Get paid for creating a style guide Thread poster: Anne Goergens
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Anne Goergens 
Sweden
Local time: 06:38
Member (2019)
Swedish to German
+ ...
Hi,
I was asked to give a quote for a style guide for DE translations of a book. There is a style guide for English already that can be used as a guideline and there is some information that should be included in the DE style guide but far from complete and not very structured.
Any one who has experience with this and can give some guidelines setting a price?
Thanks
| | | | Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 22:38
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Anne Goergens
Sweden
Local time: 06:38
Member (2019)
Swedish to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Tina,
Thank you for your reply. It's a very useful infographic! My main problem is that they want a flat rate and not an hourly rate (tried to convince them to give me an hourly rate but they don't want). So I have to estimate how many hours it will take me which is rather difficult.
Best,
Anne
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 05:38
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| They won't accept an unlimited number of hours - that's not surprising | Aug 30, 2019 |
Anne Goergens wrote:
My main problem is that they want a flat rate and not an hourly rate (tried to convince them to give me an hourly rate but they don't want). So I have to estimate how many hours it will take me which is rather difficult.
I did one just a few months ago. I estimated how much time I'd need, based on experience and and just a "feel" for it, really. Sorry if that isn't very useful .
I can't remember what the figures were, but I said I'd invoice them for a maximum of "nn" hours at my normal hourly rate. I also said that I thought it would be very unlikely to take less than "nn minus a third" hours. That gave them a ballpark figure that they were satisfied with. Then I did the work and charged for the actual time spend -- which happily fell between the two. If it had taken longer than the max quote then I'd have had to work for a pittance but at least I'd have learnt a bit more about estimating .
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 06:38
French to English
If they want a flat rate, make sure to round up the figure generously, to be sure of not cheating yourself out of any money, because things often if not always take longer than you'd think.
If they find your flat rate too steep, you can tell them that if ever it doesn't take as long as you've calculated, you could charge per hour and then they might get a nice surprise...
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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| Cookbook: Modern Clarity & Consistency | Aug 30, 2019 |
Anne, it's not a mere "interim" translation, but rather a serious piece of authored recreation, which requires rethinking, researching, double-checking, consulting with accredited/ recognized authorities, and so on--even local color counts, thus I'd take it seriously too.
Now they want very you to do this [rather long and laborious] job for either (1) they know you are really good, and/or (2) they do hope you are not experienced as a businesslady...
... See more Anne, it's not a mere "interim" translation, but rather a serious piece of authored recreation, which requires rethinking, researching, double-checking, consulting with accredited/ recognized authorities, and so on--even local color counts, thus I'd take it seriously too.
Now they want very you to do this [rather long and laborious] job for either (1) they know you are really good, and/or (2) they do hope you are not experienced as a businesslady...
So, before specific negotiations, I'd check the Ground Zero, considering similar projects at the specific market segment, not forgetting to recheck the client and short/long-term risks.
For a start, I would set about $0.25+/word with no volume/repetition "discounts" + 2 hours/page for edit/proofread/references. Indeed, a 2%-75% advance payment is a must and some 5% is a nice bonus as royalties, if the edition is pretty good.
Actually, my creed is "Ask for more than you expect to get", that's why I would ask a bit higher rate to have more room and options, yet I'm always ready just to walk away--unless they can offer me something interesting.
* Before signing anything DO CONSULT a decent lawyer [and related specialists], examining the draft contract.
Cheers ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anne Goergens
Sweden
Local time: 06:38
Member (2019)
Swedish to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks for all your help | Sep 2, 2019 |
... I gave them a quote for 500 Euro in the end and they said another translator had offered to do it for 50!!! So no deal this time. But I really appreciate all the tips I got in this thread, it will be helpful for next time!
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
| Targeting the needy: Cheapness alone is no advantage, if any | Sep 2, 2019 |
Anne, if it's not just an anchor ploy to trick you into bottom-feeding, they did it a very hard way from the very beginning. Perhaps, they simply wanted to have left and right columns replaced, changing a few word, then it may be ok.
However, I don't buy that (1) a serious (2) educated (3) native-speaking (4) both dedicated specialist and (5) a sensible businessperson could accept such an offer merely for peanuts--let alone (6) from a developed country.
Little wo... See more Anne, if it's not just an anchor ploy to trick you into bottom-feeding, they did it a very hard way from the very beginning. Perhaps, they simply wanted to have left and right columns replaced, changing a few word, then it may be ok.
However, I don't buy that (1) a serious (2) educated (3) native-speaking (4) both dedicated specialist and (5) a sensible businessperson could accept such an offer merely for peanuts--let alone (6) from a developed country.
Little wonder even PEMT twopence-translators insist on removing their names from similar translations at least for one good reason... not to step in such a muddy puddle.
Take care ▲ Collapse
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 22:38
Dutch to English
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Kudoz to you for being professional and conscientious.
| | | | Patrice
United States
Local time: 21:38
Member
French to English
+ ...
| Big undertaking | Sep 2, 2019 |
I was asked to create a style guide a couple of years ago. After some discussion, the potential client and I agreed that this was not a document to be rushed into, and I don't know if she got someone else to do it, or if she dropped the idea. I wonder if she was, at the point, just exploring the idea, because I didn't hear from her again.
Our discussion may help guide someone else's thoughts about this.
The style guide was for FR>EN (U.S.). I am fortunate that my mothe... See more I was asked to create a style guide a couple of years ago. After some discussion, the potential client and I agreed that this was not a document to be rushed into, and I don't know if she got someone else to do it, or if she dropped the idea. I wonder if she was, at the point, just exploring the idea, because I didn't hear from her again.
Our discussion may help guide someone else's thoughts about this.
The style guide was for FR>EN (U.S.). I am fortunate that my mother-in-law is a former English teacher and was helpful in identifying existing style guides. I suggested the potential client consider using one of them, and I could develop a document on style recommendations specific to the client's business. There were so many variables in the scope (type of document, level of target language, etc.) that the client would need to identify first, though. I offered to provide that service (identifying the scope) for a fee, but she declined. I think that even figuring out the scope of a potential supplement was/is a big job.
If one were to write a style guide, which I think would need to focus on current language trends that are driven by tech, mobility, etc., I think the amount of time involved would lend itself more to making a proposal to a publisher, or possibly self-publishing. It is that big a job. ▲ Collapse
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