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Poll: Is freelancing your only source of income? Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
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| full time job and... | Nov 18, 2009 |
I also teach English in a private school (2 hours in the evening), the school is something "more", but without translation my life would be:
1) start losing weight
2) being really fit
3) become maybe a bit too thin
4) starve....
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| Complementary | Nov 18, 2009 |
I didn't choose additional, because that sounds as if income from translation is sth which we could survive without.
In my case there are times of the year when translation is practically my only professional activity and provides my only source of income, and others when I also devote a largish percentage of my time to other activities (running a seasonal business).
Balancing is difficult of course, since clients are not seasonal, or at least do not coincide necessari... See more I didn't choose additional, because that sounds as if income from translation is sth which we could survive without.
In my case there are times of the year when translation is practically my only professional activity and provides my only source of income, and others when I also devote a largish percentage of my time to other activities (running a seasonal business).
Balancing is difficult of course, since clients are not seasonal, or at least do not coincide necessarily with my seasons: here in Spain I have noticed that demand for translation drops in the early months of the year, while my own business is scant in the summer. But the juggling is worth doing and I find the two activities work well together. ▲ Collapse
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DianeGM 
Local time: 07:27
Miembro 2006
neerlandés al inglés
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I freelance as translator and journalist, though about 90% of my income is from translation
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| Not yet, but... | Nov 18, 2009 |
Not yet, but I intend it to become my only, or at least my main, source of income. I hope I'll soon be able to answer "yes"
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Marcelo Silveyra
Estados Unidos
Local time: 21:27
Miembro 2007
alemán al inglés
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and a wonderful one at that!
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Parrot
España
Local time: 06:27
español al inglés
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... but I wish I had time to write stand-alone stuff. Or am I the only one?
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Parrot wrote:
... but I wish I had time to write stand-alone stuff. Or am I the only one?
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| While we're on the subject... | Nov 18, 2009 |
Are market rates being kept artificially low as a result of some part-time translators accepting relatively poor rates through being content to view their translation income as pocket money/ a bonus?
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Oliver Lawrence wrote:
Are market rates being kept artificially low as a result of some part-time translators accepting relatively poor rates through being content to view their translation income as pocket money/ a bonus?
DEFINITELY YES! people who translate as a hobby keep rates low, and now with the finacial crisis rates have been changed, but after the crisis will rates go up again? I am sure it will not happen
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| Yes. Also, I write stand-alone stuff. | Nov 18, 2009 |
As far as artificially low rates are concerned, let's refuse them, acting in a consilidated way.
Students, amateurs and secretaries won't deliver the goods
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| Yes ... and No | Nov 18, 2009 |
I answered "other" because, while translating is my full-time activity and main source of income, I now receive smaller amounts from other sources too. Without my income from translating, my life-style would be severely reduced and, anyway, I love translating (usually!).
Jenny
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Paul Adie (X)
Alemania
español al inglés
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| Part-time freelancer | Nov 18, 2009 |
Hey guys,
Just to say that I am a 'part-time' freelancer' as I work in-house in the mornings, but I find this gives me the flexibility to demand rates I want. If an agency doesn't like it, it's OK as I know I have enough income coming in at the end of the month. So far this has worked pretty well: I ask for a decent rate and have found some good clients and I'm not snowed under with badly paid work. At the start of the month I was offered a 50,000 word job with a 25% reduction of my... See more Hey guys,
Just to say that I am a 'part-time' freelancer' as I work in-house in the mornings, but I find this gives me the flexibility to demand rates I want. If an agency doesn't like it, it's OK as I know I have enough income coming in at the end of the month. So far this has worked pretty well: I ask for a decent rate and have found some good clients and I'm not snowed under with badly paid work. At the start of the month I was offered a 50,000 word job with a 25% reduction of my usual rate. I said (shouted) no. Just as well as I then took on two projects of 10,000 words each at my usual rate. OK, I didn't make as much as I would have done had I took on the first job, but I'm so happy I didn't take on the first job and work my fingers to the bone for a miserable rate.
Getting back to the subject: my in-house role is translation based, it could be different for someone working in another field altogether. I know a Russian biologist who translates on the side and she doesn't charge nearly enough. She thinks it's a lot of money, but it's not really. Perhaps the agencies are taking advantage of professionals in other fields who do not have experience or knowledge of 'decent' rates.
Waffled on quite a bit, back to work!
Happy translating!
Paul ▲ Collapse
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Jack Doughty
Reino Unido
Local time: 05:27
ruso al inglés
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In Memoriam
I get a pension from the BBC (retired in 1990). If the question were "Is translation your only source of income?", you could argue a case for saying that that was from translation.
But it wasn't freelancing. I also have the State pension & a small sum from an annuity.
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Claire Cox
Reino Unido
Local time: 05:27
francés al inglés
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But the question and answers aren't mutually exclusive. No, freelancing isn't my only source of income (I also receive maintenance from my ex-husband), but yes, it's my full-time job and I love it, thank you very much.
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