By Denise Boehning
Florida, USA
www.getscorp.com
dboehning@getscorp.com

Working as a freelance translator is often a solitary business and usually our direct contact with clients is limited. Nowadays it is not uncommon to deal with our clients entirely over the internet; never talking to them or meeting them face-to-face.

However, sometimes situations force us to interact with people on a level that may make us rather uncomfortable, such as calling a client about a late payment. In such instances it is important that we know how to deal or talk to our clients without taking a risk of losing them or even worse ruining our reputation. Therefore, it is important to know how to handle certain situations and deal with them diplomatically so both parties hang up the phone satisfied; leaving neither party angry or on the defensive.

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By Salvador Virgen
Salvador@virgen.com.mx

When Gabe Bokor asked me to write a translator profile because I could serve as a model for young colleagues, I felt flattered, confused, and a little bit offended for, even at 47, I count myself among the "young colleagues" who could use a little bit of advice from more experienced practitioners. I felt confused because I usually shun the spotlight: the only time a newspaper published a picture of me on the front page, a Nobel laureate was signing one of his books. The caption, alas, did not mention my name.

Like many of our colleagues, I did not dream about becoming a translator when I was a child. As any self-respecting kid of my age and times, I dreamed about becoming an astronaut or a firefighter. Later the forces we name collectively as "life" took me to several fields, every step taking me farther away from space suits and bright red fire engines. I became electrician, darkroom ... Read more »

Oleh: John Coyne
www.peacecorpswriters.org

Jangan takut menulis adegan atau bagian yang tidak mengarah kemanapun. Jangan buang satu adegan atau bagian sekalipun mereka sepertinya tidak mengarah kemana-mana. Ikuti nasihat Joan Didion. Ia menempel adegan tersebut di papan dengan maksud menggunakannya di kemudian hari.

Pada awal penulisan novelnya, A Book of Common Prayer, Didion mengisahkan, ia menulis adegan Charlotte Douglas pergi ke bandara. Adegannya berisi beberapa halaman prosa yang sangat disukainya, namun ia tidak bisa menemukan tempat untuk menyimpannya [di dalam novelnya]. “Saya terus mengambil adegan ini dan meletakkannya di berbagai tempat berbeda,” tulisnya, “namun adegan ini terus mengganggu narasi; dan selalu salah ditempatkan dimanapun, namun saya bertekad untuk tetap menggunakannya.” Akhirnya ia menemukan satu tempat untuk adegan ini di bagian tengah bukunya.

“Terkadang Anda bisa mendapatkan solusi dan jalan keluar di perten... Read more »