Author Archive

Writing update for 2009.11.10

Translation update for 2009.11.10

Wow! August-October has been the busiest period in my entire career. I’ve had a massive amount of Japanese-to-English translation to do, and at the same time I’ve taken on a new ghost blogging client, bringing my total to three. I’ve also started working with two other new clients in this period.

I finally have a bit of breathing room, and I would love to help you with your projects. Please feel free to email me or give me a call!

Although the world economy has been in a fritz for more than a year now, 2009 has been the strongest year yet in my career. I don’t take this situation for granted, and I’m extremely grateful that I have clients who appreciate my work and continue to invest in marketing materials during the downturn.

In this busy year, August-October have been the busiest months. I was in Japan from the end of July to the end of August, working flat-out on English-to-Japanese translation projects for my major Japanese automaker client.

Here is what I worked on for this client August-October:

• Translated the better part of the annual environmental report and edited the work of other translators
• Translated the better part of the annual corporate social responsibility report and edited the work of other translators
• Translated several articles for a new portion of the company website dealing with design
• Translated the better part of a the press kit for the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009
• Translated the copy for a poster used around the world
• Translated several press releases

I also did a lot of work for this client that did not involve translation.

The end of the year will probably be a bit less busy, since Japan goes into Shogatsu mode–but it will still be busy. Thank you, clients!

August-October 2009 has been one of the busiest periods in my entire career. I’m grateful to have such great clients when the world economy is not doing so well!

Here is what I’ve been up to…

For my major Japanese automaker client, I…

• Wrote and edited content for two major reports
• Edited the company’s internal newsletter (I do this every month)
• Wrote 89 individual articles for a new section of the company’s website

These projects involved translation to a degree. I also did several projects for this client that were pure Japanese-to-English translation.

For ghost blogging client No. 1, I…

• Updated the blog
• Edited a press release
• Named the company’s major new product
• Helped write a new brochure on the new product

For ghost blogging client No. 2, I…

• Updated the blog
• Provided a gratis consultation on the client’s current marketing mix (as a marketing MBA, this is something I do to help my clients out!)

For ghost blogging client No. 3 (new since August), I…

• Completely revised the client’s website both to create a better site and help the blog be maximally effective
• Updated the blog

I love this new client! They are the best at what they do in Indianapolis, and I’m proud to be their blogger. In line with my “Japanese training,” I have been visiting the client’s gemba: I’ve been going to every one of their stores, meeting their associates, and deepening my understanding of their business.

Sports fiction

I wrote seven new short stories for a major publisher, and I’ll be writing two other stories by the end of the year. Five of the stories dealt with football, and two dealt with basketball (the remaining two will also deal with basketball).

Another new client

Through a referral I developed another new client that is like a YouTube for positive, family-friendly infomercials.  I wrote two short video scripts about an agricultural product for their client. These scripts received very good reviews, so I hope to do more work for this company in the near future.

Yet another new client

This is a medical device company doing some very exciting things. I have helped them write two press releases, which seem to have gone over quite well.

Biz lit book

My coauthor and I have made major progress on the book, and we plan to have a pretty clean draft complete by Thanksgiving.

What I’d like to help you with

Since this is the first time I’ve had any breathing room since April or so, it’s a good time to talk about new projects! I am interested in taking on new ghost blogging and newsletter clients. Now would also be a good time to talk about revising your website copy–why not make your site new and fresh in the new year? I also tell people I am looking for “fun projects.” I have my regular work each month, and it’s nice to have variety.

Please feel free to call or email me about your projects–I can help!

Writing update for 2009.7.22

Translation update for 2009.7.25

Thanks to my wonderful clients, I am booked until mid-September!

I have been working on the environmental annual report for a major Japanese automaker, and it has been in truth an infinite pile of work at which I have been working away at a mad pace.

I am going to Japan for the month of August to work in the office of the ad agency that hires me for the annual reports and many other job. While in Japan, I will stay in constant contact with my ghost blogging and other clients.

So, I am booked until mid-September. Thank you, clients!

Like June, July has been flat-out. Here is what’s new:

Website copywriting
I am rewriting and adding to the website copy of the best dry cleaning business in the city. The hope is also that they will become a ghost blogging client. Great people.

Ghost blogging
Right now, I have two happy clients, and the ghost blogging is producing results for both.

Major Japanese automaker newsletter
July has been the best month yet. I look forward to getting my new story assignments every month.

Biz-lit book
My writing partner and I are getting significant interest on the book. Editing proceeds apace.

I will be in Japan for a month and New York for two weeks starting July 29. I will not be able to take on new jobs (except for two new ghost blogging clients if they come on board) until mid to late September. I’d like to express my thanks to my local clients who have made summer 2009 very busy and enjoyable thus far!

May was busy; June is busier.

I have posted a new writing update and a new translation update, describing the interesting projects on which I’ve been working of late.

I have added a new website for the convenience of my clients: Marrubium Review, at which they may view work in progress by means of password-protected pages.

Marketing situation: I am looking to take on a few new clients for ghost blogging, script writing, and newsletter writing. In essence, I am booked until sometime in August, but I am definitely interested in building solid new relationships for the long term.

The past month has been quite busy for Japanese to English translation. Major projects:

I subtitled another script for a major Japanese TV production company.

I translated a video script for a major Japanese automaker, and I am about to begin on another for the same company. The videos are for two new models, one the company’s flagship sedan, and the other a crossover SUV.

For another major Japanese automaker, I am translating a pamphlet about their safety technologies.

As far as Japanese to English translation goes, I am essentially booked until sometime in August.

June has been a massively busy month thus far. I have three main projects to talk about:

New ghost blogging client
Great new client! Truly fun to write for. Taking on only a few more clients will put me in the state known as “maxed out.”

Major Japanese automaker newsletter
This gig is going very well. Also quite fun.

Biz lit book enters editing stage
I am done taking dictation from my coauthor, and now it’s up to me to put it together.

I am more or less booked for the summer, but I am interesting in taking on steady work such as regular script writing, newsletter writing, and ghost blogging.

May has been quite busy thus far! I have a new writing update and a new translation update ready for you to read. I also recently wrote a post on Twitter’s absurd follow limits that I think you will enjoy.