| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Is there a translation SILLY SEASON? Thread poster: Raf Uzar
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Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 18:49
Polish to English
I came across an article on http://transubstantiation.wordpress.com/ about the phrase "silly season" and it got me thinking about the life of freelance translators...
I asked myself these questions, which I now ask all of you:
(1) Do we have a silly season, that is a time of year where there is little going on?
(2) Is this silly season different in different countries?... See more I came across an article on http://transubstantiation.wordpress.com/ about the phrase "silly season" and it got me thinking about the life of freelance translators...
I asked myself these questions, which I now ask all of you:
(1) Do we have a silly season, that is a time of year where there is little going on?
(2) Is this silly season different in different countries?
(3) What do you all do at this time? Go on holiday? Search for new clients? Anything else?
I found the article at:
http://transubstantiation.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/translating-in-the-silly-season/ ▲ Collapse
| | | | NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 12:49
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
MODERATOR | I rarely find a lull in work | Aug 27, 2009 |
at any time of year, although I usually expect them, but many translators take their holidays during the dog days of summer and the end-of-year festivities, creating more work for those who don't. What I do find, however, is a silly season for accounts payable departments - usually two, in January and again in August.
Nancy
| | | | Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 18:49
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER | No silly season? | Aug 28, 2009 |
Nancy,
Does that mean there is a lull in payments in Jan and Aug?
| | | | Vera Schoen 
Sweden
Local time: 18:49
Member (2008)
German to Swedish
+ ...
I often have tons of work in December and consequently January is slow.
What I do? Breathe!
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Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 18:49
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER | Translation hiatus | Aug 28, 2009 |
Vera,
I know exactly what you mean.
Do you usually go on holiday in January? What do you do (apart from catch your breath)?
| | | | NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 12:49
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
MODERATOR | Yes, lull in payments | Aug 28, 2009 |
The accountants seem to disappear those two months - not all, of course, but a good number, enough for me to notice this trend over the past few years.
Nancy
| | | | Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 18:49
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER | Payment Lull | Aug 28, 2009 |
Nancy,
Does it mean you have to wait longer for payments?
| | | | NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 12:49
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
MODERATOR
I find a good number of the agencies I work with simply don't issue payments in these months, due to "holidays". The payments are doubled up the following month.
N.
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Vera Schoen
Sweden
Local time: 18:49
Member (2008)
German to Swedish
+ ...
| No vacation in January! | Aug 28, 2009 |
Well, this year there was no vacation at all in the cards for me, just a lot of work (not complaining!). But a vacation in January is unpractical for many reasons. December is an expensive month with X-mas and New Year, and its cold and unpleasant. No, I hoover in front of the computer and hope for work....
| | | | pcovs
Denmark
Local time: 18:49
English to Danish
| First part of January, first part of August | Aug 28, 2009 |
This is where I find the most quiet time in front of my computer.
It seems that after the holiday rush where everyone suddenly remembered to have something done, and nearly all translators were gone on holiday (meaning loads more work for me), they are all too exhausted to send out any work in these two periods.
Maybe they are simply too busy sorting out the massive mess of work that has not been taken care of while half the staff was on holiday, and they simply don't... See more This is where I find the most quiet time in front of my computer.
It seems that after the holiday rush where everyone suddenly remembered to have something done, and nearly all translators were gone on holiday (meaning loads more work for me), they are all too exhausted to send out any work in these two periods.
Maybe they are simply too busy sorting out the massive mess of work that has not been taken care of while half the staff was on holiday, and they simply don't have time to take much work in? I don't know.
Or maybe they feel like many others that after a holiday away with the family and kids, you really need a break - so you go to work
That's for Denmark, anyway.
And yes, no payments i January and August, I feel that too :-/
Oh, and - I take care of some of the many, many things I should have taken care of around and about the house. Stitching or glueing toys back together, putting old toys away and finding "new" toys in stead, mending the fences for the sheep and cows etc. etc.
...and every now and then I check my e-mail, of course.
[Edited at 2009-08-28 14:28 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 18:49
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
For me June - July is generally very slow, and then Augst is a killer month again...
I used to have some time to breath in the first quarter of the year, but it seems nowadays my clients seems to plan big projects in those periods too!...
Ed
| | | | Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 18:49
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER
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I had quite a busy summer.. and at the beginning of this month, some clients asked me if I was going on holiday, which wasn't the case, so they gave me a couple of projects to keep me busy while they were relaxing on the beach.
It's actually strange: when I don't have work, I worry if I'll get work again, and when I'm busy I'm hoping for a couple of quiet days, which turn out to be stressful, because I'm worried about the silence.
Overall, I don't experience slow periods around the s... See more I had quite a busy summer.. and at the beginning of this month, some clients asked me if I was going on holiday, which wasn't the case, so they gave me a couple of projects to keep me busy while they were relaxing on the beach.
It's actually strange: when I don't have work, I worry if I'll get work again, and when I'm busy I'm hoping for a couple of quiet days, which turn out to be stressful, because I'm worried about the silence.
Overall, I don't experience slow periods around the same time every year. ▲ Collapse
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the end of august has been quiet...most people go on vacation for most of august. I also havent' gotten very many cheques recently and am expecting a few really huge cheques for work i did in july. But i know a lot of my clients are on vacation and so are THEIR clients, etc etc.
Last year early december was very slow, but I worked all through Xmas to make up for it.
| | | | Raf Uzar
Poland
Local time: 18:49
Polish to English
TOPIC STARTER
Maaike, I know the feeling! I react exactly the same way.
So what do you do with this spare time?
Marlene, same question. Do you do anything linguistically- or career-oriented when you have spare time?
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