Signs you are adapting well to the new normal imposed by COVID-19

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Romina Bona

See this cartoon in Spanish

Hi there! We are still struggling with COVID-19 and how it is affecting everyone’s lives. In these challenging times, here is a friendly and humorous reminder to keep safe, observe the recommendations by recognized health organizations, and keep a positive mindset while we face the new normal.

Separated but together we will be able to go through this. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay at home, and stay fun.

Purchase code COVID-19.4 (once you buy it you will receive it in your inbox with no watermarks).

Send this card to your fellow translators and beloved ones as an encouragement to stay safe and at home. Purchase code COVID-19.4 (once you buy it you will receive it in your inbox with no watermarks).

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A freelance translator’s letter to Santa

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Romina Bona

A freelance translator's letter to Santa -- click on the image to enlarge

Also see A freelance translator’s lifestyle

The perfect present for a freelance translator has arrived! Mox: Illustrated Guide to Freelance Translation by Alejandro Moreno-Ramos is a must-have for all the translators out there with a sense of humor who are also willing to take some time to reflect on the actors in the translation industry and the role each of them plays. It is very likely that you will also pick your favorite and least favorite characters in Mox’s book (chances are you will find some similarities between yourself and at least one of them).

Apart from numerous hilarious first-ever-published cartoons the book features thirteen articles by the following renowned freelance translators:

So if you are a translator and you have not written your letter yet, make sure you add this item to your list.

You’ll have a fun holiday season!

Advancing in one’s profession

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Romina Bona

Advancing in one's career as a freelance translator -- click on the image to enlarge

See this same post in Mox’s blog and his previous post in which Mina runs away.

This comic was inspired by both an article I came across that reports on the results of a survey to determine trends in pet ownership as it relates to certain professions and by my recent friendship with the genius creator of Mox’s blog, Alejandro Moreno-Ramos.

Alejandro’s work has been a great inspiration for me for a long time. I admire his sense of humor and his unique talent so imagine my excitement when I received his invitation to make a guest post in the widely renowned Mox’s blog (the pressure is on!)

Back to the article that has inspired this comic, it got me thinking about translators and interpreters and their most likely pets. According to the article, editors and writers generally own “reptiles”. Would this also be the trend for translators and interpreters as Mox’s pet, Mina, seems to indicate? I figure that CATs should be also among the top places. And I believe that “birds” must be quite popular among translators fond of social media.

It would be fun to find out if certain pets are “trending” among translators and interpreters like they are in other professions.

Would you like to participate in this “research” and tell your colleagues about you and your pet(s)?

P.S. Thanks Alejandro!

A freelance translator’s lifestyle

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Romina Bona

A freelance translator's lifestyle -- click on the image to enlarge

Also see this comic strip in Spanish.

Also see:

Have you been there? Do you think that this is an accurate description of a day in a freelance translator’s life? Is it a myth or an exaggeration maybe? Is there some truth in this description?

Would you like to share your story?

Twitter series (part 3) — Meet the social media expert

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Romina Bona

Twitter series (part 3) -- Meet the social media expert (click on the image to enlarge)

Also see this cartoon in Spanish

Also see:

Follow Translator Fun on Twitter: @TranslatorFun and on Facebook

Translator’s productivity (part 2) — shortcuts

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Romina Bona

Translator’s productivity — shortcuts (click on the image to enlarge)

Also see:

“In computing, a keyboard shortcut is a sequence or combination of keystrokes on a computer keyboard which invokes commands in software. Some keyboard shortcuts require the user to press a single key or a sequence of keys one after the other. Other keyboard shortcuts require pressing and holding several keys simultaneously.” Wikipedia

Using shortcuts in your work will undoubtedly help you become more productive. At first it requires a conscious effort to start using them and remember them but with time their use becomes a reflex.

I have adopted a few which I use on a daily basis. However, I’d like to start using some more as they help me optimize my time and increase my productivity.

Below there is a list of links to useful articles with detailed examples of existing keyboard shortcuts that you can easily start using in your daily computing tasks: