So you’re a writer, you’ve written a book, and you have a million questions for your publisher. These include those related to the global world and the possibilities that this entails. Possibilities that inevitably lead to the need for a translator. Obviously, breaking into certain markets means having to hire translation services.
Again, more questions. Is it worthwhile translating a book? Into what languages? Only into Spanish? Let’s address each of these questions.
Should you translate your book?
When you have a publisher, you have a person who’s in charge of turning an original work into a book; that is, they plan, edit, and publish a work. It will therefore be the publisher who is responsible for publishing said work elsewhere, beyond our national borders.
Today self-publishing is a reality that is becoming increasingly more popular, turning the authors themselves into publishers. This is a scenario in which you will have to be the one who decides whether to publish in other languages or not. This is a decision that you’ll ultimately reach because the answer is clear: yes, it is worthwhile publishing in other languages.
Why is that? Simply because platforms today have no more borders than the language of your book. Having it translated for other countries helps your work reach other markets. More markets, more readers, more earnings: It’s a simple equation.
The advantages of translating a book
Translating your book, therefore, will allow you to expand your market considerably. You can reach a wider audience, this being the main advantage but not the only one.
Languages benefit certain genres
This is the case with music. There are literary genres that win big with certain languages. An example is the horror genre. They have a lot more power in English.
It gives your work prestige
Have you noticed how certain authors have a large number of translations? The reality is that the translation, like the number of editions, increases the prestige of the work and therefore makes it more attractive to readers.
Higher earnings
If you grow your market, your audience, and prestige, you won’t be surprised when you get a big earnings boost.
It puts you in a more visible market
As your audience grows, so do the chances of publishers and publishing houses setting their eyes on your work. It’s a chain of events that can only add up.
The disadvantages of translating a book
Although everything may seem like a pro, beware of the cons; they all have a common denominator: non-professional translations.
The cons for some genres
Just as there are genres that benefit from a translation, there are others like poetry that may only lose with some types of translation.
Protecting the essence of the work
It is imperative that you leave translation to the experts. Caring, beyond the careful use of a foreign language, for the essence of the work is the key trait in expert literary translation, one that will provide you with all the advantages listed above.
