SilvaLau
patreon
Finally, an Update!
🕑 Added 2024-08-29 18:16:12 +0000 UTCHello everyone, it’s me again—bringing you the latest from my corner of the world. I’ve got a mix of personal updates and professional news that I hope will give you a clearer picture of where I am right now.
First up, our translator Nomad, who handles Pupil of the Wiseman, Destiny Unchain Online, and Automata Maid, is dealing with a family medical emergency. While I can’t share details out of respect for their privacy, this may cause some delays in our translations. Thank you for your patience during this time.
On a personal note, due to financial constraints, I’ve had to split my time between Re:Library and a part-time job as a ghost translator for an active WuxiaWorld translator. This job pays less than half of what the official translators make, without any credit for the work. It was necessary for financial reasons but is far from ideal.
Recently, the chapters I’ve been translating have increased in length, halving my translation speed and not reflecting the extra effort in pay. The content, spanning several generations with themes of gore and cannibalism, has also begun to wear on me, as it strays from what I find engaging.
(Everyone seems to misunderstand so I should clarify a bit: I am currently hired by a WuxiaWorld translator, not by the WuxiaWorld company itself. I am a ghost translator hired by an employee of WuxiaWorld to do their work. The company probably do not know I am working for them either. Now don't ask me if this is ethical, I do not know either. I needed work, and my friend introduced me to one while waiting for an opening from the company.)
So, I’m turning to you for advice. With my financial situation slightly better, I’m debating whether to continue ghost translating, hoping for a break at WuxiaWorld, or to shift my focus back to Re:Library and take on up to four new novels. This move can be risky, as its success depends on whether the new projects resonate with our readers and generate enough Patreon support. It’s a gamble, but one that might allow me to work on projects that truly ignite my passion and hopefully captivate our community.
What do you think? Should I continue in the background, hoping to advance, or invest my energies into translations that truly inspire me and could enrich our library? I deeply value your opinions, and your feedback will be crucial in helping me decide the path forward.
Comments
Timmie Tönnsen
My opinion on the matter is like this. Since you have begun to feel the wear and stuff of what you have been translating so far for that said company. " If it was me and I started to feel something other than joy and stuff for what I was translating I would back off that in an heartbeat." But I can understand what you mean with the pay and stuff but since it is starting to affect you in a sort of negative way I would recommend that you stop. Since it may also impact what you love later on. So for your own health I hope you stop. But I also know that it may not be that simple since outside of that is has to do with money and things are never really easy when money are involved. But I will respect your decision either way. Hopefully in whatever decision you make you feel better
Silva
I have been doing 60 chapters monthly so I assume 4 novels (i.e. 40 chapters) would still afford me some breathing room.
Yune
I think focusing on re library would be better albeit with maybe only 2 additional novels. 4 sounds like too many to me at the moment
Fave
Exploitative work environments suck. As someone who has done a lot of underpaid, under the table work like this, it's never worth the burnout and the stress.
Ryan Johnson
Honestly u guys to great work on Re library read a lot of the books u guys publish I would love to see what u could do focusing more on what u love to do
Silva
Oh sorry if that was a bit confusing, I don't mean I have low opinion of the WuxiaWorld company, but on the novel genre. I generally do not like reading wuxia-type novels (though in the end, that's the same as not enjoying the translating process)
Andrew Oliver
Ahh i see... Then, if you would like to have a full time job in ww, i would try finding any kind of recruitment notices or recruitment contacts if they are looking for a full time translator, not mentioning your current situation. Though, i read your other reply about low opinion of ww, so i would continue to work on ww ghost translation but start looking elsewhere. Preferably something you enjoy as well. If working in ww is not enjoyable, in the long run you will most definitely burn out. So i would try to avoid this
Silva
Here's a TLDR version, kinda: 1) Stay with WuxiaWorld (tentative) for stable pay 2) Come back to Re:Library and pray for the best
Silva
For WuxiaWorld's honor, they likely do not know I am translating their novel, I am hired by an official translator of WuxiaWorld, but not WuxiaWorld itself (View my reply to Andrew for more) so I am not expecting to get rewarded with a promotion. I am just waiting for an opening from WuxiaWorld while doing this to earn some cash.
Silva
As I mentioned in the other reply, I'm not officially working for WuxiaWorld, the management likely do not know I am doing work for them. Thus the term "ghost translator". I am hired by a translator hired by WuxiaWorld, so essentially, I am outside the management loop.
saganatsu
Separately: what value will you provide ww if you get an official job vs stringing you along as currently. They're underpaying already it sounds like; unless the official translator is doing a bunch of editorial that you aren't, they're just treating you as a sucker.
Andrew Oliver
Hmm... I would say to try and stay in WuxiaWorld for now and keep on requesting feedback from management in order to demonstrate a willingness to improve. I don't know how these translation companies function, but i guess i would try asking management for a career development plan stating that you would like to advance to a full time translation job. Again, not sure how translation companies work or if you even can ask this, but if you can, my opinion is that you should ask. If after a few months you don't even see an effort from management to advance your career, i would start looking somewhere else and after finding a new translation job, i would quit the existing one and move to the next. This is what i would do based on my existing circumstances. I don't know your circumstances, so all that i mentioned may not even apply for you but i hope this can help a bit in deciding what to do next (:
Silva
But yes, that novel is really not helping improve my already low opinion of Wuxia (genre) at all...
saganatsu
It's the named translator's best economic interest to have you not get a break at wuxiaworld: you go from a resource to a competitor. Trying to work around him could cost you your current ghost job, especially if wuxiaworld doesn't know about your current status. Keep it if you must, but don't expect to be rewarded with a "promotion"
Silva
Well, for full disclosure, I'm not officially working for WuxiaWorld but is working under a WuxiaWorld translator. The higher-ups at WuxiaWorld probably do not know my existence either.
Lee Franklin
If Wuxia is not willing to pay more for more work, I would be looking elsewhere. Also, the content is pretty nasty from what it sounds.
