Deadline: July 5, 2021
The PEN Translation Committee is seeking literary translators into English to read from their work (published or in progress) in a series of three virtual readings to celebrate Women in Translation month this August. We welcome responses from women or nonbinary translators and translators of any gender identity translating words by women or nonbinary authors. Preference will be given to proposals where translators will be reading alongside their authors, though we recognize the need to accommodate different time zones. We are particularly interested in author/translator pairs that haven’t participated in this series before.
The last year or more has been devastating in many ways, with disproportionate impacts on those with the least access to broad platforms from which to be widely heard. One of the opportunities that comes along with the COVID-19 pandemic is an opening up of virtual connection. To that end, we particularly invite participants who translate from languages and countries less commonly published in English translation, translators based outside of New York City, translators of color and/or translators reading works by writers of color, emerging translators, and translators who for any other reason face disproportionate barriers of access.
Format of the readings:
The virtual readings will take place on the following Thursdays, at 2:00 pm ET: August 12, August 19, and August 26. Four or five translator/author pairs will read for approximately 10 minutes per team, followed by a short Q&A (time permitting).
How to respond:
If you are interested in participating, please email us at: penwit21@gmail.com
Please include:
Your name and a brief biography (50 words max!)
A short description of the work, genre, and significance of the project
The original language/author’s country
Your author’s name and brief biography (50 words max!)
Your time zone (and the time zone of your author)
Any of the Thursday reading dates in August when you could NOT participate
Please respond by July 5th at the latest.