About Corinne McKay

About Corinne McKay, CT

I am an American Translators Association-certified French to English translator based in Boulder, Colorado. I specialize primarily in international development, legal and corporate communications translations and non-fiction books. My clients include NGOs and international aid organizations, law firms, publishing houses and high-quality translation companies.

A day in the office might find me translating vaccination funding applications for countries in West Africa, an employee handbook for a development project in Burkina Faso, press releases for an international food industry trade show or employment contracts for French companies doing business in the United States. My translation of Gilbert Legay’s Dictionary of North American Indians and Other Indigenous Peoples was published by Barron’s Educational Series, and I’ve published two books for freelance translators, How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator (first edition 2006, second edition 2011) and Thoughts on Translation (2013).

My clients also benefit from my active involvement in the translation industry: I served as President of the Colorado Translators Association from 2008-2012, and was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Translators Association in October, 2012. My numerous past volunteer roles within the American Translators Association include French Language Division Administrator, Public Relations Committee Chair and Active Membership Committee Chair. I have presented at every annual conference of the American Translators Association since 2004 and I’ve also given trainings for the SFT (French Translators Association), the New England Translators Association, the Northern California Translators Association and the New Mexico Translators Association. My educational background includes a BA in French and English from Geneseo College and the University of Grenoble, France and an MA in French Literature and Culture from Boston College, where I was inducted into Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society.

When not at the computer, I can often be found skiing, hiking and biking in the Rockies with my husband and daughter or working in my flower and vegetable gardens. Some of my favorite non-work accomplishments include finishing two marathons (Boston 2000 and Boulder Backroads 2005), trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, skiing Colorado’s 10th Mountain Division huts and riding my bike from Leysin, Switzerland to Salzburg, Austria (not in one day!). My professional website is Translatewrite.com.

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Policy on individual questions

56 Comments »

56 Responses

on February 24, 2008 at 4:30 pm | Reply david kerkhoff

Hi Corinne,

I like your blog!
Thanks again,
David
on February 24, 2008 at 9:24 pm | Reply Corinne McKay

No problem, and thank you for the beautiful banner photo!
Corinne
on March 4, 2008 at 5:15 pm | Reply Marcelle

Hi Corinne
I came across your website by pure chance.
I wish I had discovered it earlier
Great work
on March 8, 2008 at 9:53 pm | Reply bibomedia.com
on March 16, 2008 at 12:58 pm | Reply Tamer Elzein

Hi Corinne,

I just wanted to drop by and thank you for your lovely book, “How to Succeed As A Freelance Translator.”

I personally think it’s a wonderful addition to the translation business literature, and I’ve written a somewhat-raving review about it on my website…

http://www.arabic-translation-help.com/review-how-to-succeed-as-a-freelance-translator.php

Again, that you for your efforts, and I’m glad that you publish an RSS feed

All the best,
Tamer
on March 17, 2008 at 2:18 pm | Reply Corinne McKay

Thanks for your kind message and I’m glad you enjoyed the book! I’m currently working on a second edition, so please feel free to send along any suggestions for new or expanded topics.
on July 2, 2008 at 3:10 pm | Reply Rob Grayson

Hi Corinne,

I just discovered your site thanks to a link in proz.com newsletter. Great site you have here! I’m a British FR>EN freelancer based in France specialising in finance, banking/accounting, business etc. – so great to find a kindred soul on the other side of the pond!

Rob
on July 2, 2008 at 4:08 pm | Reply Ines Velasquez McBryde

Hola Corinne-
I, too, just got linked to your blog via a proz.com newsletter. What an encouragement to read your blog and find some critical resources that you offer. I’m a freelance Eng/Span translator and working towards my ATA certification. Any suggestions on how to study for this? I need all the advice I can get! Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with the rest of the translator community.

best wishes,
~Inés
on September 25, 2008 at 8:02 pm | Reply Harun

Dear Corinne,

I’m a blind college student. I’d like to thank you for writing your book on Freelance Translation. It is very accessible and easy to read.

I hope to transfer in a year to another university and pursue my translator’s education. The book inspired me to transform my hobby into a career. (Sorry if that sounds corny!)

