What is the Translators Organizing Committee?
The Translators Organizing Committee is a new and developing division of the National Writers Union, formed to organize for better working conditions for literary translators.
Current TOC members:
Sean Bye
Soleil Davíd
Mayada Ibrahim
Kira Josefsson
Larissa Kyzer
Adrian Minckley
Allison Markin Powell
Dave Smith
Alex Zucker
This effort is born out of an earlier effort (dating back to December 2021) that included Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda, Barbara Ofosu-Somuah, and Edward Gauvin.
What does the Translators Organizing Committee do?
Currently, we are working on two projects: 1) Solidarity Drop-Ins and 2) a Rate-Sharing Tool.
Solidarity Drop-Ins
In these bi-monthly sessions, translators meet on Zoom to talk about contract questions, help each other with negotiation strategies, and share grievances. The purpose of this project is to provide support and share negotiation tactics, which can then be passed on, in a collaborative, mutual aid-type environment (rather than Q&A with “experts”).
Rate-Sharing Tool
This is a database modeled on the one created by the Freelance Solidarity Project, the goal of which is to build a more robust database of rates that media freelancers can use to negotiate higher compensation from their publishers — as well as to build campaigns drawing attention to abysmally low pay across the industry.
The translator’s rate-sharing tool aims to make received rates for a wide range of projects more transparent so that translators can negotiate for fairer pay and to track differences in remuneration across the industry .
A third project around AI is in the initial phases of planning.
What is the National Writers Union?
The National Writers Union is more than just another writers’ organization. We are the only labor union that fights for the rights and interests of independent media workers across all genres, formats, and mediums. By joining NWU you access the many benefits our union offers its members. You also join our movement to organize and transform the material conditions of workers across the media industry.
How can I get in touch?
Email us at translators@nwu.org
Resources
- Literary Translation Model Contract and Commentary, Authors Guild
“. . . explains the standard terms of a publishing contract for book-length translations of prose, and offers important suggestions for translators to negotiate a better deal.”
https://authorsguild.org/resource/translation-model-contract/
- Negotiating Contracts: A Translator’s Checklist
“You want to translate a book. A press is ready to publish it. They send you a contract. What should you be looking for? Fee, copyright, name on the cover, royalties, final say on the text? Due date? Publication date? With so many details to keep track of, it’s easy to overlook something. Translators from the PEN America Translation Committee, the Translators Association (UK), and the Literary Translators’ Association of Canada present a checklist to help you . . . get the best terms you can get.”
https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/translation_negotiators_checklist-1.pdf
- Contract Review Service, Authors Guild
https://authorsguild.org/legal-services/contract-reviews/
The Guild’s legal team offers a contract review service for members. They will read your contract and provide a written review, though they’ve been very overworked in the past year and this service has become less reliable. Membership details here: https://authorsguild.org/membership/
- Society of Authors – Rates and Fees
https://societyofauthors.org/advice/rates-fees/
Suggested minimum rates for various types of writing and translation services, helping you negotiate fair payment.
See also “Negotiating payment for translations” guide https://societyofauthors.org/resource/negotiating-payment-for-translations/
- The Emerging Literary Translators’ Network in America
https://emerginglittransnetworkamerica.wordpress.com/
Provides support for beginning and early-career literary translators working in or with the United States. As of the last count, ELTNA members live in 16 countries and translate in over 25 language pairs. We represent many ethnicities, races, age groups, gender expressions, backgrounds, dis/abilities, religions, philosophies, socioeconomic classes, and more.
- Literary Translation Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/351836658289669/
A space for translators to connect, share experiences, and share resources.
