The first question to ask is: does a translator have to specialize at all? My answer would be no, but it is certainly preferable. While I don’t doubt that it is possible to make a decent living as a freelance translator translating only general texts (“general” being extremely difficult to define and a text that one translator would classify as general could well be considered specialized by another, so let’s just say that “general” texts are those that do not require specialist knowledge in a certain field), the most successful …

One of the most important questions asked by freelance translators, and above all by newcomers to the profession, is: where do I find clients?
The fact is that clients won’t start knocking on your door out of the blue on your first day. You can’t just sit in front of your computer and hope that miraculously they will find you and swamp you with lucrative contracts. Getting clients and most importantly, getting regular clients that are pleasant to work with and willing to pay good rates, is not an easy task. …

In most countries, translation is not a regulated profession. Anybody who knows two languages (or thinks he knows two languages) can work as a translator. And this is precisely why there are so many bad translators and bad translations around. A translator is much more than a bilingual secretary and having some knowledge of a foreign language is by no means enough to start a successful career in translation. So what exactly does it take to become a freelance translator?
- Excellent command of your native language and excellent writing skills, …

One of the main worries for any freelance translator (or any freelancer in general) is not getting paid after having delivered the work. The vast majority of clients (translation agencies and direct clients) are of course honest and will pay the translator’s invoice on time. Unfortunately, some clients are not so honest and won’t pay. If this happens, the translator can only resort to contracting a collection agency or taking the client to court to get his money. A long and costly process which is often not worth the trouble.
How …