Thanks again,
-Harun
on October 2, 2008 at 1:14 am | Reply Brandon Fancher

Thank you, thank you, thank you! What a great resource!
on November 24, 2008 at 11:16 am | Reply Global Business Blog Reviews » thoughtsontranslation.com

[...] About Corinne McKay: American Translators Association-certified French to English translator, specializing in legal, corporate communications and public health/international development translations. After earning a B.A. in French and English from Geneseo College and the University of Grenoble, France, and an M.A. in French Literature and Culture from Boston College, I launched my freelance translation business (Translatewrite) in 2002 and have never looked back. Since then, I’ve become certified by the American Translators Association for French to English translation and have focused my business on legal, corporate communications and public health/international development translations. My translation of Gilbert Legay’s Dictionnaire des Indiens de l’Amérique du Nord was published in December, 2007 by Barron’s Educational Series as Dictionary of North American Indians and Other Indigenous Peoples. [...]
on December 30, 2008 at 8:27 am | Reply Hari

Hi Corinne,

I’ve been reading your blog for a while. Thanks for all the instruction and experience you share. Especially the exercise machine/computer desk you use. It’s a pity I can’t find the product here in Taiwan.
on February 27, 2009 at 12:04 am | Reply WordCount Q&A - One freelancer’s DIY book publishing success « WordCount - Freelancing in the Digital Age

[...] a freelance translator who lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and 6-year-old daughter, ultimately opted to self [...]
on April 29, 2009 at 6:17 pm | Reply Malgorzata Piotrowska

Dear Corinne,

I found your blog about a week ago and keep coming back and reading it… I bought your book. Thank you very much for sharing your experience, advice and thoughts. I find it very useful. I am just about to start my freelancer’s career and all I’ve read here so far is very encouraging and helpful. I wish I had found it ealier…

Thank you!

Malgorzata
on August 20, 2009 at 12:22 am | Reply Corinne McKay

Hello, Corinne

I was googling myself (hmmm, that sounds dirty), when I found your website. I’m in Saskatchewan, Canada, trying to improve my French language skills. I have not taken a class for a year and have just started a new job where none of my coworkers are French. I was feeling a bit disheartened but for some reason, just seeing your/my name and reading about your business, I thought that Colorado can’t be that different from Saskatchewan for finding places to practice and innovative, interesting ways to maintain language skills.

Now that I look at my message, it would have been better to write it in French! Any cool, fun suggestions for language retention?

Corinne
- on September 22, 2009 at 7:09 pm | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Hi “other” Corinne McKay, and I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. Interestingly enough, I just met an English to French translator who lives in Regina; if you e-mail me directly I could give you her contact information. Personally I think that doing conversation practice with a native speaker is the best way to keep up your skills. I do this now and it’s the best $45 per week that I’ve spent on my language skills. Not to sound superior, but I find that “advanced/expert” conversation courses/groups are normally geared toward people who speak good “school” French and have not lived in French-speaking countries, while on the other hand if I attend a gathering of native French speakers, I’m intimidated by just jumping into the conversation. So, I find that one-on-one with a native speaker is perfect and it has *really* improved my speaking skills. Boulder is probably a little less remote than Saskatchewan, but not that much! You can do it!
on September 22, 2009 at 5:10 pm | Reply Christina

Hi Corinne,

thank you so so much for this awesome blog. I’m a 22-year-old freelance German/English translator and until a few weeks ago I was totally clueless about how to get started. Not anymore now thanks to you. Your blog is full of interesting posts about anything a translator might need to know. I never got any better advice, not even from the countless German translators that used to teach me. You are like a coach and I wish I knew you personally because it seems like you are a great and interesting person to be around.

I am waiting on a copy of your book and I am sure that it will help me out quite a bit. In the meantime I will just be extremely jealeous of your wonderful resume

Love your blog!! Thanks so much

Christina
- on September 22, 2009 at 7:05 pm | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thanks, Christina! I don’t know that I’m always great and interesting, but I try (just don’t ask my daughter!). Best of luck with your business, and feel free to send me any questions you would like to submit for a blog post.
on October 26, 2009 at 4:19 am | Reply Uma Tadvalkar

Hi, Corrinne

I myslef am a Freelance Gr/Eng translator. I just now came to know aabout your book. I specialize in IT, technical engineering Medical and sometimes I do finanance. I want get the ATA certification. Where can I find the study material as I am residing in India. Do you have any clue…I will read your book and again get back to you

Thanks
Uma
on November 4, 2009 at 9:07 am | Reply Primi passi da freelancer « a piè di pagina

[...] parla in questa intervista Corinne McKay, autrice del blog Thoughts on Translation, autrice di un libro e docente di un corso [...]
on February 10, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Reply Katherine Osgood

Hi Corinne!

I love your blog! I’m studying for an MA in Translation Studies (Arabic-English) and just ordered your book about getting started as a freelancer! The information you are providing is invaluable to beginners like me!

Thanks so much for all your hard work to help others!
Katherine
on March 26, 2010 at 7:13 pm | Reply Marcia

Hi Corinne,

Just want to say thank you so much for sharing! I was searching information on how to get started with my Spanish/English freelancing and came across your blog. It is truly wonderful…almost everything I need to know.

