Working through the sniffles...

I could not leave well enough alone yesterday, so instead of going directly to bed after yesterday's second post, I sneaked a look at the other document due Friday. Before I knew it, I had translated an additional 1000 words or so (the second document does differ significantly from the first, but a lot of content in the tables remained the same :^).

I had a fairly restful night (didn't wake up once) after watching I, Robot. It's been years since I had read Asimov's book, and I was prepared for an awful movie, but my expectations were not met. <grin>

Aside from the usual complaints I might have from a physics perspective (Can we say "transmission of mechanical loads" without flinching?), it was an entertaining, watch-once flick, just the thing to put one's mind off the pile of used Puffs™ sprouting in the wastebasket next to one's bed as one lies under two blankets with the heat turned on high.

I finally responded to the nagging emails from ProZ, which bills itself as "the web's leading directory of translation agencies, freelance translators and translation jobs." I joined at the Platinum level back in 2001 and to be frank, haven't yet seen my dues returned to me in terms of jobs, but when I checked out the site this morning, I was pleased to find it had become a lot more polished, and that there were two jobs I could bid on immediately, so I renewed my membership.

Previously, I'd been somewhat disappointed in the site, as it tended (and for all I know, may still tend) to attract people looking for ridiculously low-priced work (one fellow from Minsk once proposed translating an 800-page book on computers for $250... how does one compete with that?). However, despite the fact that my plate has work on it right now, I still need to market myself to new clients.

Speaking of work, I need to go back and finish the second document.

Cheers...

Evening update...

I beat the schedule for the ICD files by more than 2 days, which really only reinforces whatever reputation I may have with the client as a high producer. (It's not going to get me paid any faster, alas.) Technically, the plate is now empty.

One of the ProZ jobs I responded to this morning had already been assigned by the time I sent off my email, which is probably all to the good, as the agency in question has a maddening track record of paying either spot-on when they're supposed to, or delaying payment as long as possible. The other job got me a polite e-mail in reply, to the effect that the job will only be awarded in May, but that my resume would be kept on file.

Which reminds me of a phenomenon I first encountered... well, I better not mention names. The bottom line was this: the agency in question solicited sample translations and resumes from people like me and then, after they were awarded the contract, well... neither I nor any of the other people I knew who did samples and submitted resumes for this outfit were ever assigned any of the work. Undoubtedly, the work was done to a much lower standard of quality at a much lower price.

(And by the way, while the response reminded me of that episode, there is no connection between that episode and the company I responded to this morning. I'm quite sure the company to which I sent my resume is on the up and up.)

Talking about the correlation between price and quality in translation, I am quite aware that just because someone does not get paid top dollar doesn't mean they do poor work. Then again, I am reminded of a quote from Damon Runyon: ""It may be that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong - but that's the way to bet!"

Personally, I've only met one translator who had systematically undercharged for high-quality translations; he had been working for peanuts for one client for years, albeit with plenty of work always waiting in the wings. Once the blinders were taken from his eyes, though, it was amazing to see how rapidly his rates rose to match those of the market.

The day started with a profligate use of tissues and I seem to have stabilized into an uneasy state between health and sickness. I plan to get a good night's sleep.

Cheers...