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How to Plan for Big Changes in Your Freelance Business

November/December 2019 Issue

Do you ever feel like you need to make a change in your business, but you’re not sure when to pull the trigger? Or maybe you know you’ve needed to make a change for some time but just keep putting it off. If you aren’t sure when the best time is to make a change […]

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Glossaries for Translators: Why You Need Them

September/October 2019 Issue

If you haven’t made your own translation glossaries yet, you need to create one right now. You’re not just missing out, you’re doing yourself a disservice. The benefits of creating and maintaining your own glossaries cannot be understated, from increased productivity to better translation quality. They are essential tools for all translators that can be […]

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Three Myths about Who Should Edit Your Translation

July/August 2019 Issue

(The following originally appeared on The Savvy Newcomer blog, https://atasavvynewcomer.org.) Some translation projects involve a lone translator, while others allow the translator to choose an editor. My own experience comes from working for direct clients, where I almost always choose an editor to work closely on a translation with me, or we switch roles and […]

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Take Charge of Your Rates

March/April 2019 Issue

There’s been a lot written recently about raising rates. I’ve even seen it said that it’s impossible to increase them for existing clients. So, having just raised mine for a large group of clients—something I’ve done many times in the past—I thought I would offer a little inspiration and encouragement for those being put off […]

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I’m a Translator, NOT a Machine: When It’s Time to Say Goodbye to a Client

January/February 2019 Issue

I’ve written previously about parting company with clients. Sometimes this happens over time, maybe because you’ve raised your rates, or said “No” too often and they’ve looked elsewhere. Or perhaps they’ve imposed unreasonable demands on you as a freelancer, or you just don’t want to work for them any more because the relationship has become […]

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Work Smarter, Not Harder

November/December 2018 Issue

I remember when I got my very first freelancing job. I was sitting on the bed in my tiny apartment in Luxembourg, where I had been living for a few months while an intern at the Italian Translation Unit of the European Parliament. It was late afternoon, and all of a sudden I heard my […]

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When Should We Apply Extra Charges to Translation Projects?

July/August 2018 Issue

For some, the answer is obvious. For others, it’s not that easy. I personally think that it’s a case-by-case decision that is not only dependent upon you, but also on the client and the specific project. So, let’s try to analyze this sensitive issue. People usually believe that extra charges should apply for overtime hours, […]

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Couples Counseling: Reimagining the Freelancer–Company Relationship

March/April 2018 Issue

(The following originally appeared as a two-part post in May 2017 on the Interpreters Division blog, www.ata-divisions.org/ID/blog.) I’m not sure that I’m technically qualified to offer relationship advice to freelancers and language companies. However, throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to participate in and/or observe hundreds if not thousands of these relationships and develop […]

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When the Unthinkable Happens and Giving Up Work Isn’t an Option

January/February 2018 Issue

Sometimes life throws you a curveball and the unthinkable happens: a family member is stricken with a long-term illness and you suddenly have to take on the role of caregiver. Caring for a loved one can be physically and emotionally draining and as time-consuming as looking after a baby, but often with none of the […]

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