Category: Writing

Chinese Translations

Demand for Chinese translation is growing at a fast pace because of the ever-growing business potential of China as a country. Chinese translation is also necessitated by the fact that China has a huge human resource, which is not familiarized with English language.

Multinational global companies are flocking to China with the advent of free economy. Many Chinese people want to reap the benefit of availing jobs in such companies by learning the global language. Companies on their part, encourage Chinese translation. This may help people who run their business to effectively communicate in Chinese. It may be possible to gather better understanding of native work culture and expectations. This has led to the emergence of a number of private and public organizations that undertake and promote Chinese translations.

They include web translations from Chinese to English and vice versa. They provide material to people who undertake Chinese translation. Messages, tattoos, names, poetry, and novels are also translated. Linguists help in translating business documents in an authentic and systematic manner. Chinese translations are also done for engineering project-related texts, manuals for network installation, and patenting pharmaceutical industry documents.

Some companies supply bilingual brochures and translation material from English to Chinese and vice versa. It could enable people to learn the nuances of Chinese translation from the comfort of homes. This material can be in the form of books, dictionaries, audio and video CDs, and test papers.

Translations are conducted by a group of people who have the necessary expertise not only in the language but also in translation. Experienced translators and interpreters may be available who have been in the field for years and provide translation assistance of all sorts to their clients. Translators may be able to provide accurate project details and enable customers to undertake vital business decisions.

Catholic Book Publishing

The Catholic faith has made its presence felt not only in the religious aspect of the lives of it members, but also in education and a variety of social concerns. Given this, there is a need for the Catholic Church to reach out and clarify the views the Church has on different issues. These views can be expressed through books and other reading materials that Catholics have access to in Church or in the bookstore. To be able to express these views, certain groups in the Church and several congregations have chosen to establish publishing companies that cater to the publication of books and materials for Catholics.

What they publish

The most common materials that these publishers print are hymnals, missals and other materials for the celebration of the Eucharist. These publishers also print copies of the songs sung during Mass so that Catholics can learn the songs and sing along. Apart from these, Catholic publishing companies print reading materials such as books written by the Pope, other priests and even lay people. The only consideration for the printing of these materials is that they should cater to the spiritual needs of Catholics around the world. Some of these books cover subjects such as the Holy Sacraments, marriage, the priesthood, family and the modern Church. There are also books on the biographies of different saints and several notable Catholics.

For these publishing companies, profit is not the main objective. Instead, their goal is to be able to spread God’s message to the world. This is why most books published by Catholic publishing companies are relatively more affordable than other books you will find in bookstores.

Catholic publishing companies provide information to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. By printing Catholic-based reading materials, these companies not only help sustain the religious life of Catholics but also inform non-Catholics about the faith.

Publishing Your Own Book

For new authors, getting published by an established publishing company is one of the most difficult things to do. Most new authors find themselves facing rejection after rejection due to the apprehension of publishing companies to print a book written by an ‘unknown.’ This has led to situations wherein new authors are forced to use ‘tested’ or ‘sellable’ formulas in writing so that they can get the attention of the publishers. In response to this, smaller publishing companies offer authors the option of publishing their own books. Self-publishing gives the author full control of the entire creative and selling process of the book.

How it works

Authors who choose to self-publish pay for the full cost of the work, and they are also responsible for selling, marketing and distributing the book. Although this may seem very tedious, such a set-up gives the author exclusive rights to all proceeds of the book, rather than having to share the proceeds with a publishing company. Self-published authors can also test the market for their books by having only a small quantity of books published and sold. If the author sees that the book sells well, he can choose to have more books published. The companies that offer self-publishing services can usually print around 2,000 to 5,000 books for an author, just enough to test the market and enough to cut back on losses, if any.

The process

After they are done with their manuscripts, authors who self-publish usually work on various matters involving their book, such as its cover, the paper to be used and even the copyright.

The first decision the author must make involves the binding style for the book. After this, he must choose the paper and ink that will be used for it. In this step, it is important that the pages have been proofread already. After this, the next thing he needs to think about is the cover design.

A few of the most important things that the author should procure for his work are the copyright, the barcode and the ISBN number. After working on the necessary requirements, the author can then submit his order to the publishing company. The publishing company will prepare a proof of the book and will ask the author to proofread it when it is done. Once the author approves it, the publishing company can then print the actual book and send the author copies.

Content Providers

Like any other field, writing requires expertise and talent. Only talented people with a creative bent of mind can do justice to this service. Content providers are those people who provide writing services to people. These people have a combination of talent and expertise which addresses the writing needs of businesses and individuals.

Before you hire a content provider for your publishing needs, it is imperative for you to find out the experience of the content provider in the respective field. Knowing the kind of assignments they have handled in the past will enable you to pick the best talent from the given sources.

