Publishing question

VeryBigBeard · Jul 19, 2017

Yes, but if you're querying US and UK agents/pubs, what gets bought and sold in the US and UK is relevant.

As you've said, you can't get picked up by one of the Asia-based publishers. I have very little idea how they work, but I'd guess you'd have more success querying there given the larger market, even if it is an uphill battle. Every so often, writers with an interest in light novels ask for help here and about the best advice I've seen is to try querying in Japan. It isn't particularly easy to query anywhere, so best to go where you have the largest potential readership.

To get picked up anywhere by any publisher you will need a high quality book. That means not just a couple hundred people online saying they'd like to buy it. That kind of engagement doesn't translate to sales, which is why, at least for physical copies, brick-and-mortar distribution matters. And distributors care about what the local customers are reading. Ergo, less market for light novels in the US = less chance of your light novel getting picked up in the US.

Personally, I'd kind of side with spottedgeckgo--I've seen some people develop a decent following for online zines with both art and story components. There seem to be a zillion different types. Success can be a bit random and takes time. Usually you'd set up a Kickstarter or Patreon. Start small, with a basic issue--basic art, basic story. Calculate your cost to make, print, and pay the contributors and then try to raise that money.

Finally, the reason people are warning you about the contracts is that a lot of ad hoc contracts for these sorts of creative endeavours don't hold up in court. Which is why you need contracts reviewed by an actual lawyer (not found here, or anywhere else online). The contract isn't for when things are going well, it's for when things are going badly. When one of your co-authors decides to pull out of the project, the contract figures out who owns what. You want a contract that's airtight, not something both parties agreed to in an email.

A lot of your responses here, frankly, seem like you're either looking for a reason to be told this is impossible or looking to be told everything is against you. Which is the same refrain a lot of frustrated authors ring out: I can't get a book deal because I'm not Stephen King. Well, no. You're not Stephen King. And selling a book isn't easy. But it does happen, the business works in particular ways, and you can learn how to navigate it if you really want to do this. Or you can abandon the whole idea. Up to you, really, at this point.

Old Hack · Jul 19, 2017

Dmitriy said:
In fact, it's a light novels (I mean each book devided in three books, 35-40k words each - standard for light novels).

That makes a big difference. And your genre is not YA, then, it's "light novels". The problem is that there is no market for light novels in the UK, US, Europe: all the main territories that US and UK agents cover. So you are very unlikely to find an agent or publisher here willing to take you on.

YA here is it's not genre, but type of audience, for which storys suitable the best. 12+ years.

YA is a very clear genre here, though, and we reasonably assumed that's what you were talking about.

Each book contained one lesbian sex scene among girls (not described but implied), most of my girls are bisexual/lesbian, and text contents a lot of depicted violense (no sexual violence) + sometimes swearing (it appears number times during rough translation, because some words in Russian sounds more calmly than in English).
NB - lgbtq topics for youth are prohibited by federal law in Russia and can't be printed only under 18+ mark.

That law is ridiculous.

It's not truth for Russian-English translations. There are no good translators at all on this field. I know what I talking about, I tested a lot of translators (100+ peoples) and all of them allowed the critical errors.

There are excellent Russian to English translators available. I know what I'm talking about because I've worked with several of them.

I think it's shouldn't be author and illustrators problem. Our aim - write interesting and polished texts and draw the pretty pictures. Problems of marketing, publishing - not our problems at all, truly.

You offering to drop the main selling point - illustrators sell the books, not author. People will purchase it because they familiar and love the artists, not author.

It is your problem because you're now looking for an agent or publisher, but you don't understand that presenting the illustrations and text together at this stage is not how publishing here works.

There are thousands of light novel titles in China, Japan and Korea etc.

There are. But there are very few in the UK and US.

Dmitriy said:
All pictures already created under contracts between me and artist(s), so I'm an owner of pictures. And yes, for each books with one exception, works 4-5 different artists, most of all wasn't speak English at all.
If I can contact with artists and sucessfully work with them, I wasn't see the reasons why publishers can't do it. It's lesser of all problems - write a few letters on e-mail addresses and confirm contracts.

