Social: Translators Social with Jan Mitsuko Cash

 

screenshot of some of the attendees at the Translators Social

Hosted by SCBWI Global Translator Coordinator Avery Fischer Udagawa, the friendly group included translation coordinators Susan Jones (SCBWI Japan) and Kelly Zhang (SCBWI Canada East).

The community meeting started with Avery sharing opportunities for translators through SCBWI, including the new grant, Pitch Perfect - a grant to help translators propose projects. Keep an eye out for World KidLit Month (coming up in September.)

Jan Mitsuko Cash won the 2024 Batchelder Award (the equivalent of the Newbery award for translating children's books) for translating Houses with a Story by Seiji Yoshida, and Jan is a special guest at the social! 

Avery and Jan talk about the translation work Jan is doing - mostly manga, a little bit of novels, and also some middle grade -- mostly commissioned works.

Jan's advice for those who want to translate books for children:

Cold emails - that's how Jan got her start!

Jan's advice for published translators:

Be careful about scheduling - "I've had to learn how to say 'no' to things." Think about what you want to prioritize and what you really want to pursue.

We get to see more of Jan's translation projects, Jan talks about puns (translating puns), and there's a whole discussion about the spread about toilets in Houses with a Story. "It's just a really great spread... and all these fun facts... he makes everything look beautiful." That translation job was also unique in that the original 200 page book was hand-written by the author/illustrator in the original edition in Japanese.

The social transitioned to introduction and conversation among the group.

A lovely community of translators!

PS: If you're a translator, and you're interested in being a guest blogger for SCBWI (a paid opportunity) please see this post here.

The Spanish Language/Translators Social

Translation is an art, and the artists who work on children's literature are a vital part of our international SCBWI community! (The world is much more diverse than just folks who speak English...)

The Spanish Language/Translators Social on Saturday at lunch was an intimate conversation, with connections international and multi-lingual!

Some of the handouts included:

for copies of the handouts or for any SCBWI translation questions, email tc@scbwi.org

for resources in español, email Malena Fuentes, slc@scbwi.org

Translators' Zoom Social, hosted by Avery Fischer Udagawa #scbwiSummer22

Did you know that the SCBWI has a member category for Translators? Children deserve to explore their whole planet through books, and translators bring them books written in many languages, in many places. Like writers and illustrators, translators work as independent, creative contractors who benefit from networking, professional development, and a supportive community. 

We had about thirty attendees; the shot above includes those who were okay with turning on their video for the group photo. 

Thanks to the translators for welcoming me to their Translators' Zoom Social tonight even though I'm not a translator. After Avery talked about useful translator resources and translation news, attendees introduced themselves. So many different languages and translation projects going on! Everyone was super-friendly and welcoming.

Sadly, Nanette McGuinness was unable to join us as speaker, but everyone sent her best wishes:

I asked host Avery Fischer Udagawa for resources where people could find out more about translation, and here are just a few:

Translation in SCBWI - "A great place for translators to check out resources and ways to connect."

SCBWI Podcast: The Art Of Translation with Laura Watkinson - "The first episode of the SCBWI Podcast featuring a translator has aired, featuring Laura Watkinson."

"Translators have been among this year’s co-bloggers with Lee Wind at SCBWI The Blog, including myself back in March and Lawrence Schimel in June (here are posts with the label "Translation" on the blog). Regional blogs have also been offering meaty translation content."

Some examples:

A Conversation With Translator Takami Nieda - SCBWI Japan Translation Group

Translation: Claire Storey -Words & Pictures, The SCBWI British Isles Online Magazine

"In industry news, a reminder that the ALSC will now require naming the translator on the cover page, and ideally on the cover, of books considered for the Batchelder Award!"

Batchelder Award Criteria Change: Name The Translator

Revisions to Batchelder Award Aim To Raise Recognition Of Book Translators

"Finally, September, World Kid Lit Month, is a time to celebrate translations for children/teens and is fast approaching! Nanette McGuinness will co-blog with Lee Wind at SCBWI: The Blog during #WorldKidLitMonth."

Avery Fischer Udagawa grew up in Kansas and studied English and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She holds an MA in Advanced Japanese Studies from The University of Sheffield. She has studied at Nanzan University, Nagoya, on a Fulbright Fellowship, and at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, Yokohama. She writes, translates, and works in international education near Bangkok, where she lives with her bicultural family. She serves as SCBWI and SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator. Find her on Twitter: @AveryUdagawa.