Do you ever feel in another language? Think, read and speak in another language? I know I do. There are plenty things I can say in Spanish that have a meaning like no other. English might be our world language now, but you best believe our distinct dialects and words will never lose their power.
Thankfully, others in the lit mag community think the same. That said, the Echo accepts works in other languages to showcase in our magazines, but others accept translation too.
Here are (lucky) 7 lit mags that accept work in translation!
- Words Without Borders:
They accept all work in or without translation. Their main purpose is to translate so it is a great opportunity for those who don’t know English to publish their work!
For those translators out there, you should check it out as well, they give compensation for translating pieces.
- Bushfire:
The original piece is accepted with the piece translated by you.
- Blue Unicorn (Only poetry)
- One Story (fiction prose only)
- Arkana:
They are interested in new, underrepresented writers. While all translations are accepted poetry is preferred.
- The Destroyer
- Reckoning:
Accepts works without translation in Spanish, French and Swedish. Good news for the other hundreds of you though, it does accept all other languages in translation!
Tips for translation:
- Keep the meaning. Something funny about the universal language of English is that there are basic words that have either lost its meaning or do not hold the same power as one in your language.
If there is no word in existence that gives you the same emotion your word does. Leave it.
- Use your resources. Now I’m not saying to translate it all through Chat GPT or some magical app but those usually give you a rough idea of what the poem, or prose should look and sound like.
- Read it and re-read it to yourself. A poem is meant to be heard, and a story is meant to be told. Have fun with it and don’t think too much about neatness but about getting your message across.
I’d like to show you one of mine.
Cuando se fue la luz mi corazón celebro
Cayeron árboles que lloraban con el viento, pero en muerte les surgía paz.
Del agua fría salían rizas
¿De qué? no me enteraba pues yo metí un pie y rápido me corrí a unirme
A los relámpagos y descalza a los charcos
Leí los cuentos escritos en las estrellas,
Por primera vez lo pude entender completo.
Desde arriba me leyeron los ojos pues nunca me habían poder visto antes tampoco.
I presume most of you can’t read it and that is all right. After all, translation is for me to be able to communicate with those of you who can’t. That is why I am giving you the translated version.
When the power went out my heart celebrated
Fallen trees cried along with the wind, even in death they radiated peace
The cold water laughed
From what? I do not know for I reached one foot in and quickly I ran to join
The thunder and barefoot with the puddles
I read the stories written in the stars
For the first time I was able to fully understand it
From above they read my eyes for they had never been able to completely see me either.
Translating is a practice that takes time to master but writing is something that takes a pen, paper and a real heart to string words together.
I encourage you...
If you do not know another language, read it. Find translated pieces. They can show you something inexplicable.
If you do know another language, write it. Take that chance and don’t be scared. What comes of it will be priceless.