If the contracts which exist between you and the artists were drawn up by a lawyer experienced in the field then you have a chance of using those illustrations in your book(s). If you paid them to produce the illustrations without contracts, or with poor contracts, then you are not going to find a publisher willing to use them because of copyright issues.

Publishers will not use illustrations they don't clearly have the rights to use. They are not allowed to by law, and they won't invest money in something which could cause legal problems later. It's not a question of just writing a few letters to confirm contracts, it's far more complex than that.

Dmitriy said:
Both of you misherd and misunderstood me.

1) Concerning rights to the pictures.
a) Artists are not simply artists, but marked as co-authors, and have the same rights on the text as I (and became project endorcers in lands of their origin). Many of them have full permission to raw-scans of other project artists. And of course, their received advances for text (written by me) and for pictures.
b) By standard contract I have all rights to use pictures in books and for promotion. By agreement with artists I can use it even in videogames, animation, goods, etc (paying additional costs to artists). Artists can use pictures in it's portfolio with link on me only.
So, agent/publisher can discuss all questions of project publication with any of artists without even noticing me at all.
It's uneasy for understanding scheme, I know, but according to our mutual contracts, I can't publish my own texts without pictures, because texts belongs to artists as same as me by contracts regulations. Taking only text, publisher anyway will pay to all artists who take participation in creating of book, even if they wasn't written a word in text. Equally, I will receive money from each sold book if pictures will be printed separately (as some kind of artbook, for example) - and no matter what I wasn't draw a line in it.

2) Concerning light novels. It's only a question of terminology. Publisher can call it light novel, YA, MG, adult book, artbook, etc - as he wish from it's own marketing point of view.

I hope now it's clear?

No, Dmitriy, it's you who are misunderstanding things here.

Naming the artists as co-authors is going to make this harder to get published, not easier.

Agents and publishers are not going to want to have to deal with multiple people as authors in the way you describe: it causes problems you can't begin to work out.

I have worked on many highly illustrated books, some of them with multiple authors, most of them with multiple artists and illustrators, and even with the correct contracts in place it gets very complicated.

As there's no market for light novels in the UK and US you would have to have a brilliant project which would be relatively easy to publish and market in order to get publishing professionals interested here: but the scenario you're describing has so many opportunities for problems and conflicts of interest that I wouldn't even consider it no matter how large the potential market for it was.

Dmitriy said:
No, you are completely not right here. All things you try to tell me irrelevant, really and even sounds like some form of pretext, sorry. Only significant thing which can forcing to close some type of markets - it's law prohibition.
In Russia (and many Muslim lands as example) exists laws which restrict lgbtq-tipics so no one will risks to publish it.

Dmitriy, you're the one who is completely wrong here. And please stop dismissing all the good advice you're getting: I know you're not hearing what you want to hear, but that doesn't mean we're wrong.

Publishing in the UK and US, at least, depends on genres. Publishers and agents tend to specialise in specific genres; bookshops and other retailers depend on those genres to display and sell books. If your book doesn't fit into any of the current genres which are popular here, you are very unlikely to find a publisher or agent able or willing to take you on. The fact that it contains LGBTQ content is not much of an issue here, but the fact that it is a light novel is very significant as there's no market for them here.

Dmitriy said:
Cyia, you made same error, of which I heard from number of people.
The name of this error simple "separation of one global market to pieces". The same mistake made many russian and I heard of it countless number of times; but I wan't to argue with it, sorry - because or initially people inderstanding what I trying to talking about or not, it's useless to argue, I'm really sorry.
Also, from your comment I see clearly - you never sign any contracts with artists (I signed with 15 artists from different lands and will be more following year), and you simply don't understand how author-artists contracts works.

I understand how author-artist contracts work.

I also understand that publishers are very reluctant to take on works which depend on those contracts.

