (more or less challenging) in order to join. For example, if you are looking for a French-speaking literary translator, you would do well to turn to the Association des Traducteurs Littéraires de France (ATLF).
For my part, living in Norway, I am counting the days until 2023, when my first two Norwegian to French literary translations are going to be released by a traditional publisher and I will be able to join the Norwegian syndicate of literary translators!
Online communities to help you find a translator
Finally, there are online communities of translators out there. One of the biggest ones is ProZ. You can search for your next provider directly from the search box on the homepage.
However, a dedicated community for authors seeking freelancers is Reedsy. I myself have a profile on this website and the selection process made sure that I had translated enough books with good marketing results to actually be able to join. On the same site, you will be able to find editors or graphic artists!
Last words
I hope that this advice was useful. Finding the right translator may take time and effort, but it is worth it if you want to give readers the best experience possible.
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