Stuttgart City Library
Keeping in touch with other professionals through live events and online groups is invaluable for a freelance translator. Through my active involvement in three ITI networks – German Network, Western Regional Group and Media, Arts & Tourism Network – I benefit from a lively exchange of knowledge and ideas, despite working from home.
As a qualified member of the ITI, I also complete at least 30 hours of continuing professional development each year. My CPD typically consists of a broad range of activities, from translation software tutorials and webinars through to workshops, conferences and literary fairs. Listed below is a selection of activities undertaken in recent years, as well as details of other significant events.
November 2020 – ITI Media, Arts and Tourism Network
As contribution to an online event of the ITI Media, Arts & Tourism Network, I gave a short presentation on a recent transcription project I had carried out for Oxford University. It had been a fascinating job and I enjoyed sharing some of the details of this work with my colleagues.
September 2019 – ITI Western Regional Group members’ day event
‘Nerve-wracking and hugely rewarding’ fairly accurately describes what it felt like to be giving my first live presentation in years. Luckily my chosen topic, the experience of translating Andreas Pflüger’s crime thriller Niemals, provided plenty of interesting material.
July 2019 – Warwick Translates literary translation summer school
Attending the inaugural Warwick Translates literary translation summer school was an absolute treat. What a luxury to leave behind deadlines and invoices for a week and concentrate on the essence of translating literary texts in an inspiring and supportive setting.
May 2019 – ITI Conference
The ITI Conference 2019 took place in Sheffield. Just like all other ITI conferences I have attended over the years, it was a great mix of stimulating talks, meeting old acquaintances and making new contacts. Once again, I travelled home uplifted and feeling proud to be a translator.
March 2019 – London Book Fair 2019
Little did we know that it would be the last live LBF for several years! It was an exhilarating, intense and exhausting experience that left me buzzing for days.
November 2018 – A Shadow Falls is published by Head of Zeus
It was a joy and a privilege to work with publishing house Head of Zeus and author Andreas Pflüger on the translation of his crime thriller Niemals, …and no small surprise to find myself researching high calibre weapons.
June 2018 – Crimefest Convention
I hugely enjoyed my time at Bristol’s crime fiction convention Crimefest, with its super-friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Of course, the absolute cherry on the cake was meeting up with author Andreas Pflüger, having just recently delivered my translation of his crime thriller Niemals to the publisher.
