Aldus Issue 2 - Web Version

Murray N unnall y well (better than literature) and it’s dang good practice. I did it for years before I got my first gig for publication (two Norwegian science fiction short stories published in an anthology). If you plan to have anything published, though, make sure to clear the rights with the author or the author’s agent. I neglected to do that years ago with a story I translated that got published in a nonprofit university journal. In that case, the author was understandably not thrilled to see his work in English.

It’s a good idea to start out translating short pieces by an author whose work you love and want your friends to read. Then you can try to cultivate a relationship with the author--maybe it will eventually lead to something. This should be an easy task in this modern world of email and other forms of instant communication. And you will also be privy to the author’s newest productions--which could lead to getting your collaborative efforts published in English someday.

Now, of course, you could also self-publish your translations (after obtaining the necessary permissions) on one of the many ebook platforms and skip the interminable wait times involved with trying to get an agent or editor to look at the work. Let’s face it, publishers are having a hard time, and they’re all looking for a sure thing by an author with a name. Stieg Larsson is certainly an exception, but even he had a hard time breaking through the ennui barrier from beyond the grave.

T: What do you mean by the ennui barrier?

S: Ennui barrier? The Great Wall of Jadedness. Editors who just see too much stuff and lose their ability to see the potential in 137