Submissions guidelines
- We accept all genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s & YA literature.
- Please record a high-quality video of yourself reading from your translation, with clear and audible sound.
- Duration: Please keep readings to no more than 5-7 minutes (approx.)
- Your file can be sent to translatorsaloud@gmail.com using WeTransfer, Dropbox, GoogleDrive link, or any other file-sharing platform.
- Briefly introduce your work, or just dive straight into the reading & be as creative and performative as you like.
- Send us a descriptive text: synopsis/description, author bio, translator bio, any press quotes, reviews, URL links to buy or pre-order the book, and any social media handles you’d like to share. Please send this information in a Word document (not in PDF format please!) This text should be 5000 characters max. including spaces.
- We accept bilingual submissions into AND out of English, as long as one of the excerpts (original text or translation) is English. These videos can be collaborations in which both the author and the translator appear, or the translator can read an excerpt in both languages.
- Please clearly state the source and target language on your submission.
- Please provide social media handles for Bluesky, Linkedin and Instagram. It is very important that we have these, for both the translator and author, so we can promote your reading as much as possible!
- Note: It is the responsibility of the translator to clear permissions to use/record a reading of any text – so translators, if applicable, please check with the relevant rights holders before submitting your video.
- For works that do not yet have a publisher, see our guidelines for the “Seeking a Publisher” playlist
Accompanying information
Send your accompanying information in a Word document, formatted as follows:
[Translator] reads from [Author]’s [TITLE OF BOOK] [PUBLISHER, YEAR]
Brief synopsis (no more than 300-400 words):
Translator bio:
Author bio:
Press quotes:
Links to buy:
The translator has obtained permission from the original rights holder to translate this sample and share a recording of it on Translators Aloud.
Recording advice
Renowned translator Antonia Lloyd-Jones has contributed a video full of tips and advice that first-time readers might find helpful. You can watch it below.
*Please note: it is the responsibility of the translator to clear permissions to use/record a reading of any text – so translators, if applicable, please check with your publishers before submitting*
Our “SEEKING A PUBLISHER” playlist
- Duration: approx. 5 minutes max.
- Language: we are currently accepting readings of samples translated from any language into English (for the moment, the aim of this playlist is to build connections between translators and English-language publishers)
- Make sure you clear permissions with the original rights holder (author or publisher) if necessary, to translate/share the extract.
- Please provide the accompanying information requested below, in the following format (or click here for details)
[Your name] reads from [author name]’s [TITLE] (seeking a publisher)
Brief synopsis
[Think of this as a mini ‘pitch’ – remember to mention the original language, a little about the book, and about the extract in question, if you like. Include information that might be attractive to potential publishers or literary scouts, as you would if you were pitching this work, include any press quotes about the book, links to the original work, or anything that is relevant – sales figures, awards, comparisons to other works – think about where it would fit in the English market]
Author bio
[Author’s brief bio + social media handles/ website /email
Translator bio
[Your brief bio + social media handles/ website /email – as much contact info as you’re happy to give]
For rights info, contact:
[email of person to contact for rights]
The translator has obtained permission from the original rights holder to translate this sample and share a recording of it on Translators Aloud.
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