Meeting the deadline is one very important criterion for the content providers. If a writer provides the content after the desired time frame then the purpose of hiring him is defeated. The next step after you receive the content is to check or edit the content for any probable errors or plagiarism. The editor has to verify the sources for authenticity, check the text for any grammatical errors, and arrange the copy in a presentable form.

Outsourcing web content from content providers in countries like India or Sri Lanka is a new trend practiced by employers these days. Content providers from these countries provide cost-effective content in the desired time frame. You can choose to get your work done from a content writing company as compared to hiring individuals.

Making a list of the available content providing companies is a practical way to compare their expertise, writing styles and rates per word. Ask questions that you feel are important. After identifying the specific company, set up an interview and discuss the finer details of the work. Discuss privacy issues, negotiate the price, and ask for samples related to your field. This whole procedure will get you the kind of content provider you desire.

Calligraphy

Calligraphy is a unique form of art in Asian Cultures. It is among the four basic skills nee of the Chinese Literati.

It is regarded as an abstract and sublime form of art in the Chinese culture and is said to be very revealing of one’s personality. Its importance goes a long way to choosing executives in the Imperial Court. Different from other visual art techniques, all calligraphy strokes are the same and unbroken, thus demanding careful planning and confident execution—very similar to the skills needed for an executive. Even though calligraphy is confined to the structure of words or characters, there can be many creative ways for self-expression.

The key in good calligraphy is to control the concentration of ink, the porosity and thickness of paper, and flexibility of the brush. There are an infinite variety of styles and forms that an artist may create. This is in contrast to western calligraphy, where diffusing ink blots and dry brushstrokes are signs of impromptu expression rather than a fault.

The font-like uniformity of western calligraphy and homogeneity of characters is only a craft. The artist may seek mental exercises through calligraphy that coordinate the mind and the body to select the style in his expression and content of the words he is writing. The exercise is very disciplined yet very relaxing for a person who is concerned with his physical and spiritual well being. One of the qualities of a calligraphy artist is his longevity. Many of the famous calligraphy artists led a long and fruitful life.

Other popular East Asian Calligraphy includes Japanese and Korean. Koreans and Japanese consider calligraphy as a national treasure and a heritage worth preserving. In Japan, kids compete over the best calligraphy when school begins.

Famous Painters Picasso and Matisse, influenced by Orientalism, are two artists who openly declare the influence by Chinese calligraphy on their works.

Book Publishing Tips

Publishing with vanity press has its perks and downsides. You must thoroughly research and compare, the existing publishers before you start presenting or proposing the publication of your book.

Make sure that you are financially capable for the preliminary release of the book. It is advisable that the book is launched in peak seasons like Christmas. In this way, the book will be noticed and may become part of someone’s gift list.

Consider the genre of the book x96 it may be timely for an event or a celebration. For instance, an autobiography of a local hero can be published on Independence Day. Or, a book about love can be released on Valentine’s Day.

Take note that these publishers do not have a staff that will take care of your book’s promotion, tours or its distribution to bookstores. If you have plans to be the next bestseller, you should take care of these concerns. Among other things, you are going to be the one accounting for royalties, licensing fees and other payments. There maybe a few companies that cover these areas, but just to be safe, you have to be on the look out.

A very important matter is the editing. There is no editor-writer relationship. You will be your own editor. You are going to be the one reconfirming relative facts or correcting grammatical errors. You also have to be careful about any statements in the book. Be sure statements do not offend anyone. A tell-all book has the potential for a lawsuit waiting to be filed.

Most of these publishers do not have a reasonable distribution scheme. Even if your book has reached the bookstore, there is a possibility that it will be placed in an obscure section of the bookstore.

Bear in mind that readers will always question your credibility as a writer, because you have participated in the publication. Beating this kind of perception is very difficult. If you are really determined to be published, establish an assurance for the quality of your book.

Book Publishing Software

The publishing industry is a very robust industry. Publishers scramble to get the best books published to sell as many copies as they can to readers. Given this, most publishers realize the advantage of using the best and most up-to-date technologies in publishing that can help them become more competitive.

One of the most important steps in updating or modernizing the operations of a publishing company is picking the best software. Choosing the right software is a crucial step since it can make the operations more efficient and cost-effective. Choosing the wrong software will cause more inefficiencies and losses. Below are a few tips that can help publishers pick the best software for their companies.

Things to consider

You should first consider picking the right software to meet the needs of your company. This step will involve assessing the capacity and the feasibility of using certain software in your company.

Another thing that you should consider is the motivation of your company in using new software. In being able to articulate the objectives of your company in getting the new software, you can then be guided in your choice. You should also consider your budget and your timetable in picking software; delays and added costs defeat the purpose of updating your operations.

