National Centre for Writing works with early-career and established literary translators, who we recognise as creative writers in their own right.
We aim to reduce barriers to access to the literary translation profession for those currently less represented in the UK.
We offer mentorships and residencies to literary translators, and we partner with the British Centre for Literary Translation to offer other professional development opportunities.
We also run translation workshops in schools, in partnership with the Stephen Spender Trust.
Visible Communities
Through our Visible Communities programme, we offer virtual and in-person residencies to Black, Asian and Ethnically diverse literary translators based in the UK. We are particularly interested in collaborating with literary translators and writers who translate from or have some knowledge of the diaspora and heritage language communities within the UK.
Emerging Translator Mentorships
Our annual 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.
Residencies for literary translators
NCW offers a range of residencies for literary translators in our two-bedroom cottage at Dragon Hall. We are a member of the RECIT network of European literary translation centres. Member organisations offer residencies for translators and organise public events bringing together writers, translators and audiences.
British Centre for Literary Translation
The British Centre for Literary Translation works in close partnership with the National Centre for Writing and a wide range of other national and international organisations to deliver a programme of activities which support the professional development of literary translators and promote the recognition of literary translation as a profession.
London Book Fair
Every year NCW co-programmes the Literary Translation Centre at London Book Fair, in partnership with LBF and a consortium of UK-based translation organisations. It is a hub for debates on hot topics in literary translation and features seminars, discussions and networking opportunities.
Meet the World
Our Meet the World series aims to celebrate our ongoing connections with international writers and translators by sharing their writing and ideas with new readers.
Resources, tips and advice
There is a wealth of support and information available for translators working at all levels. We work with industry-leading partners, networks and organisations in the world of translation, and have compiled a list of our best resources for you to explore.
Pathways to literary translation
Want to become a literary translator? Check out our tips for getting started.
An excellent source of support for literary translators in the early stages of their career is the Emerging Translators Network.
Early career literary translators or translators wanting to move into literary translation may be interested in applying to the British Centre for Literary Translation’s International Creative Writing and Literary Translation Summer School.
Emerging translators wanting the support and advice of a mentor to help them move to the next stage in their career could check out NCW’s Emerging Translators Mentoring Scheme.
International Translation Day (ITD) celebrates translation, translators and translated literature every 30 September. English PEN and the National Centre for Writing collaborated to highlight and promote events and activities taking place across the UK in celebration of ITD 2023.
Our Visible Communities programme offers residencies for Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse literary translators based in the UK, both in person and virtual.
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