Shadows and (dead)lines
The Hague, Holland, 2005
Just in case you're wondering why I'm posting so few photos at the moment, it's because nearly all my time is taken up by my translation assignment. I'm currently trying to juggle three things at once (translating, editing and re-editing), which is trying to say the least.
Quick explanation for the uninitiated: translating is usually a graduated process. First you translate the book, then you edit your translation, then you submit it, and then your publisher forwards the whole thing to a proof-reader. A few weeks later, you get your translation back from the proof-reader with corrections, suggestions and comments. You then get about a week (two if you're lucky) to decide which of those corrections you're going to accept and which you're going to discard. You process the corrections you agree with, add what further changes you think may be necessary and send the final draft to the publisher, who forwards it to the printer's for galley proofing. You can make some final corrections in the galley proofs, but after that it's time to let go. Your translation gets printed.
Trying to finish a translation just before going on holiday is stressful at the best of times, but this time it's extra stressful because I'm combining the translating and editing stages. In a desperate bid to minimise the amount of work I'll have to do from abroad, I'm doing something I've never done before: submitting parts of my translation well before the due date (January 1st) just to give the proof-reader a head start. Basically, I'm working on a translation in three different stages of completion. While I'm still trying to finish translating the final third and editing the second third, the proof-reader is working away on the first third; I've already received her first comments. In the next few weeks, while I edit the final third, she'll proof-read the second third. Once I've submitted the final third, I'll have a few more days to process the comments on the first two thirds before flying to Singapore. I'll have to process the comments on the final third from Singapore, but if everything goes according to plan, that will be all I'll have to do from abroad. I should be done with the whole thing by the time I fly to Australia -- about a month ahead of schedule. Which is crazy, but in a good way, I think.
Needless to say, it's quite stressful to tackle the translating, editing and re-editing of a text all at once. On the one hand, it's a relief to be able to switch from one to the other as they all require different levels of concentration and it makes for a bit of variety; on the other hand, the constant scattering of one's attention and the relentless pressure to deliver parts of the translation before they're officially due are exhausting. I think it's safe to say I'll be completely worn out by the time I board that plane to Singapore. I'm feeling fairly worn out already.
It goes without saying that there won't be many photos here for a while. Undoubtedly I'll process the odd pic every now and then just to get a break from words words words words words, but if nothing appears here, don't worry; it will merely mean I'm going crazy finishing my assignment. Nothing worse than that.
On which note I should probably return to the assignment...