[E-Pub] Beginning (1)

At the starting line

Since when have I dreamed of translating a book? I cannot specify the moment, but I’m sure I have the dream of being a translator since I didn’t know what translation is exactly. That’s how generally a big dream takes root in one’s mind.

  Around the time after Alphago had beaten Mr. Lee (Korean Go player of 9 dan rank), the entire world got accustomed to all the stories stirring up vague anxiety and worries about the AI, I entered a Graduate School for Translation and Interpretation to study English as a profession. Honestly speaking, I’ve imagined several times that AI might make a rapid advancement during graduate school and take my place without saving any position for my career. While I was studying in graduate school, sudden questions visited me occasionally; can I make a living with English? To the student who didn’t trust herself, translating a book sounds like an untouchable dream once she wished.

   Fortunately, I got a job in my graduate year and the very first place I visited was a book club of the local community. In principle, reading is a very private activity, but I know there’s something joyful as sharing thoughts with others. Maybe, it’s simply a kind of habitual or inertial behavior deeply embedded in me since the university. Anyway, whether together with university friends or the local community, a book club has been always a place inspiring and stimulating me. 

Self-efficacy via Books

 The book club I joined at the university gave me the thought: maybe… I’m suited to studying translation. Also, the one I engaged in after the graduation made me think I’m good at communicating with people through books. The university club was a meeting with friends to share which book each one wanted to share and read together, but I took a bit responsible position in the local book club. As one of the club management, I picked a book, not popular but people could resonate with, and led a talk session to share various perspectives and thoughts of people.

   It was a valuable experience to have a sense of self-efficacy outside of the office as seeing I can provide a service making people pay for even small fees – around 8 dollars. I was so proud of that and it was a bit different from what I feel at work. I guess the good feeling at that time has lingered in my mind and finally wakes up the old dream of book translation, maybe. 

Just Do It (like a pelican)

   Still, it’s not easy to specify the exact moment of having the dream of book translation. Above that, how do I have my mind to jump into the e-pub industry without any working experience? It sounds crazy like a daring starting without any concrete foundation. … However… how can I do that? I have tried to push the idea to the back of my mind deeply, but sometimes it comes forward, stirring something in my mind. So, the best choice I can make is to begin in earnest though I fail. At least I could escape from the persistent longing. I get ready to take any embarrassing situation. Simply, hope I don’t hurt someone unknowingly during my ignorant journey.

• Looking for writings and writers, making a contract
• Establishing a publisher, writing about the publication (Brunch, Webpage)
• Studying English and e-pub creation, establishing marketing and promotion strategies
• Translation, manufacture, promotion, publishing