Literary agent/proofreader fees? Thread poster: Estelle Demontrond-Box
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Dear colleagues,
I have been approached by a translation company to possibly translate a novel for a famous French publisher.
The company is completely legit and the project exciting but I am not familiar with agents' fees. In this case, the agent would also be my proofreader and the fee would be of 40% of all income (per page + royalties).
Does this sound reasonable? Has anybody had this kind of experience?
Thanks for your help.
E
| | | | | Sounds like a total rip off to me | Feb 10, 2013 |
A writer hiring an agent (and in the US you can hardly get published without one these days) pays him or her 10-15%. Someone who handles foreign rights may get a little more. That's fairly standard. Personally, I have never heard of any legitimate percentage-based translation arrangements, except for those bottom of the barrel schemes where they try to "pay" the translator with a share of future royalties that never materialize. Anyhow, literary translation doesn't pay much as it is. Take out th... See more A writer hiring an agent (and in the US you can hardly get published without one these days) pays him or her 10-15%. Someone who handles foreign rights may get a little more. That's fairly standard. Personally, I have never heard of any legitimate percentage-based translation arrangements, except for those bottom of the barrel schemes where they try to "pay" the translator with a share of future royalties that never materialize. Anyhow, literary translation doesn't pay much as it is. Take out the 40 percent, and what's left? ▲ Collapse
| | | | David Wright 
Austria
Local time: 04:33
German to English
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I'm not clear what you mean. Is a literary agent going to proofread the text and charge you 40% of your earnings? Did the agent procure you the contract as well? Did he negotiate the amount of the fee you will get (and is it relatiely high - i.e. has he done a good job for you?). These need to be factored in before you can say whether this is a good or a bad rate - but if he is only proofreading and has done nothing else, then it strikes me as very high indeed.
| | | | EvaVer (X)
Local time: 04:33
Czech to French
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| I don't know about literary agent, | Feb 10, 2013 |
but if it's any help to you as a reference value - when I translate into English (not my mother tongue) and have my translation proofread by a native speaker, I pay him a fixed rate, while my own remuneration varies - which makes his percentage vary between 20% and 50% of the total (mostly it is about 30%).
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| You cannot butter your bread with something like "60%" | Feb 10, 2013 |
Estelle Demontrond-Box wrote:
Dear colleagues,
I have been approached by a translation company to possibly translate a novel for a famous French publisher.
The company is completely legit and the project exciting but I am not familiar with agents' fees. In this case, the agent would also be my proofreader and the fee would be of 40% of all income (per page + royalties).
Does this sound reasonable? Has anybody had this kind of experience?
Thanks for your help.
E
You cannot butter your bread with something like "60%" because it's something abstract. If the price per word expressed in monetary units is okey for you, then you agree. If it's not okey for you - then you don't agree.
See my point?
Personally I don't care how many percent of what they get from the customer an agency pays to me.
[Edited at 2013-02-10 23:17 GMT]
| | | | | Agent and Proofreader | Feb 11, 2013 |
David Wright wrote:
I'm not clear what you mean. Is a literary agent going to proofread the text and charge you 40% of your earnings? Did the agent procure you the contract as well? Did he negotiate the amount of the fee you will get (and is it relatiely high - i.e. has he done a good job for you?). These need to be factored in before you can say whether this is a good or a bad rate - but if he is only proofreading and has done nothing else, then it strikes me as very high indeed.
Indeed, David, I was not so clear. The agent is also the proofreader, is in charge of the business relationship with the publisher and negotiates the contract.
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 11:33
Chinese to English
| Sounds high to me | Feb 11, 2013 |
15% agent's fee I could understand.
30% of the translation fee for proofreading would be within acceptable limits, assuming the translation fee is high enough.
But the deal you're being offered includes another 25% of royalties on top of the agent's normal 15%, apparently as further compensation for proofreading.
I would try to negotiate a bit. But it depends on you. If the deal is good enough for you already, then don't spend too much time worrying about how anyo... See more 15% agent's fee I could understand.
30% of the translation fee for proofreading would be within acceptable limits, assuming the translation fee is high enough.
But the deal you're being offered includes another 25% of royalties on top of the agent's normal 15%, apparently as further compensation for proofreading.
I would try to negotiate a bit. But it depends on you. If the deal is good enough for you already, then don't spend too much time worrying about how anyone else is doing out of it. The key question is: are you getting decent compensation for your work? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pros and cons | Feb 11, 2013 |
Phil Hand wrote:
15% agent's fee I could understand.
30% of the translation fee for proofreading would be within acceptable limits, assuming the translation fee is high enough.
But the deal you're being offered includes another 25% of royalties on top of the agent's normal 15%, apparently as further compensation for proofreading.
I would try to negotiate a bit. But it depends on you. If the deal is good enough for you already, then don't spend too much time worrying about how anyone else is doing out of it. The key question is: are you getting decent compensation for your work?
Thanks Phil.
It is a tricky one but it is an excellent publisher and it is sooooo hard to get a literary translation published and get known in the field!
The agent also seems to have an excellent reputation. So here comes the weighing game...
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:33
French to English
I have often felt this way when a prestigious customer comes my way.
Problem is, if you don't fight for a decent rate now, you might be labelled the "cheapo translator", or the "pushover" and you won't earn enough money or any respect.
Work out how much you need to earn to be able to live decently and command respect from your clients, and stick to your guns. If you're good, this won't be your last opportunity.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 04:33
Member (2009)
English to German
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| Responsibilities | Feb 11, 2013 |
Well, your responsibility as a translator is to negotiate the price, the royalty percentage, and that your name appears in the book. You will then translate the book and proofread/edit it to delivery the best quality possible.
Your client's responsibility is to pay you for your work, ensure that your name appears in the book as the translator and... do all additional proofreading/editing s/he might require.
If all clients start to charge the translators for the final pr... See more Well, your responsibility as a translator is to negotiate the price, the royalty percentage, and that your name appears in the book. You will then translate the book and proofread/edit it to delivery the best quality possible.
Your client's responsibility is to pay you for your work, ensure that your name appears in the book as the translator and... do all additional proofreading/editing s/he might require.
If all clients start to charge the translators for the final proofreading/editing, which is clearly within their responsibility!, then all translators who accept such practices are headed for an ongoing "low, lower, lowest budget road". ▲ Collapse
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