To New Translators

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by WeaselLord, Oct 11, 2017.

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  1. WeaselLord

    WeaselLord Well-Known Member

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    I am not a translator, but as a reader that fits into a very large category I think new translators should know this. If there isn't much reaction to the series you are starting to translate, that means... nothing. There have been a ton of really good series picked up by translators, but were dropped because they thought there was a lack of interest. However, the more I think I will like a series, the more I am willing to wait to start reading it so I can binge read it. So if there seem to be few readers, then it is highly possible that it is because there are a bunch of people who want there to be more chapters out before they start reading it, partially so they can binge, and partially so they can be assured that the translator won't drop it. So, new translators, don't be discouraged :)
     
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  2. Senros

    Senros Well-Known Member

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    It mostly depends on what the translator wants to achieve by translating the novel/manga. If they are doing it for the money or to gain recognition, they could very well change novels if they think there is not much interest in the novel. That's understandable and not a bad thing, don't misunderstand.

    If they want to get better at the language they are translating from or to, while it would suck to see a lack of interest in the novel you are translating, I doubt it would really stop you from continuing (unless some trolls are messing with you, telling you your translation sucks.)

    But I agree with you. It would be nice if translators had the resolve to translate the whole novel (unless the author tells them to stop, or real life stops them from being able to translate the novel.)
     
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  3. Sheepo

    Sheepo 『Pyoo's Fated One』

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    Totally agree... I even have a "Stacking Chaps" reading list just for that \o/
    I hate to wait for chapters once I start a good novel <.<
     
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  4. naghi32

    naghi32 The Loner

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    I do the same thing !

    Whenever a new translation comes out, i quickly read what is translated up to that point and then move it to binge read, especially when i can`t stand to wait for a new chapter

    STACK EM SKY HIGH !!!
     
  5. Kanna Kamui

    Kanna Kamui Well-Known Member

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    Very true .
     
  6. asriu

    asriu fu~ fu~ fu~

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    nah actually that mean
    SHAMELESS ADVERTISING TIME! cool.png

    hey there nothing wrong with that~ just make sure to not cross da limit and make other wanna smack your head~
     
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  7. Raneday

    Raneday Not Rane

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    summoning @LysUltima
     
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  8. asriu

    asriu fu~ fu~ fu~

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    why you call invisible dragon author wanna be?
     
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  9. Raneday

    Raneday Not Rane

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    So that new translators could learn a thing or two from @LysUltima



    hmmm summoning @Westeller too the walking mod billboard
     
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  10. Westeller

    Westeller Smokin' Sexy Style!! Staff Member

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    Can confirm I won't even glance at your novel if it has like 10 chapters translated.

    Sorry, not interested. Call me again when you're at 50+
     
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  11. Wujigege

    Wujigege *Christian*SIMP*Comedian

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    Patience is not just a virtue but a skill, that most aren't taught
    Personally I won't recommend new translators to stick with series that seem to lack interest.
    After all they can drop it, wait a few months someone else makes it popular and they can come back and claim it as their novel :blobowoevil_horns:
     
  12. LysUltima

    LysUltima Riichi! Tsumo! Toitoi! Suuankou!?

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    Un, same...
    Though I never tled up to 50...........
    Partly explains why I still get views from my dropped series.

    I think the "lack of interest" in my new series is because it's not very good in other other people's minds, though........
    I like it though!

    Quote from novel:

    That's exactly correct! There's no way that I'm translating badly..........
    But Invijible Panda isn't a copy of Invisible Dragon?
    What's there to learn from me?
    Unless you want to talk to someone with their tl in the height of obscurity.........
    Eh, you can also talk to @ScipioM for that.............
    https://ebisutranslations.com is the home for the obscure tls with a lack of interest......
     
  13. Yukkuri Oniisan

    Yukkuri Oniisan 『Procrastinator Archwizard Translator and Writer』

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    When I just start translating, 2 weeks paased on without even a single comment posted on my site. The viewer were also only 1000 per week.
    But I am not deterred. It's not like I was translating for fame or glory. I keep translating and posting chapters until I noticed...... my posts don't have comment section.
    Confused, I tried to search the internet for the answer......
    It looks like I hadn't turn the comment section on.

    So yeah.
    What do you translate for new translators?
    Fame? Glory? Monetary gains? Self satisfaction? Practice? Or just bored?
     
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  14. LysUltima

    LysUltima Riichi! Tsumo! Toitoi! Suuankou!?

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    #ReasonsWhyPeopleUseWordPressMore

    Also, it was the opposite for me....
    1st week: (basically 2 hours or so) 122 views
    2nd week: 40k views...............

    Now?

    11th week: 4k views...........

    Can I say all of them?
     
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  15. SnowTime

    SnowTime Busy Busy Busy, I Dug Too Many Holes

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    I translate to cliffhang... not really but it's a nice side effect

    I first started out of boredom... and just wanted to help another novel

    Comments are good ego boosters, not 100% necessary, but I won't say no to them :blobReach:
     
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  16. readerz

    readerz Madam Jin

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    I linked to your manhua. ;)

    Hmm, I have to disagree with the others. If I picked a novel that was unpopular, I would drop it.

    But it depends on what you mean by unpopular. I would be satisfied by 100-200 a day when I start a novel. It doesn't have to be 10,000. If a novel got less than 100 per day, I would definitely drop it. :whistle:
     
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  17. Parth37955

    Parth37955 NU #3, [Dead Inside], Mid-Boss, Dark Dealer Staff Member

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    I felt something important stolen from me...a part of dark history...
    the goal of the translator is pretty important factor of motivation. The best advice would be to not give a shit about what people think cause as long as you're making one person happy, that's really all that is needed.
     
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  18. Raizu

    Raizu An Enthusiastic Reader

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    Self-satisfaction and to kill boredom. :D

    I was a normal reader from beginning. I got a bit of Japanese language lecture during my school and sharpen it by reading visual novels/eroges with using Japs dictionary.(T-there are several eroges who have good stories, you know! >w<)
    *cough*
    The moment when I decided to join to the novel translation community is when my favorite novels were dropped by the translator due IRL stuff. It's a good novel and I can't let it die, and thus here I am right now.

    My goal is to bring Motoyuusha translation to chapter 121. Hopefully I can achieve that before this year ended. I'll search for another goal again once it's fulfilled. :D
    Oh yeah, I'm satisfied when reading the comments whenever I released a new chapter. Thanks for enjoying and reading the novels that I like!
     
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  19. AMissingLinguist

    AMissingLinguist [Not Here][Blank Sect][Nuffian #N]

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    Good luck, translators! Don't give up! There's ways to get fans. First is to share the translations. Next is to ask fans. Third is to be shameless like @LysUltima(sorry, LysUltima).
     
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  20. LysUltima

    LysUltima Riichi! Tsumo! Toitoi! Suuankou!?

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    I haven't asked fans to share yet.............
     
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