Getting Started as a Literary Translator - Some Practical Publishing Tips

This is an attempt to respond to questions I've been asked by beginning literary translators and is based on my experience and that of colleagues, with no pretensions to exhaustiveness or infallibility! For more "official" advice, please refer to the PEN Handbook for Literary Translators, a very helpful resource.
Criticism and suggestions are very much welcome – please send to Isabel Cole.

I believe the (literary) world would be a better place if more people took on the difficult but rewarding task of translating foreign writers and finding a home for them in the English-language publishing scene. I hope you will find this helpful!

Isabel Cole,
Editor, no man's land

1) Clarifying rights issues

To avoid delays or disappointments later on, find out beforehand who holds the rights to the original and notify them of your translation plans – do you want to offer it to print magazines, online magazines, present it at a reading or on a blog? This way you can find out if there are any objections, preferences or conditions you should be aware of. For example, some may object to online publications, or may expect a fee in the event of publication.
If the work has appeared in book form, the rights are probably held by the German publisher; contact their foreign rights department. In the case of short work, especially if published only in magazines, the rights are generally held by the author. You can usually contact an author via the publisher or the magazine in which his or her work has appeared.
Don't be shy about it! Publishers and authors are generally quite happy to hear from potential translators, and it can develop into a positive and useful contact. It can't hurt to let them know a bit about your relevant experience, publications and your reasons for wanting to translate this particular work.

2) Market Research

There is a highly diverse market for literary translations out there, but it may take quite a bit of research and persistence to find the right publisher or magazine for your project. Large, commercial publishers and magazines may be worth a shot (for the principle of the thing!), but you'll probably have more luck with smaller presses and journals.
To get you started, we've put together a list of "translation friendly" journals on the no man's land website ("Links"), and the American Literary Translators' Association lists publishers, journals and calls for submissions under "Publication Opportunities".

3) Putting Together a Proposal

Submitting translation projects on your own initiative can be a schizophrenic task. You need to step back from the creative/artistic work of translation itself to "package" the project and find the right "market" for it. In a sense you are acting as the author's agent.
Of course the text itself is the main thing, but since you may be approaching editors with little knowledge of German literature – or those inclined to regard translation as a publishing risk – the "packaging" helps make the work accessible to them.
When submitting to magazines, all this really means is a good cover letter that (concisely!) conveys what is special about the author – their recognition at home (awards, prizes, etc.), their place in the German literary scene and your own enthusiasm for their work.

A book proposal should generally include the following:

1. Cover letter. This should state who the rights holder is and that you are submitting with their permission.
   If applicable, mention whether the book has already been or will be translated into other languages (you can find this out from the original publisher), as this can make it more attractive for English-speaking publishers.
   And, without pandering, a sense of what could make this project attractive for the given audience, be it the author's style, the terrific plot, the subject matter, etc..
2. information on the author – biography, major publications, prizes, awards, etc.
3. relevant information on yourself – translation experience, literary/language background, publications, awards, etc.
4. Press clippings on the author and the book. Usually the publisher will be happy to provide you with a press file. Translate some good, snappy quotes, if possible from well-known media (Der Spiegel, die FAZ, Die Zeit will ring a bell even overseas).
5. A synopsis (2-3 pages) of the book.
6. A translated sample from the book – usually about 20 pages. It could be the beginning or one or several effective scenes that give a good sense of the book.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT translate the entire book first (unless you really feel like doing it for fun)! No reputable publisher should expect or demand that you translate any more than the standard sample without a contract in your pocket. If a publisher claims they need you to translate more material before they can make a decision, use your judgment, but don't let yourself be exploited!

If the publisher's interest is piqued by the proposal, they will generally request a copy of the book from the original publisher. The likelihood is that the publisher will not have an editor in-house who is fluent in German, so it will probably be farmed out to a freelance reader who reads German and can provide an assessment of the book.

4) Contracts and Payment

Congratulations! You've "sold" your book project and the contract is in the works. But don't just sign anything. Many literary translators' associations, such as the German Verband deutschsprachiger Literaturübersetzer, offer guidance on prices and contract conditions. PEN provides a model contract in its Handbook for Literary Translators.
That said, small publishers in particular can find it hard or impossible to pay "standard rates". Ultimately you will have to use your judgment. If you have to settle for a "substandard rate", realistically estimate how much time you need to translate the book while doing other work to pay the rent, and insist on a generous deadline. You should not have to draw on your savings or move back in with your parents so that you can "afford" to take on a big translation project!

Magazine publications often do not involve contracts – or payment... With or without a contract, the rights to the translation should revert to you after publication.

5) Being Patient

Editors are often overwhelmed and can be slow to respond. This is especially true in book publishing: even if an editor is seriously interested in a project, it can take them a while to convince their colleagues, the marketing department, the board of directors, etc.
If a publisher/magazine permits simultaneous submissions, take advantage of it and submit to several at once – but if one decides to take the work, be sure to inform the others immediately. If a publisher/magazine does not take simultaneous submissions (like no man's land), they should respond in a timely manner. Most publishers/magazines will state their estimated response time; after that you should feel free to ask about the status of your submission and/or submit elsewhere.
Keep good track of your submissions; make a habit of checking your "submission log" every few months for languishing submissions, and then send follow-up queries or submit the projects elsewhere.

Good luck!