For Translators, Because I Love You

Now and then, I get a note from an emerging translator who wonders where she or he might submit a short story (or stories, or novel excerpts or poems) translated from the Arabic.

There are a few names we all—all of us in this racket, anyhow—know: Banipal, Words without Borders, and Two Lines.

Banipal, of course, exclusively publishes works by Arab writers; Words without Borders is an excellent e-magazine dedicated to international literature (and has published many translations from Arabic). Two Lines focuses exclusively on literature in translation.

However, these three are not necessarily the most accessible venues: Banipal and WWB both regularly have theme issues, and Two Lines (like WWB) is working from the entire world-language community. (However, Two Lines does publish Arabic translations, as with a lovely translation of Ibrahim al-Koni’s “Tongue,” by Elliott Colla.)

But those three aren’t the only magazines that are looking for your translated stories, novel excerpts, poems, plays, and essays.

The list below has an emphasis on magazines that allow for electronic submissions and simultaneous submissions (that means they’re okay if you send your story to several magazines at once). I have some information below, but please check it against the magazine’s submission guidelines before you send anything in.

Also, before the list, two bits of news: 1) Following an NEA grant, Translation Review is expanding its scope, and:

We are now accepting translations of original works accompanied by a substantive comment by the translator. Comments should focus on the reconstruction of the translation process with specific reference to choices made by the translator in the preparation of the final draft. We are particularly interested in discussions of how translators succeeded in finding solutions to problems involving no direct correspondences between cultures.

We will consider manuscripts that deal with poetry, short fiction, essays, and excerpts from plays.

And 2) Metamorphoses is doing a “Special Arab World Double Issue (2011).” Submit now!

This is not a complete list of magazines that publish translations. Additional suggestions are welcome, and I pre-apologize for any omissions.

AGNI

I love this magazine and these editors. They have an excellent eye, are kind, pay promptly, and also give you a free subscription to their wonderful magazine.

As for translations:

AGNI regularly features emerging writers and “among readers around the world . . . is known for publishing important new writers early in their careers, many of them translated into English for the first time” (PEN American Center). Most of what we publish is unsolicited.

You can also submit online.

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American Short Fiction

They say:

All manuscripts must be written in English. Translations are acceptable, but must be accompanied by a copy of the original text.

$2 submission fee to submit online

Payment is competitive and upon publication. American Short Fiction purchases first serial rights. All rights revert to the author upon publication.

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Bitter Oleander

They say:

If you are from outside the USA, then e-mailing your submissions is fine as long as they are put into attachments we can open or else copy and pasted to the body of the e-mail.

We continue to publish the well-known, the little known and the unknown poets and writers side by side. We publish it in English and we also present a lot of it in translation from their originals.

As for work from the Arabic, I ee that they’ve published translations of Palestinian poet Anisa Darwish.

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Chattahoochee Review

They say:

We consider English translations of poetry from other languages, in which case a brief biography of the poet should be included. Poetry should be single-spaced and include three to five poems per submission.

Simultaneous submissions should be announced and will be considered but are discouraged. Because of the large amount of other editorial and academic work we handle on e-mail, electronic submissions are not accepted.

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Cipher

They say:

We believe in the place of translation to inspire stronger literature; without cross-fertilization, no growth can last. We aim to focus on literary translation in its broadest sense, cracking open this often-neglected field by melding the invisibility of the translator with the identity of the artist.

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Circumference: a bi-annual journal of poetry in translation

They accept new translations of poetry from all languages year-round, and say:

Please send five to ten translations along with the originals and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Center for Literary Translation
Columbia University
Dodge Hall 415
New York, NY 10027

They have published Abdelkrim Tabal and Yahya al-Tahir ‘Abdallah and Dunya Mikhail, among others.

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CT Review

They say:

Connecticut Review invites submission of poetry, literary plays, short fiction, translations, creative nonfiction, essays, interviews, academic articles of general interest, artwork and photography.

Translated work must be accompanied by appropriate written permissions from author or publisher.

Submissions are accepted by mail only. Payment in copies.

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Guernica

They say:

• We strongly prefer our stories to have an international outlook.
• Works in translation are more than welcome; please send us your translated fiction, as long as we will have the rights to publish the piece.

Poetry translations are also welcome.

They have run poems translated from Arabic by Adonis; I thought I had seen other works in translation, but maybe I am mis-remembering (I know they’ve published Randa Jarrar, but of course she writes in English).

