Remembering to leave the house

Yesterday I took a break from staring at the computer screen and remembering to sit up straight (my #homeoffice has not yet stretched to an ergonomic office chair) and went to an event at the Goethe Institute London. It was the launch of a new book about Berlin by Rory Maclean with interesting chats, lovely photography, film clips of David Bowie and Marlene Dietrich and lots of good people watching (wealthy #German academics sure know how to dress). And I even managed to beat the tube strike on the way home #success.

Week One over

Week one is over! It has been a productive week. Lots of applications, registrations, test translations and reacquainting myself with various software programs. Lots of learning! And not too much Daily Mail reading (my number one form of procrastination so I am proud of myself!).

One of my favourite things about being back in the UK is the food. After many years of arguing with Germans who said that British food was disgusting (because their only experience of  our food was a Klassenfahrt to a youth hostel in Eastbourne), I am enjoying each and every trip to the supermarket! Instead of traipsing around 5 or 6 shops looking for a variety of different ingredients, you go to one. AND you can buy peanut butter for under 4 euro! Here is one thing I made this week....
Grilled aubergines with a satay sauce and cucumber salad YUM

Day One

Today has been my first day of properly applying myself to finding work for my #freelancetranslation business. And what a long day it has been! Luckily I have had my manatee bag and Beyoncé to keep me from giving up :)

I am starting by applying to agencies to try to get a steadyish flow of work to begin with.

Every agency seems to have a different process or requires different information from you. Some have one short contact form, others have a long data collection process so it has been fairly complicated! I have tracked everything I have sent out and any replies I have received as I can imagine it will be easy to lose track of things quite quickly! I am also trying to add a personal message in any correspondence but who knows how long I will manage to keep that up!

One area that I am finding particularly difficult to navigate is the world of #rates. I don't want to price myself too low and have people thinking you are some kind of charlatan, but on the other hand I don't want to price myself out of the water. I suppose you get to learn these things along the way but it is pretty hard to begin with. Anyone else had this problem?

The time has come...

Gone are the days of luxury! A regular paycheck! Guaranteed work! The scary days of freelancing have arrived.

The past few weeks have been hectic but I have got to the stage now that I am ready to work. I have moved into a new flat, we have the Internet, my CV is ready and translated, various different cover letters are ready and translated, I have sent off a couple of applications, I have a list of old contacts, I am keeping track of my costs, I have a letter head and I have a website! I have updated my LinkedIn, I have a Facebook, a Twitter, 

a Proz account, I am trying very hard to join a professional association. I have some #translation software and a computer that works. I have an appointment to open a bank account. I feel ready(ish)! What else do you need to be a #freelancetranslator?

Now is the scary part. Will I get work? Will I get paid enough to survive on? Will I get paid as much as (I think) I deserve?
Well I guess it's time to find out!