As far as the market here goes, Cyia was right and you are wrong on this front, Dmitriy.

Note: the only reason why I currently choose UK and US markets (and western/eastern Europe too), it's communication question - just because my English in current state are better than Japanese or Korean and because foreigner can't be published in Asia if he wasn't already have big sucess in America or Europe (note - Russian book market it's not a market, it's a sadomasochistic joke and wasn't exist on global scene).

Your English is good: but light novels do not sell in the UK or US. They are not popular, there are no agents or publishers which work with them, there are no bookshops which sell them here.

You are wasting your time trying to sell them here.

Dmitriy · Jul 19, 2017

VeryBigBeard said:
As you've said, you can't get picked up by one of the Asia-based publishers. I have very little idea how they work, but I'd guess you'd have more success querying there given the larger market, even if it is an uphill battle. Every so often, writers with an interest in light novels ask for help here and about the best advice I've seen is to try querying in Japan. It isn't particularly easy to query anywhere, so best to go where you have the largest potential readership.

I know very well how works publishing in each Asian region.
There are no agents who works with authors directly, only with copyrights to sell out and purchase in for established authors with big names.
In Japan publishers finds authors through regular contests only. Or who became popular as web-novel authors.
But, as example, author of Dragon Raja (most successful fantasy series in Korea from 1997) wasn't translated in English, even it this title are popular than SAO now.
Simpliest and the only possible way for foreigner to be published in Asia - local artist takes the project and goes to the publisher, but all my artists are female and in Asia business mans will be speaking with male only. Woman are always secondary in Asia, and no one can do anything with it - it's national(s) hystorical system. Also, representation of the project it's not work for artist and they for different reasons declines to contact with local publishers. draw for me, work with me, promote the story - no problem, but not contact with publishers.

VeryBigBeard said:
To get picked up anywhere by any publisher you will need a high quality book. That means not just a couple hundred people online saying they'd like to buy it. That kind of engagement doesn't translate to sales, which is why, at least for physical copies, brick-and-mortar distribution matters. And distributors care about what the local customers are reading. Ergo, less market for light novels in the US = less chance of your light novel getting picked up in the US.

Currently, I'm number two popularity as art-project in Japan from all russian citizens. Not so bad, right?
Project one is the russian artist who wins japanese grant and they are put great money in him and promotion. I wasn't spent a cent on my promo - and each "dog" knows of me. Feel the difference.
If I begin spent money on my promotion in Asia, I'll reach 100k subscribers in few weeks, but it wasn't give me a possibility to became published.
Also, in calculation, number of people, following my artists around the world more than 500k+. It's a lot of people.

VeryBigBeard said:
Personally, I'd kind of side with spottedgeckgo--I've seen some people develop a decent following for online zines with both art and story components. There seem to be a zillion different types. Success can be a bit random and takes time. Usually you'd set up a Kickstarter or Patreon. Start small, with a basic issue--basic art, basic story. Calculate your cost to make, print, and pay the contributors and then try to raise that money.

Again, Kickstarter isn't possible for russian residents - you should have the man with banking account in USA.
You all always forget what you are speaking with guy from location, banned even by Barnes and Noble and where Book Depository wasn't sent books for free.

For same reasons I'm can't use japanese Campfire (and it's horrible, because campaign in Japan can bring us money to release something).
Yes, I can try Indiegogo, and I thinking of it from time to time, but all crowdfinding platforms are wrong place for books. Speaking of Indiegogo directly, also always exists risk not collect money and became in debt to large amount of people. When it's only my one risk - it's one thing, but when it became risk for artists...

VeryBigBeard said:
Finally, the reason people are warning you about the contracts is that a lot of ad hoc contracts for these sorts of creative endeavours don't hold up in court. Which is why you need contracts reviewed by an actual lawyer (not found here, or anywhere else online). The contract isn't for when things are going well, it's for when things are going badly. When one of your co-authors decides to pull out of the project, the contract figures out who owns what. You want a contract that's airtight, not something both parties agreed to in an email.

