Many creative writing guides advise would-be writers to keep a writer’s notebook, also known as a writer’s journal. These can take the form of traditional journals in which a writer notes down their experiences and their feelings each day - their highs and lows, rants and raves, etc. Or they can be books in which you simply jot down any ideas you have, interesting things that you see in the world around you, memories, lists, bits of conversation that you overhear, sketches, doodles, inspirational quotes and passages from books that you have enjoyed.
The idea of keeping a writer’s notebook is to get you in the habit of writing, often; to help you record ideas while they are still “hot” and to be a source of inspiration and information when you are writing.
As I see it, a translator, although they are translating something that someone else has written in a different language, is first and foremost a writer. There is no point in just translating something word-for-word, particularly when it comes to marketing translations, where the translation should read like an original. Marketing texts in particular call on the translator to make the words sing, for the text to flow smoothly, for none of the “wow” factor to be lost in translation.
A writer’s notebook, then, is a great tool for translators as well as writers. Use it to flex your writing muscles and get your creative juices flowing. You never know when a word or phrase you have scribbled down in your notebook might come in handy in one of your translations! I have two Moleskine notebooks that I use to jot things down - one for general writing and creative inspiration and one for interesting things that I come across that might inspire a blog post or an article, for example.
Perhaps some of you already use a notebook for these kinds of notes. If you do, please share your experiences by leaving a comment. If this post has inspired you to start one, come back and tell us how you get on!
Enjoyed this post? Then make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
My uncle use to work for a translating firm and on the side, he would translate poetry. I love reading them although he would tell me that there is always beauty lost from translation.
When translating creative writing, there is often something lost in translation. Creative writing allows the author to experiment with language, plays on words, etc. There are not always direct equivalents in another language. That said, it is possible to produce some outstanding, equally experimental and creative texts in translation and this is where good writing skills are essential. In my view, writers’ notebooks are a useful way for translators to hone their writing skills. And they are fun!
That’s a great idea, Serena. The other thing I do is to pick up all kinds of free leaflets and brochures wherever I go. If I find any with useful terminology, good phrases or just a writing style that I particularly like, I hang on to them for future reference.