Children's Literature Translation Thread poster: Ruby La Cruz
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Ruby La Cruz
United States
Local time: 04:24
English to Spanish
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Hi everyone,
I am working on a quotation to translate + proofread + edit a 20,000-word children's book from English to Puerto Rican Spanish. The book is for children 8-12; adults have also enjoyed the original; the text is folkloric, poetic, and musical.
I want to get this job for more than just completing another project, and I am considering charging $0.17 per word. However, I need some guidance because I also need it to be worth my time. What are your thoughts?
... See more Hi everyone,
I am working on a quotation to translate + proofread + edit a 20,000-word children's book from English to Puerto Rican Spanish. The book is for children 8-12; adults have also enjoyed the original; the text is folkloric, poetic, and musical.
I want to get this job for more than just completing another project, and I am considering charging $0.17 per word. However, I need some guidance because I also need it to be worth my time. What are your thoughts?
The client is a Californian publisher, and this will be the first book they translate.
Thank you for your input in advance!
[Edited at 2023-02-01 17:21 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Probably too high | Feb 1, 2023 |
I don't work in your language pair, but my scarce knowledge of the literary translation market tells me your rate is too high.
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Literature translation pays notoriously poor and I suppose children’s books pay far less…
| | | | Lingua 5B 
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:24
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Not enough information | Feb 1, 2023 |
Has the book been successful in English? It’s a normal rate if you are negotiating directly with a publisher in CA. They may use you for some post-production tasks as well.
But have you worked on child fiction before?
[Edited at 2023-02-01 21:00 GMT]
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 10:24
Member (2009)
English to German
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They are quite likely to offer you a flat rate - which is quite common for an entire book.
As our colleagues have already pointed out, 0.17 per word is too much, rather on the unrealistic side.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:24
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Why unrealistic? | Feb 2, 2023 |
It’s unrealistic if it’s a small and unpopular book.
Children’s fiction can also be used in school curriculum, which raises its price significantly. But the OP should know they are receiving offers from others as well.
Why is the publisher focused on Puerto Rico only? Wouldn’t it be better to sell in the whole SA?
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A children’s book copy editor is generally cheaper than a developmental editor.
Pricing: On the low end i... See more It’s unrealistic if it’s a small and unpopular book.
Children’s fiction can also be used in school curriculum, which raises its price significantly. But the OP should know they are receiving offers from others as well.
Why is the publisher focused on Puerto Rico only? Wouldn’t it be better to sell in the whole SA?
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A children’s book copy editor is generally cheaper than a developmental editor.
Pricing: On the low end it would be about $175 for a 1000-word book.
I wouldn’t trust anyone charging less than that, because the talent level of copy editors varies dramatically. I’ve given tests to people moonlighting as “copy editors” and they find less than 30% of the mistakes I put in there. Just because you have an English degree doesn’t mean you can copy edit. You have to know the Chicago Manual of Style inside and out.
High end for copyediting a 1000-word book would be more like $300.
Normally, editors don’t charge less if the story is only 500 words, say. They have a minimum for the job.
https://thejohnfox.com/2022/05/how-much-does-it-cost-to-self-publish-a-childrens-book/
[Edited at 2023-02-02 10:43 GMT]
[Edited at 2023-02-02 10:50 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Copy editing is not translation | Feb 2, 2023 |
Lingua 5B wrote:
A children’s book copy editor is generally cheaper than a developmental editor.
Pricing: On the low end it would be about $175 for a 1000-word book.
Copy editing is a completely different kettle of fish. It's not the same thing as translation. I'm the first to say they should attract the same fee, but I think the OP will struggle to get the rate she mentions. But I will be happy for her if I'm wrong!
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:24
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
Fiona Grace Peterson wrote: Lingua 5B wrote:
A children’s book copy editor is generally cheaper than a developmental editor.
Pricing: On the low end it would be about $175 for a 1000-word book.
Copy editing is a completely different kettle of fish. It's not the same thing as translation. I'm the first to say they should attract the same fee, but I think the OP will struggle to get the rate she mentions. But I will be happy for her if I'm wrong!
If she’s working directly with a publisher, she’ll be doing some post-production editing and consulting. Are they going to hire a separate editor for this? In literary translation, translators should be copyeditors as well, otherwise I’m not sure what their work will look like.
Other than translating words, you’ll need to know child development and child psychology. And frame that into words. Will that pay 0.05 per word?
[Edited at 2023-02-02 14:08 GMT]
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| 17c is reasonable | Feb 2, 2023 |
The client is a publisher, not an agency - too many people charge agency rates to end clients.
Personally I'd quote a bit lower than that, but simply because children's fiction is my favorite and I'd really like the job.
[Edited at 2023-02-02 16:21 GMT]
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Lingua 5B wrote:
Other than translating words, you’ll need to know child development and child psychology. And frame that into words. Will that pay 0.05 per word?
The problem is that she will probably be competing with others who charge five cents a word or even less.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:24
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
Fiona Grace Peterson wrote: Lingua 5B wrote:
Other than translating words, you’ll need to know child development and child psychology. And frame that into words. Will that pay 0.05 per word? The problem is that she will probably be competing with others who charge five cents a word or even less.
But if this project is important to the publisher, they will be more interested in quality than the price. Not sure why they are after the small market only though, just Puerto Rico. Perhaps they have some connections with schools there.
Anyway, we got a very few details to estimate this properly.
[Edited at 2023-02-02 16:41 GMT]
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Lingua 5B wrote:
But if this project is important to the publisher, they will be more interested in quality than the price.
Of course! Let's hope for a happy ending for our poster!
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Do they offer at least an advance payment for that high rate per postal cheque? If so, then have a searching look here on the forums about that specific matter.
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