Applications for the Lithuanian WCN Emerging Translator Mentorship Programme 2018, mentored by Shaun Whiteside, are now open!
Founded by Daniel Hahn in 2010, our translation mentoring programme aims to develop successive new cohorts of literary translators into English, particularly for languages whose literature is currently under-represented in English translation.
The scheme matches up experienced translators with emerging translators for a six-month period during which they work together on practical translation projects, developing their craft through working on a chosen text or texts. The mentor acts as an adviser to the mentee on aspects of life as a professional translator, such as time management, meeting deadlines, managing finances and understanding contracts, and as an advocate for their mentee with publishers in search of literary translators.
The evidence to date suggests that participation in the scheme represents, in itself, a significant professional development for mentees, with publishers seeing the mentoring cohort as a reliable source of high quality emerging translators.
Mentees receive a £500 bursary and reasonable travel expenses associated with the mentorship, which vary according to the relative geographical locations of the mentoring pair. The mentorship will include an Industry Day, specially tailored to the needs of emerging translators, as well as access to various (UK) industry events such as International Translation Day and London Book Fair, where a showcase event will also be arranged.
Writers’ Centre Norwich will facilitate an initial meeting between successful applicants and their mentors to agree the nature of working together (project scope and regularity of meetings) with work continuing for a six-month period, either in person, by Skype or by telephone as appropriate. A minimum of four meetings is expected during the period.
The deadline for receipt of Lithuanian entries is Monday 21 August.
Applications remain open for the Korean strand of the programme, offered in partnership with the Harvill Secker Young Translators Prize and mentored by Deborah Smith, until Monday 28 August.
All other languages within the Emerging Translator Mentorship Programme are now closed.
Do I qualify for the scheme?
The programme is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full length work of translation. Emerging Translators who have not yet published work are very welcome to apply. MFA and MA students in translation can apply, but priority may be given to those who do not have access to the kind of guidance already present in a translation degree programme. Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the UK. Applicants are not expected to have secured rights for their proposal.
How to apply
Applications should be emailed to [email protected], and queries addressed FAO Jonathan Morley at the same address.
An application should include:
- Your CV;
- A one-page project proposal, including information about the original author and source text, your approach to the translation, and how you will benefit from the mentorship;
- A sample translation of up to 2,000 words (up to 100 lines poetry or dramatic text) along with the corresponding source text.
The successful mentees will be announced at the International Translation Day conference at the British Library on 2 October 2017.
Supported by Arts Council England, The Harvill Secker Young Translators Prize, Latvian Literature, The Lithuanian Culture Institute, The Literary Translation Institute of Korea, The Polish Cultural Institute, The Royal Norwegian Embassy and Reimagine India.
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