Style Matters - a workshop with Ros Schwartz and Chris Durban

The ability to produce polished prose, no matter how uneven the original text, is one factor distinguishing top-end translators able to command high fees from bulk providers and bottom feeders.

Silk purse from sow’s ear? Yes. With a definite payback: translators adopting this approach and honing these skills can develop rewarding, long-term relationships with loyal customers, charge higher rates and negotiate deadlines that suit them. Part of the challenge lies in winning clients’ trust and having the confidence to see yourself as a writer rather than as a humble servant.

Participants in this one-day practical workshop led by Chris Durban and Ros Schwartz will tackle different types of text where the emphasis is on stylistic quality. The nuts and bolts of good writing will be examined, along with concrete suggestions for raising client awareness of this essential added value.

Most examples will come from French, but knowledge of the source language will not be required as the focus will be on writing good, clear English.

NB: This workshop is aimed at practising translators translating into English.

The tutors:

CHRIS DURBAN FITI is a freelance translator based in Paris, producing publication-level texts for the foreign shareholders, customers and partners of French corporations and institutions. Her client-education column “The Onionskin” runs in the ITI bulletin and she co-authors a business advice column (Fire Ant & Worker Bee) in the online Translation Journal. Chris is a member of the American Translators Association and has recently stepped down as president of the Société française des traducteurs.

ROS SCHWARTZ MITI. A freelance translator since 1981, she has translated a wide range of novels and non-fiction works from French as well as running a translation company specializing in marketing and promotional literature. She frequently publishes articles and gives workshops and talks on the art of translation. She was Chair of the European Council of Literary Translators Associations (CEATL) from 2001-2009 and of the British Centre for Literary Translation Advisory Panel. She has just been made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Testimonials from participants at Style Matters workshops in Scotland and England:

"An exceptionally productive day" Alison Hughes, ITIScotNet Newsletter, November 2009

"Chris Durban and Ros Schwartz are the antidote to those who rant and rave about rates, futilely shake their fists over translation buyers, or foam at the mouth over the state of translation today" Sarah Dillon writing in the ITI Bulletin May-June 2010. Sarah travelled 10,000 miles from her home in Brisbane, Australia to attend the Style Matters workshop in London in February!

Please contact Annette at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you wish to attend

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Literary Translation - a workshop with Ros Schwartz

Sunday, 20 June 2010, 10 am to 1 pm, IWC, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1

Ros will be leading a hands-on workshop exploring the intricacies of literary translation. The text will be from a French novel, but a knowledge of French is not essential as a draft translation will be provided. The focus will be on exploring the challenges raised by the text and honing the English.