I use the contract template which was written in Japan by japanese lawer, working on picture and books rights; and we slightly change it for specific regional restrictions (especially it was made for China and it's local censorship).

VeryBigBeard said:
A lot of your responses here, frankly, seem like you're either looking for a reason to be told this is impossible or looking to be told everything is against you. Which is the same refrain a lot of frustrated authors ring out: I can't get a book deal because I'm not Stephen King. Well, no. You're not Stephen King. And selling a book isn't easy. But it does happen, the business works in particular ways, and you can learn how to navigate it if you really want to do this. Or you can abandon the whole idea. Up to you, really, at this point.

...I don't think what anyone of my artists will be satisfied hearding of "abandon". Imagine the situation when you work with someone more than 2 years, and finally received from him "ok, I do my best but can't win the race, so project are closed and you can't show 150 pictures you made for me to anyone".
As example, russian publishers blacklisted me not for quality, but for my sharp tongue and cynical comments directed to publishing houses editors and directors. All other local authors ready to do anything for printing and advances ~300 USD but not I, so I'm like an outcast among them - someone, who not afraid to speak the real things of russian publishing in full voice.

Sage · Jul 19, 2017

Just to be clear, YA is not a genre here. It is a marketing category. However, to simply say that any book that was written with teenagers in mind will sell in the YA market, is not a true statement.

As much as you can, i would take a look at what YA books US publishers are putting out. This will tell you whether your books are likely to have a place in the YA publishing market here.

Dmitriy · Jul 20, 2017

Old Hack said:
That law is ridiculous.

I'm agree, but it's Russian reality. It's prohibited and equal to terrorism here, with real prison sentences. No one will work with such topics here. Iron curtain returns in new form.

Old Hack said:
There are excellent Russian to English translators available. I know what I'm talking about because I've worked with several of them.

I can proof what you wrong by one simple test.
I repeat: on freelance market wasn't exist qualified Russian to English translators who can provide correct fiction translations - and I know what I talking of.

Old Hack said:
It is your problem because you're now looking for an agent or publisher, but you don't understand that presenting the illustrations and text together at this stage is not how publishing here works.

In normal world I should find local Russian agent, who works with authors from Russia, but in reality we hasn't here literary agences and I, speaking literally, was forced to search outside.

Old Hack said:
If the contracts which exist between you and the artists were drawn up by a lawyer experienced in the field then you have a chance of using those illustrations in your book(s). If you paid them to produce the illustrations without contracts, or with poor contracts, then you are not going to find a publisher willing to use them because of copyright issues.
Publishers will not use illustrations they don't clearly have the rights to use. They are not allowed to by law, and they won't invest money in something which could cause legal problems later. It's not a question of just writing a few letters to confirm contracts, it's far more complex than that.

I write of it above. Contracts are fine.

Old Hack said:
Your English is good: but light novels do not sell in the UK or US.

When japanese want to tell you about horrible language, they tell something like "your Japaneseis fine!" (i.e. ~あなたは話が上手いです!). (上手 - skilled).

Old Hack said:
You are wasting your time trying to sell them here.

OK.

...To tell the truth, I don't see reason for arguing. I clearly see one position - you can't do it because you can't do it. With same attitude I simply can't survive here, in Russia. Just a different mentality.

Old Hack · Jul 20, 2017

Dmitriy said:
I use the contract template which was written in Japan by japanese lawer, working on picture and books rights; and we slightly change it for specific regional restrictions (especially it was made for China and it's local censorship).

Assuming the "slight change" you made was done correctly that contract might work in Japan or China, but it won't necessarily be valid anywhere else. And if it were drawn up to work for an author and publisher, it won't work, legally, for you, as you are contracting illustrators as an author, not as a publisher.

Note too that unless you have permission from the Japanese lawyer to use their contract you are infringing on their copyright.

