Charlie Bavington

French to English Freelance Translator - I.T. specialist

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Musings, ramblings, and thoughts on this and that

Never knowingly short of an opinion, and often finding myself repeating the same or similar remarks fairly regularly, I have decided to keep those opinions all in one place. Here, in fact.

if you think that sounds a bit like a blog, well, it is a bit like a blog, but one with the comments disabled. And one with no obligation on my part, whether self-imposed or forced upon me by an adoring public, to make anything like regular contributions, which I believe is the norm with conventional blogs. I sometimes go for entire calendar months with narry an opinion, thought or observation so much as waiting in the wings to flit across my befuddled mind.

Oh, and some of these articles (for want of a better word) are of considerable length, longer than yer average blog.

But regardless of the fact it's not a "proper blog", of course I'd love to hear responses and you can berate me for being a mutton-headed buffoon or shower me with fullsome praise for some pearl of wisdom here, or direct at cbavington at gmail dot com. However, try to avoid this kind of thing.

Contents

1. The Business and my views thereupon. Primarily gathered here for ease of reference when comment is required, or seems to be.

Prices and rates

My first ever effort, on who sets translation prices (Dec. 2008), specifically why agencies often feel they are in a position to decide the price.

Some thoughts about the prices beginners charge (Feb. 2009), and why they shouldn't intrinsically be lower than the "going rate" (vague though that notion is).

More stuff on filthy lucre and my approach to acquiring same (Oct. 2009), being mainly about varying the rate-per-word for different jobs.

Is it a good idea to drop prices? (June 2009). While inspired, if that is the word, by the economic downturn, this is a 5,000 word epic about the translation economy, looking specifically at demand for translation and prices.

Other business issues

Firstly, some short points on the background in which freelancers operate (May 2009), and how much I dislike comparisons that don't apply. Which is most of them, frankly.

Freelancers and understanding payment terms (Apr. 2009), and B2B expectations.

The pros and cons of free testing (Apr. 2009).

Side effects of saying no (Jan. 2009), mainly being about the side effect of losing the client.

2. Other stuff

Some remarks on the world's most popular website (Dec. 2009)

Thanks to www.free-animations.co.uk for the free animations.