Getting Started as a Literary Translator

Getting Started as a Literary Translator: Translated Literature and Publishing is an essential textbook for aspiring literary translators, offering a comprehensive guide to navigating the professional and entrepreneurial aspects of the field. Recognizing that translation can often be an isolated practice, this book provides emerging translators with the industry knowledge and connections needed to establish themselves, with a particular focus on the translated literature sector of the UK publishing industry, while also referencing other Anglophone contexts.

Rather than teaching translation techniques, this textbook focuses on the practical skills required to operate as a professional translator. It brings together detailed information on key organizations, funding bodies and industry practices, alongside exclusive interviews with translators at various career stages and representatives from organizations that support literature in translation. These real-world insights and examples offer invaluable advice for breaking into the field.

The book also highlights barriers to accessing and advancing in the translated literature sector and provides strategies to address them. Practical exercises and assessments throughout the chapters guide readers in developing their first translation pitch, culminating in the creation of a translation sample and a complete pitch pack. Designed for students, educators and emerging professionals, this textbook is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to build a career in literary translation.