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Hayden’s Ferry

They say:

Hayden’s Ferry Review is looking for translations that pay close attention to cultural bodies, the way they identify themselves, interact, and maintain their distinctions. HFR’s international section wishes to explore these living arrangements as perceived by the inhabitant writer. Our intention is publish work not hitherto available to an English speaking or reading audience.

Poetry is published on facing pages with the original language; the original prose texts are published on our website. Work accepted for publication will be accompanied by a translator’s note, 250-500 words, providing relevant information about the translated work—the author, cultural context, or the process of translation itself.

Upload through submissions manager. Payment is $25 a page with a maximum of $100. It’s perhaps not much of a comfort to emerging authors, but they’ve published Mahmoud Darwish.

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The Kenyon Review

They say:

We consider… translations of poetry and short prose

All submitted material will be considered for both the print edition of The Kenyon Review and KROnline.

Translations must be accompanied by the work in its original language and the translator is responsible for the author’s permission to use his or her material.

Payment for accepted work is made upon publication. Authors retain their copyrights and will receive a contract upon acceptance.

Kenyon Review has also published Mahmoud Darwish. They do not accept simultaneous submissions.

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Indiana Review

They say: “Translations are welcome.”

Payment is only $5/page, but you can submit work online.

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The Malahat Review

They say:

The Malahat Review will consider translations of poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction. When submitting translated work, please include a copy of the original text and a copy of a letter of permission from the author and/or first-language publisher.

No email or online submissions, and they discourage simultaneous submissions. Plus, no paperclips or staples!

Payment is $20/printed page.

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Massachusetts Review

Translation: Fiction, poems, or essays are accepted. To put it simply, our goal is to publish great writing from across the globe, from writers we haven’t yet heard. A copy of the translated text should be submitted along with the translation.

At the time of publication we pay fifty cents per line for poetry ($25 minimum per poem); and $50 for an essay or work of fiction. Authors also receive two complimentary contributor’s copies.

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Mayday

Translations

Please include the work in its original language along with your translation(s), and assure us in your cover letter that you’ve secured the proper permissions to publish the original author’s work in translation. Submit Word files (.pdf files of scanned originals, if necessary).

We will pay as funds allow, but we are committed to paying writers for their work.

I think they’re just on issue 2, which features several translations, none yet from Arabic. Submissions are accepted via email.

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Metamorphoses

Forthcoming – Special Arab World Double Issue of Metamorphoses (2011)

The literary translation journal Metamorphoses welcomes submissions of previously unpublished translations of poetry and prose from Arabic and from other langues of the Arab world, including Berber, Aramaic, etc., French, Spanish, Italian from former colonies and the Diaspora.

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Mid-American Review

We accept fiction, poetry, translations, and nonfiction (including personal essays, essays on writing, and short reviews)

You can submit online here.

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91 st meridian

91st Meridan is an electronic publication of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City (41° 38′ N /91° 33′ W). It appears two or three times a year, and aims to contribute to general reading beyond the (national, linguistic, cultural) borders of the Anglophone sphere.

We consider submissions of fiction, poetry, essays, non-fiction and book reviews, as long as the material reflects, in some way, the world as a space of transit and translation.

91 st has an essay by Tarek el-Tayeb in the current issue.

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Prism

Send original, unpublished material in short fiction, poetry, translation, literary non-fiction, and drama. We do not consider work that has appeared on the Internet unless it has only been posted to writers’ forums for discussion.

Translations are sought in all genres and must be undertaken with the permission of the original author. Wherever possible, include a copy of the original work.

They require, however, that you submit by mail.

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Public Space

They say: “Translations are always welcome, as are novel excerpts.”

And they mean it. Recently, they did a whole issue on contemporary Egyptian lit.

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Tampa Review

Translations must be submitted in original language as well as translated versions. Please also include a short biographical note on the translated author and a copy of the author’s permission to translate.

Accepts online submissions.  $10/published page. However, there is a processing fee for online submissions, and they don’t consider simultaneous submissions.

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Third Coast

Third Coast publishes poetry, fiction (including traditional and experimental fiction, shorts, and novel excerpts, but not genre fiction), creative nonfiction (including reportage, essay, and memoir), drama (including both performed and unperformed pieces) and translations.

You can submit online. Payment is two contributor’s copies and a one-year subscription.

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Transcript

Transcript publishes work in translation from the Arabic, as well as other languages: See issue 33: Gaza, for instance.

But I don’t see how you submit.

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Again, if you have more suggestions (or if you are a magazine editor interested in translations from the Arabic), please drop me a note and/or post below. Corrections also welcome.