Perhaps you've had this experience. It's a holiday, and you're having a great time visiting with family when the subject of conversation turns to your studies. Then, your aunt/uncle/mom/austere potential father-in-law, hearing what your major is, looks at you from across the dinner table and asks "French Studies ... and what are you going to do with that?" You know there are plenty of opportunities, but grow weary of having to explain yourself to those who are not enlightened enough to understand jobs do come our way.
Well if that happens again this Thanksgiving, you can jump right to telling them about this opportunity:
Where:
Dalkey Archive Press
University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011
Champaign, IL 61820
ph 217.244.5700
fax 217.244.9142
www.dalkeyarchive.com
Beginning in the fall of 2009, Dalkey Archive Press at the University of Illinois will be offering a unique opportunity for young translators of fiction working from world languages into English to gain experience in translation and publishing. This program is in response to the need to create the means for translators to take the next major step in their careers.
During the fellowship year, translators will:
Complete their first book-length fiction translation to be published by Dalkey Archive Press.
Help to edit translations from other translators and see how editors respond to issues of translation so that they will learn how best to work with editors in the future.
Work closely with translators who are submitting manuscripts to Dalkey Archive.
Identify works that Dalkey Archive should consider publishing.
Learn how to work with translators, agents, and other publishers.
Work first-hand with funding agencies to secure grants for translations and thereby establish relationships with the funders that translators need to know.
Establish contacts with editors at other publishing houses in order to have the means to submit work to them in the future.
Learn how to write reader reports and learn through experience how to write cover letters to publishers.
Application Process:
Fellowships are open to any translator holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Those interested in applying should submit the following by March 1, 2009:
A letter explaining interest in the fellowship, career plans, and previous translation work, and a detailed description of literary background (areas of interest, favorite authors, aesthetic interests, and familiarity with works published by Dalkey Archive Press).
A complete resumé, including a clear indication of skill levels in languages.
A minimum of three translation samples of fiction work from the language or languages of specialization.
Applications should be submitted by email to :John O'Brien, Publisher of Dalkey Archive Press, at: obrien@dalkeyarchive.com
Awards will be announced April, 2009. Fellowships will include an $18,000 stipend and medical benefits.
So this Thanksgiving, enjoy flouting this opportunity in the face of your cousin who spent the whole summer working in an unpaid internship to further that accounting degree.