Thanks again!
Marcia
on May 5, 2010 at 1:50 pm | Reply TB Peritz

Thank you so much for this blog! I have been a freelance French to English translator myself for over 5 years now and wish I had had a blog like this to accompany me on the journey starting out.

Great work!
- on May 5, 2010 at 3:37 pm | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thanks for your comment; glad you are enjoying the blog!
on August 1, 2010 at 4:12 am | Reply Nancy

Really interesting blog, specially for the ones who want to study the english translation career, like me.
Thank you so much for sharing your advices….
Greetings from an argentine teenager, who wants to become a translator in the future.
on September 6, 2010 at 2:20 pm | Reply valerie

Dear Corinne,
when will the updated version of your 2006 book come out? if I buy it, I’d prefer to get the newest version…
Thanks for your answer.
Best,
valerie
on September 28, 2010 at 9:45 am | Reply Toughts on Translation « Traducción y Tecnología

[...] on Translation In Blogs, Recomendados on 28 Septiembre 2010 at 10:45 Thoughts on Translation es en blog sobre la industria de la traducción, escrito por Corinne McKay. Lo recomiendo porque [...]
on October 11, 2010 at 5:03 pm | Reply Karen Tkaczyk

Lovely artwork Corinne.
- on October 12, 2010 at 3:19 am | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thanks Karen! Superfluent Design actually deserves the thanks, I think it’s beautiful too!
on November 10, 2010 at 7:28 pm | Reply David Auerbach

Hi Corinne,
I am a freelance translator/professor of translation based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I happened upon your blog when googling about the insertion of scanned seals/stamps in translated documents. That discussion was highly worthwhile, particularly from the legal angle. I will share this link with my students.
Very glad to meet you! All the best of luck!
David
- on November 12, 2010 at 8:56 pm | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thanks, David! Glad that the post was interesting and helpful! And thanks again to Tom West for those excellent comments on the legal issues.
on December 1, 2010 at 9:47 pm | Reply Dan Bradley

Hi Corinne,

I’m a UK based Japanese to English translator. Your article ‘Getting started as a freelance translator’ was hugely inspiring and constructive when I started freelancing last October. It raised the bar for the amount of marketing I should be doing so I sent out 365 targeted applications and have done some really exciting projects throughout the year. Thanks!

My first year was professionally the most rewarding I’ve ever had and going freelance has been a life changing decision. Saying that, financially it has been a real roller coaster. When reviewing my first year I read your article again and saw that you also had a tough first year, but doubled your income every following year. It inspired me to keep going and look even harder at effective marketing and working on my skills. Here’s to a legendary 2011!

cheers,

Dan
- on December 2, 2010 at 4:34 am | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thanks Dan for that great testimonial! And congratulations to you on your hard work and your accomplishments so far!
on January 5, 2011 at 3:42 pm | Reply Thanks for a great year of blogging! « Thoughts On Translation

[...] About/Contact [...]
on January 23, 2011 at 4:19 pm | Reply mohammed shoukat hayat

kindly send the information and thoughts on translation through email all the events of the translation across the globe.
m.s.hayat
on January 23, 2011 at 4:21 pm | Reply mohammed shoukat hayat

it is a great experience of translation blogging, it has new dimesions and thought.
m.s.hayat
on March 16, 2011 at 4:05 pm | Reply Isabella Perry

Dear Corinne,

I too came across your link on Proz.com. I am bilingual English – French and have been since a child. I have used my language skills professionally in an office context throughout my working life. I also have tutored privately for many years at all levels.
I would love to use my language skills to do some freelance translating but where do I start? Are agencies a way to begin? I don’t have a degree is that going to be a problem?

Hoping for some insight.

I find your blog fascinating and would love to join the translators fraternity!
on April 27, 2011 at 7:58 pm | Reply Rachel Bryan

I’d like to subscribe – not sure how else to do it…!
on June 17, 2011 at 10:06 pm | Reply Paul W Dixon

Dear Corinne,

I have come across your blog in a Google search and found it very interesting. I am a translator as well, based in São Paulo, Brazil. I also have a blog which you are of course welcome to visit: http://www.paul-translator.blogspot.com.

I have heard about your book How to Succeed as a Free-Lance Translator and would consider buying it, but the problem is that I live in Brazil and have not seen your book anywhere around. Any suggestions? I am interested in marketing, as I have to depend mostly on agencies to get work and this means my pay is much less than it could be.

Once again, thanks for your blog.

Saudações do Brasil,

PAUL
on July 4, 2011 at 10:00 pm | Reply heididemello

Hi Corinne!