...I don't think what anyone of my artists will be satisfied hearding of "abandon". Imagine the situation when you work with someone more than 2 years, and finally received from him "ok, I do my best but can't win the race, so project are closed and you can't show 150 pictures you made for me to anyone".

You're right, they probably won't be happy to hear this. But if you'd been clear with them at the outset that you had limited understanding of international markets and no publishing contract to guarantee publication, they wouldn't be surprised, at least.

As example, russian publishers blacklisted me not for quality, but for my sharp tongue and cynical comments directed to publishing houses editors and directors. All other local authors ready to do anything for printing and advances ~300 USD but not I, so I'm like an outcast among them - someone, who not afraid to speak the real things of russian publishing in full voice.

I have heard many writers here say similar things: they're blacklisted because they spoke out against unfair practices in publishing, or that publishers aren't willing to take on new and exciting voices, and so on. When I've seen their work it's become clear that they haven't been published because their work isn't good enough.

I understand the political climate is very different in Russia, and that publishers probably have to be very careful about who and what they publish. They can't afford to do anything which would put their businesses in jeopardy. But bearing in mind the market there is so small, and so difficult to access, I do wonder if you might have spoiled what little chances you had by speaking out against them.

Old Hack · Jul 20, 2017

Dmitriy said:
I'm agree, but it's Russian reality. It's prohibited and equal to terrorism here, with real prison sentences. No one will work with such topics here. Iron curtain returns in new form.

It's disgraceful, and shameful, and I am so sorry anyone has to work under such laws.

I can proof what you wrong by one simple test.
I repeat: on freelance market wasn't exist qualified Russian to English translators who can provide correct fiction translations - and I know what I talking of.

I am not wrong. I have worked with good translators. I too know what I am talking about here.

I write of it above. Contracts are fine.

Bearing in mind your earlier explanation of how you've set everything up, I can assure you that the contracts are not fine, and that publishers will be put off by them.

When japanese want to tell you about horrible language, they tell something like "your Japaneseis fine!" (i.e. ~あなたは話が上手いです!). (上手 - skilled).

Ha! No, I wasn't being tactful. We can understand you. Your English works well. It's not elegant, but it's mostly clear.

...To tell the truth, I don't see reason for arguing. I clearly see one position - you can't do it because you can't do it. With same attitude I simply can't survive here, in Russia. Just a different mentality.

I am not trying to argue with you. I'm just telling you how publishing works in the UK and the US.

I wish you well, and hope you find a way to move ahead with your project.

Dmitriy · Jul 20, 2017

Old Hack said:
I have heard many writers here say similar things: they're blacklisted because they spoke out against unfair practices in publishing, or that publishers aren't willing to take on new and exciting voices, and so on. When I've seen their work it's become clear that they haven't been published because their work isn't good enough.

He-he, but no.
As example, I was winner one of the publishing contests. Prize takes my unpolished first draft. And when I asked how it can be possible, begins problems. ...After it I begin my writing education in UK editorial agency and it was very useful - but it's different story.
Another time I find out what editing director of one of the biggest children publishing houses in Moscow simply lied to authors, taking participation in contest, said of it, and received permanent blacklist.
And etc...

Old Hack said:
I understand the political climate is very different in Russia, and that publishers probably have to be very careful about who and what they publish. They can't afford to do anything which would put their businesses in jeopardy. But bearing in mind the market there is so small, and so difficult to access, I do wonder if you might have spoiled what little chances you had by speaking out against them.

...From April 2017 I forbid to publish anything of my works in Russia. Saying literally again, I see in Hell all these russian publishers with their restrictions and mocking "advances" and now can tell anything I want of "russian publishing". Even if they came to me personally in future, I reject any offers - it's my principal position for Russia. in this situation suffer only local readers, but I'm sorry, guys - it's friendly fire in war times.

Dmitriy · Jul 20, 2017

Old Hack said:
I am not wrong. I have worked with good translators. I too know what I am talking about here.

I repeat - one little test and they can't deal with it.

veinglory · Jul 20, 2017

That means you didn't find a good translator, not that they don't exist. Maybe your compensation rate was an issue?