Once you have decided on a particular software program, you must then have strategies for its successful use, plus implementation the upgrade. This will involve, one, communicating to your people the need for a plan in utilizing the software and, two, involving everyone on the team in planning.

Lastly, it is also a good idea that you have information on how to contact the maker of the software in case you experience technical difficulties.

Picking the right software for your publishing needs is a crucial step in upgrading your operations. The best software helps you meet your company goals and conduct effective business.

Book Publishing FAQs

Vanity book publishing is also referred to as subsidy publishing or vanity press. This type of publishing involves the author in the process of the publication, mainly to finance a part or the entire cost. This covers the printing, promotion and distribution of the book.

How does it differ from conventional publishing?

Traditional publishers accept manuscripts, and then appraise the contents and marketability. If it has commercial potential, the company will pay for the publication of the book. Meanwhile, vanity publishing obliges the writer to subsidize the book release with little consideration of the manuscript.

What are its benefits?

Vanity book publishing gives the writer a certain independence that traditional publisher does not provide. There is no editor, and the manuscript is printed as it is written. Hence, the concept of the book will be kept in tacked. It allows the author total control of the business side of the publication.

How will I get my book published?

It is very easy to be published as long as you are ready to shoulder any possible expenses that come along with the publication. However, this will always depend on the contract that binds you with the publisher. With regards to technicalities of the book, there are fewer discussions. The main concerned of your publisher is x85 Can you afford it?

What are the chances for the commercial success of the book?

An author should never have high expectations to instantly hit the market and become a bestseller, especially if there have been previous manuscript rejections. Although publicity and promotion can help the book sell, it should be noted that these publishers rarely have an advertising department to address these issues.

Book Publishing Companies

Book publishing has accelerated as an industry in the last few decades with the steady growth of computer technology and new publishing techniques like digital information systems and the Internet. According to figures released by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), net sales for the entire United States publishing industry are estimated to have increased by 1.3 percent from 2003 to 2004 to a grand total of $23.72 billion. This clearly indicates the publishers or the book publishing companies are reaping the benefits of the trade.

Most of the publishers or the book publishing companies usually control the advertising and marketing tasks and sub-contract the editorial and production process to small businesses, as book publishers rarely own printing presses and binderies. This trend, known as ‘book packaging,’ is gaining momentum as retail book chains and supermarkets have centralized their buying.

Although, the publishing industry is teeming with many book publishers, some of the well-known names in the industry are: McGraw Hills Companies, HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin Group, Reed Elsevier, W.W. Norton & Company Inc., Macmillan Publishers Ltd., Longman Publishers USA, Pearson to name a few. These companies publish material on diverse topics ranging from entertainment, fiction, non-fiction, management, art, architecture, photography to day to day issues like cooking, pet care, gardening, etc.

Recently, Western publishing industry has been shrouded with controversy as large business houses have bought or merged a significant number of key publishing houses and bookstores to create a monopoly in the market. This has resulted in an increased concentration of well-known authors to augment the market share of bestsellers. The growing commercialization in the publishing industry has become a matter of concern not only for critics but also for writers in general.

Book Authors

Writing the great American novel is a dream project of many of us. One can be a book author and write about anything on this planet including cooking, child psychology, flowers, birds, shells, or furniture; or one can write coffee-table books or even computer books—the field is wide open.

The next step is to a find a publisher or an agent who will grant you a handsome advance. Once published, go on a self-promoting trip around states and purchase the yacht last seen within magazine covers.

It sounds like a cakewalk, but then there has to be a marketable subject. One area that does not require selling expertise is a computer book. The subject matter does the work for you, and if you happen to be an authority on the topic, then packaging is the foundation for inducements from publishers. Unlike fiction or other genres, computer book authors do not need the services of an agent, thus saving on agent commission and extra expenses. A word of caution, even if you are a new entrant in this field and still believe that whatever you are writing is of utmost importance, work on convincing publishers. The majority of publishers prefer technical writing experts; these books save time and unnecessary sales gimmicks, as technical books are generally limited area editions. The author’s reputation sells the book; so if publisher is well known and there are no agents in between, then book will benefit both the author and the publisher.

If you are a first-time writer, then check on publishers wanting new writers. There is no point in sending queries only to be rejected, and time can be better utilized checking publisher lists. Initially, the contract might not be attractive, but once you have established yourself and your book is successful, then it is easy to negotiate better deals. Look over the contract carefully to check for hidden loopholes favoring the publisher. Another area of concern for the first-time computer book author is the saturation and overuse in this field. It is a fast-changing technology, and finding new and selling topics in track with developing technology requires hard work, as what is new today is past tense tomorrow.