How Long Will It Take to Translate My Book?

As an author, you probably know better than most just how long it can take to find the perfect word, to create just the right nuance, to structure a sentence or paragraph in such a way that it moves your readers to tears, makes them burst out laughing, or leads them to a moment of deep reflection.

While translation certainly doesn't take as long as writing the book itself, it does take a great deal of time to choose that same perfect word or phrase in English, to ensure that the subtle nuance you created in Italian is also present in English, to structure sentences and paragraphs so as to evoke those same experiences and emotions in your English-speaking readers.

As discussed in the pricing article, the professional standard for translation is 2,000-2,500 words a day. Some translators may get up to 4,000 words a day (for simple and/or familiar content), but if a translator claims to be able to do much more than that, they're probably sacrificing quality by using AI and/or paying minimal attention to detail. (Wondering if using too much AI is really that bad for translation? See this real-life story and these examples.)

As for me personally, I only translate between 8,000-10,000 words a week. I treat your book as though it were my own. I want to make sure that I get every word, every sentence, every paragraph just perfect. I'm the kind of person who can spend up to an hour just considering the options for a single word or phrase! I love the written word, and I'm meticulous about getting it just right. I'll ask you questions, I'll share comments and insights. Together, we will make sure that the English version of your book is exactly as you intended!

After I finish each translation, I also spend an additional week or two doing a full edit of the book at no extra charge. It's simply part of my commitment to making sure your book sounds just as wonderful in English as it does in Italian.

See the next article: How Will You Preserve My Voice, Nuances, and Other Complex Elements?