I´m a Portuguese to English translator. I´m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but I am currently living/working in Ubatuba, a beautiful little town on the coast of Brazil. I received the 2nd edition of your book in the mail today (thanks to mom´s care package). I bought it from Lulu online. It´s been a daunting task to start out in this industry, so cudos for you and the help you are providing for people like me.

Abraços,
Heidi Demello
on January 13, 2012 at 2:22 am | Reply Jim Box

You might find this info on interpreters of interest:

http://area13.undercoverpilgrim.com/?p=228

Jay Casey
on January 13, 2012 at 6:00 pm | Reply traduccionesyedra

Hello Corinne! I’m suscribed to your blog and I find it very interesting. That’s why I’ve nominated you to the Versatile Blogger Award.
This are the rules:
You have to thank me and mention my blog in yours (it’s in Spanish, but…) with a link.
Tell everybody 7 things about you.
Nominate 15 other new blogs that you’ve discovered recently or that you just simply enjoy reading.
Tell these bloggers you’ve nominated them so they do the same.

This is my blog post about the Versatile Blogger Award: http://traduccionesyedra.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/versatile-blogger-award/
on February 27, 2012 at 3:52 am | Reply Matthew

Hi Corinne

I’m Matthew from Ghana. I’m a freelance translator (French-English) as well. Peut on devenir des amis? J’aimerai correspondre de temps en temps avec toi si ça te convient.

Peut on aussi échanger nos contact? If you wouldn’t mind.
on May 11, 2012 at 11:24 pm | Reply Paul Kelly

Hello, my name is Paul Kelly, and I am the webmaster of A-Sign Interpreters, Inc. We are a sign language interpreting agency, and our website is http://asigninterpreters.com. I was wondering if your site would be willing to place a link to our site in exchange for us placing a link to your site?
on May 15, 2012 at 1:38 am | Reply Fabiana Julia

Hello Corinne,

So glad to have stumbled upon your blog, it is so insightful! I am a mere undergraduate with a dream and some language skills under my belt. My partner and I are hoping to start a business in a few years (he is learning spanish and has a BA in English), I am working on a BA in French, and speak Spanish since birth. I hope to continue with an MA in French as well.

We are so glad to have found your blog, it’s such a hope for us! Translating is our dream career as we both have a passion for language, literature and the world!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
- on May 15, 2012 at 6:27 pm | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thank you Fabiana! Glad you enjoyed the blog and best of luck with your translation work!
on May 28, 2012 at 1:30 pm | Reply vergleich kfz versicherungen

Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really understand what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also discuss with my web site =). We could have a hyperlink trade contract among us
on June 30, 2012 at 4:25 am | Reply traduwire

Hello Corinne,
Just wanted to say thank you for your book, “How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator”. I am a brand new translator here in Denver, Colorado, and I am finding it to be an invaluable resource for prioritizing my business plans. So thank you!!!

Rachel
- on July 9, 2012 at 9:42 am | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thank you Rachel! Glad to hear that you found the book helpful. You might also want to look at Colorado Translators Association if you haven’t yet, it’s a great organization!
on September 22, 2012 at 8:34 pm | Reply Ola

Hi,
I just happened to stumble upon this blog and I’m glad I did. For a philologist-to-be and an interpreter-hopefully-to-be it’s really useful

Ola
- on September 26, 2012 at 4:05 am | Reply Corinne McKay
  
  Thank you Ola! Glad you enjoyed the articles!
on November 5, 2012 at 1:32 pm | Reply Surviving versus thriving as a translator

[...] Corinne McKay over at Thoughts on Translation looks at some of the common features she’s identified in high-earning translators in an excellent post called Secrets of six-figure translators. [...]
on November 7, 2012 at 11:42 am | Reply Cigdem

Hi Corinne,
I found your homepage when I was searching for language bloggers. I’m working in a translation agency where we hire freelance translators as well. I would like to ask wether it’s possible to add our translation agency as useful link for freelancers?
on November 11, 2012 at 9:04 pm | Reply Hala

hi corinne,
how do you do?
I’m looking for a chance to work as a freelance translator from English to Arabic and vice versa. Can you help me with that?
on January 27, 2013 at 2:18 am | Reply Ulasan: How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator | LAMFARO

[...] sebagai rujukan bagi orang seperti saya adalah How To Succeed as a Freelance Translator karya Corinne McKay, penerjemah lepas terkemuka di Amerika untuk pasangan bahasa Prancis-Inggris dengan pengalaman [...]
on January 30, 2013 at 4:12 pm | Reply Hana

Hi Corinne,

I am glad I found your blog and will read your posts whenever there is the chance. So far, it has been great to read a translator’s success story (if I dare to say that) and her rich thoughts and info on translation. Great!