Sage · Jul 20, 2017

Dmitriy, you came in to the YA forum ask about the US market for light novels, and you have received answers from editors and YA authors about the market, but you refuse to believe the answers. If you already felt you had the answers, why ask? What was your purpose for this thread?

Your insistence that there are no good Russian-to-English translators is a lose-lose argument that wastes an opportunity in this very thread. You lose because it takes a single good translator to disprove you, and you lose again because you have a resource right in front of you to find a good translator, and you're choosing to argue with her about it rather than ask for referrals. While I agree that your English in this thread is legible enough, I do think that if it demonstrates what your books look like translated on your own, there are enough errors that a US agent/editor will probably pass for a manuscript that means less work for them, even if this were a pro-light novel market.

Cyia · Jul 20, 2017

One more try, with a metaphor.

Dmitriy, when you go to another country, you often need to take along a power adapter so that your devices can be charged in foreign outlets. The situation you're in, with multi-national illustrators, and with a type of book that doesn't sell well in the US/UK, and with foreign contracts, is the same thing. You're trying to plug an Asian connector into an American outlet, and it's not going to work. You don't have the adapter because you won't listen to the people telling you what it would take to adapt.

Your personal experiences are not the absolute truth of things. Maybe *you* haven't found a translator in your price range that's up to your standards, but they do exist. Russian books have been a part of the American library system for centuries.

You may want your book to be published exactly as you have it done, but that's not how the system works. Once a publisher takes on a book, they get to tinker with it.

You may have put out the expense of hiring your own illustrators, but that doesn't make a publisher beholden to use them.

You may have found a usable template for a contract, but that doesn't make it legally binding in foreign court system.

No one's arguing with you. We're trying to show you that your current approach is incompatible with the system you want to be a part of.

Dmitriy · Jul 20, 2017

Sage

To agent/publisher text will be provided only in Russian, where texts are polished.
My English translation are very rough - I translate text and sending to artist to work even don't read the translation. It's like a first draft with correct storyline and show it to agent will be a great mistake.
Polishing of the texts in English it's not my work. My work - write good text in my own native language.

Ciya

It's fun to hear of "Russian books have been a part of the American library system for centuries.". For last 25 years only one fiction author was oficially printed and have sucess in US - it's author of Metro 2033. But you know what? His friend is a bank owner and put a lot of money in promotion. And quality of this book(s) still remainds of first time kindle draft dubbler work.
100% of contemporary Russian fiction books are written as unpolished first drafts and they are printed as it. In Russia wasn't exist editors and correctors at all as they understood in UK and US. I'm was the only one Russian author who work with US and UK editors.
Russian simply can't write books now. They can write horrible by quality unreadable fanfics only.
The one and only author which I can read it's Vladislav Krapivin (MG/YA author, born in 1937, if I'm correct).

To all: if we don't have authors here, where we can take translators?
This spring I planned to start japanese translation, but when I show test examples to my native japanese teacher (she can read both Japanese and Russian and familiar with my works), she commented it "grammatical structure is correct, but I don't understand what in translation talking of - it's just a collection of words without a meaning". The same works for Russian to English translations.

Old Hack · Jul 20, 2017

Dmitriy said:
I repeat - one little test and they can't deal with it.

Then either your test is flawed or you're using poor translators.

Dmitriy said:
Sage

To agent/publisher text will be provided only in Russian, where texts are polished.
My English translation are very rough - I translate text and sending to artist to work even don't read the translation. It's like a first draft with correct storyline and show it to agent will be a great mistake.
Polishing of the texts in English it's not my work. My work - write good text in my own native language.

If you want to find an agent in the UK or US you're going to need a polished translation to show them.

Ciya

Click to expand...

It's fun to hear of "Russian books have been a part of the American library system for centuries.". For last 25 years only one fiction author was oficially printed and have sucess in US - it's author om Metro 2033. But you know what? His friend is a bank owner and put a lot of money in promotion. And quality of this book(s) still remainds of first time kindle draft dubbler work.

