ATA – dba Plan B

Spring 2023 SlavFile, focus on South Slavic languages

Jun 11, 2023

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in Announcement, Publication, translation techniques

Click to read or download the latest issue of SlavFile, newsletter of the Slavic Language Division (SLD) of the American Translators Association (ATA).

A gusty post, in every sense of the word

Mar 2, 2018

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paulagordon

in Just the way it is

March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb. Do any of us really remember at the end of March what the weather was like 30 days before? Same with April showers bring May flowers. Even the groundhog not seeing its shadow in February seems to be based more on wishful thinking —…

Doing is better than stewing

Feb 25, 2018

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paulagordon

in Freelancing, Just the way it is, Shameless self-promotion

This is the danger of getting enough sleep — so many thoughts, so little time! What shall I do today? (Assuming I don’t shelve everything and watch baseball with my mom — Phillies currently losing to the Yankees in spring training.) I listened to Radiolab while eating breakfast (I’ll admit it, breakfast at 1 pm,…

Q&A: There’s an ATA Certification exam in my city next month — should I take it?

Mar 15, 2015

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paulagordon

in Certification, FAQ

Someone recently asked me what I thought about taking the ATA Certification exam. I don’t know if the person is aware that I’m an exam grader, but it doesn’t really matter — my advice would be the same. Well, perhaps not. As an exam grader, I am probably more cautious and likely to advise thorough…

Off-the-job training

Feb 7, 2015

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paulagordon

in Literary translation

What happens when your pet project is translating a play in blank verse: After further revisions: Even veteran translators, to their dismay, Can find a “gut feeling” has led them astray.

ATA Mentoring Program – Class of 2015 applications due March 7!

Feb 5, 2015

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paulagordon

in Announcement, Freelancing, nuts-and-bolts

¿Transitioning from a full time employee to an independent contractor? ¿Trying to figure out how to get your foot in the door with direct clients? ¿Looking to move into working in a new field? ¿Interested in learning how to make better use of a particular CAT tool? ¿Have the desire to move from consecutive to…

A Meeting of the Minds . . .

Nov 2, 2014

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paulagordon

in Announcement, client relations, Freelancing, Professionalism

. . . in person! (I had to add “in person,” because as translators and editors, we’re always working towards a meeting of the minds. Sometimes we’re downright telepathic!) The meeting is #ATA55, the 55th annual conference of the American Translators Association, this year in Chicago. And the meeting within a meeting is Brainstorm Networking,…

Ready, aim . . .

Mar 31, 2013

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paulagordon

in Getting started

Inspired by an NPR interview with Elliana Grace, the Human Cannonball in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Talk of the Nation, March 28, 2013).* The interview caught my attention because I know Elliana. Well, we’ve met. She wouldn’t remember me, though. We met twenty years ago when she was an infant. I…

Crambe repetita

Feb 28, 2013

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paulagordon

in Professionalism, Social networking

I marvel at the richness of my professional life. From my basement-office-with-a-view, I collaborate and converse with colleagues in the neighborhood (that is Wilmington, Newark, Philadelphia), in the region (along the Atlantic coast, from D.C. to Connecticut), and across the U.S. (North Carolina, Illinois, California, New Mexico). I keep up with friends and colleagues across…

Where do you go to meet clients?

Jan 14, 2013

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paulagordon

in client relations, Social networking

I think about this a lot. Where are my clients, how can I meet them, and what can I do to make a good impression? I use what I consider passive methods, like my ATA and EFA directory listings and my website(s), as well as what I consider “fishing” methods, like membership in LinkedIn groups…

Tag: ATA