Why Should a Creative Writer Think about Turning to Translation
By Purbasha Roy
Fahmidan Literary Luminations Series
Let us talk about translation of creative work and what role it plays in the role of a creative
writer. Before it let us give a quick look at some examples for how far a translated text forwards
in the literary world. Han Yang received the 2024 Nobel prize for her poignant works ‘THe
Vegetarian’ and ‘Human Acts’. Her works primarily in Korean were translated by Deborah
Smith, E. Yaewon. The premium quality translation of her work made her work garner the
attention and accolades of not only the Nobel Prize Committee in 2024 but also in 2016 when
she won the International Booker Prize.
In 2025 Griffin Poetry Prize was awarded to Karen Leeder for her translation of German poet
Durs Griinbein’s Psyche Running: Selected Poems 2005-2022.
In 2025 the Indian author Banu Mushtaq won the International Booker prize for her short story
collection ‘Heart Lamp’, she wrote in one of the Indian languages Kannada. Her work was
translated by another Indian translator Deepa Bhasthi.
Each time the prize money is distributed between the author and the translator along with the
winning trophies handed down to both. The writer and the translator make it big in the literary
world as this kind of exposure makes them a known name in the literary world and their books
begin to make unprecedented sales through and through. This opens new avenues not just for the
writer but also the translator. More work approaches their doorsteps with better proposals.
I am a writer and often poetry is my calling. Essays, yes, they too fall within my umbrella of
writing. Apart from these two genres I have a fondness for translation also. I have had little
success in getting my translations chosen by magazines.
Out of them, Circumference is a paying market and getting the work chosen is always a win-win
situation for any writer.
HOW I FOUND TRANSLATION
I wasn’t sure about my stint with translation. Experts say, translation is never a word-to-word
change of language. It’s about keeping the meaning intact but also to act as a bridge for all the
non-native language speakers to grasp the actual meaning of whatever text is being translated.
The translator has a serious responsibility of not letting the meaning get lost or slanted from the
original. The work relies upon the translator to move beyond its limited readership. Reading,
hearing these kinds of commitment involved in the process of translation I was keen but sceptical
to begin my efforts for translation. I wanted to bring the texts which I myself read as a humble
reader and then made me fall into thinking and a quiet ambition blossomed to bring the words I
fell for in front of a wider audience.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE INTRODUCTION
Let me borrow the title of the Jack Gilbert poem ‘Highlights and Interstices’. To share, with
more conviction why being a creative writer, translation too seems to be my calling. When I read
the original text I was spellbound not just by the topic it takes into consideration but the prosaic
or poetic language. Of course, to decide which text I choose, at first my personal opinion on it
plays the pivotal part.
Not long back I had a tiered rejection from Fence for translation. As a creative writer or just say,
a writer reading is the essential homework can’t shy away from. The way we can expand our
heart to see good in others we can evolve with mindfulness the ability to find the positives of any
writing coming our way. The language, metaphors, character-sketch, the setting of paragraphs,
the line-breaks etc. no writing is an absolute waste unless and until it uses hate, or intimidating
way of making itself receive form upon the white space. Many times I’m struck by any of the
reasons, I pointed above. It might be even more, I can’t say with this limiting tool of language.
It’s a paradox, language is the only medium we have but it’s also too limiting to express every
nook and cranny of our lives and the world. This reading enhances my writing capability. I think
anyone translating rewires the brain in absolutely stunning ways, we wouldn’t have imagined of
ever before. If it were not this mode, I wouldn't have known Alejandra Pizarnik, Cesar Vallejo,
Pablo Neruda and several others. How many names should I continue to add to this list? It can
stretch to infinity. I guess, none shall disagree. Translation on its own is a profound world.
CONCLUSION
Translation helps a creative writer to garner the tones, experiences of the writers who witness
and understand a world separate from the translator. This helps the translator to enhance the art
of noticing their own world. This time the tool borrowed from the consciousness of another
language.
Bio: Purbasha Roy is a writer from Jharkhand, India. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Denver Quarterly Review, SAND, Iron Horse Literary Review, The Margins as of late. She attained 2nd Position in 8th Singapore Poetry Contest. Best of the Net Nominee.
Website: https://linktr.ee/Purbashawrites
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