I don't know what you mean by "officially printed": but you're wrong if you think only one Russian to English translation has been published in the last 25 years. Here are a few (and yes, the list does contain older books but many were published in the last decade). And here's another article about Russian translations. Several of my friends have been translated from English to Russian, too. I'm beginning to think you're making things up.

100% of contemporary Russian fiction books are written as unpolished first drafts and they are printed as it. In Russia wasn't exist editors and correctors at all as they understood in UK and US. I'm was the only one Russian author who work with US and UK editors.
Russian simply can't write books now. They can write horrible by quality unreadable fanfics only.
The one and only author which I can read it's Vladislav Krapivin (MG/YA author, born in 1937, if I'm correct).

Blimey. Talk about dismissive and disrespectful and, you know, UNTRUE.

Of course Russians can write good books. Of course there are good editors in Russia. And no way are you the only Russian author to work with editors in the UK and US.

To all

Click to expand...

: if we don't have authors here, where we can take translators?
This spring I planned to start japanese translation, but when I show test examples to my native japanese teacher (she can read both Japanese and Russian and familiar with my works), she commented it "grammatical structure is correct, but I don't understand what in translation talking of - it's just a collection of words without a meaning". The same works for Russian to English translations.

Perhaps for the translators you've worked with. The translators I've worked with all translate into their mother tongue, and are very good at what they do.

Dimitriy, I really think you should step back now and consider your position. You've asked for our advice but have argued with us when we've given it; now you're making things up which are so easily disproved that it's a bit embarrassing. This does not help your position and frankly, we expect more from our members than wild, unsubstantiated claims.

Dmitriy · Jul 20, 2017

Old-Hack
Russians simply can't write books nowadays.
You are know nothing of Russian books market and trying to argue with me on my local market which I know much better than you. Don't spoke of the field which you knows nothing, please.
The lists you provide as examples, filled with books from 19 century and early 20 and it's not contemporary or fantastic fiction (Ilia Ilf, Voinovich... if was nearly 100 years ago

). ...or it's self-published kindle books with kindle unedited unreadable quality (Bobl, Rus, etc...). The quality of writing of "Night watch" author texts are main topic here last bunch of years.

And no, I don't need polished English translation. I shoud represent polished text in my own language and nothing more.

And you knows what? If I take books of your friends and provide a brief comparison of English and Russian translation it will be easier and clearly what it's a retelling with similarities, not a translation - I did some things on regular basis for authors which I read and like.
Also, the quality of horrible translations to Russian it's another permanent topic on local fiction fans forums - it's not only my point of view.

Especially, personally I heavely dislike when someone spoke of "good translators" without names and contacts. "One grandma said" (одна бабка сказала) as we called it here... Three times I'm offered to test them and prove what they are unqualified. Sorry, but nuff said.

Old Hack · Jul 20, 2017

I think we're done here.

Locking this for the room mods to review.

Sage · Jul 20, 2017

I'm fine with it staying closed. Dmitriy, you can appeal to me via PM, if you wish. At this point, i don't know what your purpose is in starting this thread, though, so be prepared to explain it to me.

AW Admin · Jul 20, 2017

Sage said:
I'm fine with it staying closed. Dmitriy, you can appeal to me via PM, if you wish. At this point, i don't know what your purpose is in starting this thread, though, so be prepared to explain it to me.

No Dmitry can't appeal anything. Dmitry has left the building, and he isn't welcome back.

Dmitry Полный дерьма

It's not any more acceptable to insult Russian writers (who are very good; I happen to like Russian SF) than it is to insult American ones.

Publishing question

VeryBigBeard

Preparing for winter

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Dmitriy

Sage

Supreme Guessinator

Dmitriy

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Dmitriy

Dmitriy

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Sage

Supreme Guessinator

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Dmitriy

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Dmitriy

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Sage

Supreme Guessinator

AW Admin