Changing the Landscape: Diversity and Translated Fiction in the UK Publishing Industry
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Modern Languages
Abstract
Changing the Landscape: Diversity and Translated Fiction in the UK Publishing Industry brings together academics and stakeholders within the publishing industry to reflect on and challenge bias in the commission and production of translated fiction in the UK. We will discuss how to secure greater - and sustainable - diversity of representation in terms of gender, geopolitics, and other intersecting characteristics that can marginalise writers and prevent their voices from being heard.
In terms of sales and growth, translated fiction has begun to outpace the rest of the publishing industry, yet reports show that despite many risk-taking initiatives, particularly from independent presses, diversity in publishing has plateaued. Before 2020 a number of significant advances had been made towards addressing the lack of diversity in translated literature (particularly by the smaller independent presses), but the creative industries have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and there is a danger that they could revert to a more risk-averse state if measures are not taken to support diversity of representation. Innovative translated fiction offers far-reaching benefits for the UK both economically and in terms of cultural diversity: as a form of direct contact between cultures, translation is a vital tool for international understanding, and translated fiction in the UK attracts direct funding from overseas cultural organisations and governments. The values of diversity and equality at the heart of this network are vital for the UK to be at the vanguard of the international creative industries, yet it has also been well documented that the pandemic is likely to have a greater adverse effect on women and other marginalised groups, and so it is crucial to ensure equality of visibility, representation, and opportunity.
To this end, our research on the translated literature industry in the UK is developed alongside and informed by our partnership with English PEN, a worldwide writers' association and the largest funding body in the UK for translation into English. In turn, our research and network activities will amplify English PEN's mission to foster diversity by advancing long-term strategies for redressing inequalities in the publishing of translated literature. The core strength of our network lies in the multiple links it will make between academic research and creative industries, and by extension the multiple perspectives it will gather on the diversity challenges within the translated literature industry. In particular, the development of this network brings together four key components to bridge academic and industry contexts: (1) the various strands of expertise of the network participants, who work across a range of areas within publishing and literary translation; (2) the project partner's commitment to fostering diversity; (3) the PI's activist Translating Women project and her related research, which focus on challenging intersectional bias in the selection, production and presentation of translated literature; and (4) the CI's mobilisation for gender equality in translated literature through the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation.
The work carried out by the network will directly support the development of English PEN's translated literature programme and the PEN Translates scheme (the primary source of funding for translated literature in the UK), as well as the development of the core outputs of the network: the digital publishing initiative PEN Presents, two industry reports, an interview series with the key stakeholders that will offer diverse perspectives on ways forward, and an academic article co-authored by the PI and CI analysing the network's contribution to challenging bias within the publishing industry.
In terms of sales and growth, translated fiction has begun to outpace the rest of the publishing industry, yet reports show that despite many risk-taking initiatives, particularly from independent presses, diversity in publishing has plateaued. Before 2020 a number of significant advances had been made towards addressing the lack of diversity in translated literature (particularly by the smaller independent presses), but the creative industries have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and there is a danger that they could revert to a more risk-averse state if measures are not taken to support diversity of representation. Innovative translated fiction offers far-reaching benefits for the UK both economically and in terms of cultural diversity: as a form of direct contact between cultures, translation is a vital tool for international understanding, and translated fiction in the UK attracts direct funding from overseas cultural organisations and governments. The values of diversity and equality at the heart of this network are vital for the UK to be at the vanguard of the international creative industries, yet it has also been well documented that the pandemic is likely to have a greater adverse effect on women and other marginalised groups, and so it is crucial to ensure equality of visibility, representation, and opportunity.
To this end, our research on the translated literature industry in the UK is developed alongside and informed by our partnership with English PEN, a worldwide writers' association and the largest funding body in the UK for translation into English. In turn, our research and network activities will amplify English PEN's mission to foster diversity by advancing long-term strategies for redressing inequalities in the publishing of translated literature. The core strength of our network lies in the multiple links it will make between academic research and creative industries, and by extension the multiple perspectives it will gather on the diversity challenges within the translated literature industry. In particular, the development of this network brings together four key components to bridge academic and industry contexts: (1) the various strands of expertise of the network participants, who work across a range of areas within publishing and literary translation; (2) the project partner's commitment to fostering diversity; (3) the PI's activist Translating Women project and her related research, which focus on challenging intersectional bias in the selection, production and presentation of translated literature; and (4) the CI's mobilisation for gender equality in translated literature through the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation.
The work carried out by the network will directly support the development of English PEN's translated literature programme and the PEN Translates scheme (the primary source of funding for translated literature in the UK), as well as the development of the core outputs of the network: the digital publishing initiative PEN Presents, two industry reports, an interview series with the key stakeholders that will offer diverse perspectives on ways forward, and an academic article co-authored by the PI and CI analysing the network's contribution to challenging bias within the publishing industry.
Description | The main findings that emerged from the network meetings and meetings of the advisory board were: 1. In order to make a meaningful intervention into increasing bibliodiversity in translated literature, it is key to intervene at an earlier stage in the process of publication - in addition to the role of funding competitions for what has already been commissioned (e.g. PEN Translates, the most significant funding programme for translated literature in the UK), it is crucial to create a funding competition for new works in translation that can be promoted to publishers, thereby expanding the routes that publishers have for acquiring literature from diverse contexts. 2. Once this platform has been established, it needs to be targeted towards breaking down barriers between translators and commissioning editors, using the project partner's position and reputation to facilitate this. 3. The importance of going beyond existing networks, to reach people not already within the established/ growing network. 4. Focusing not only on what gets translated, but who gets to translate - ensuring that PEN Presents (the main outcome of the project) offers a sustainable model of inclusivity. The PI and CI also submitted in September 2023 a co-authored article on their findings, which is currently under peer review. |
Exploitation Route | This is already happening with other organisations coming forward to collaborate with the project partner on future issues of PEN Presents. The British Council collaborated on issue 1, and were part of the the AHRC network, feeding into the discussions to shape the project issue of PEN Presents. The South Asian Literature in Translation (SALT) project will be collaborating on a series of mini-volumes in the coming two years, and the project partner has just negotiated a very high-profile arts sponsorship for at least one further volume (details of this are currently under embargo, so we hope to report on it in the next Researchfish cycle). The PI has continued the close relationship with the project partner beyond the life of the grant, and has submitted a large standard grant application (ref. APP8384) for a project that, if successful, will build on network activities and outcomes to increase their impact and contribute to the sustainability of the collaborative initiatives fostered through the network. |
Sectors | Creative Economy Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
URL | https://www.englishpen.org/translation/pen-presents/issues/issue-2/ |
Description | The discussion of the network meetings fed into the development of the major project output, the digital platform PEN Presents. This does not fall under any of the reporting headings, and so the link to the project issue is here: https://www.englishpen.org/translation/pen-presents/issues/issue-2/ After acting on the outcomes of these meetings (see "Key Findings") in the promotion and dissemination of the call for proposals for the project issue of PEN Presents, we received 125 proposals for work originally published in fifty-one different languages and fifty-three countries. These proposals came from translators meaningfully spread across the world, with a large proportion of submissions from heritage and bilingual translators, and from translators of color (see "Key Findings" point 4). Another encouraging aspect of the response to our call was the number of translators applying who were completely new to us (see "Key Findings" point 3). Following a rigorous assessment process (with the PI as part of the selection panel), diversity became even more evident in the shortlist of 13 and then in the range of winners (7). Many of these were first-time translators, translators of colour, or translators working outside the UK publishing system. The proposals and then, for the final selection, the samples (which were funded by the grant) were assessed according to three assessment criteria: literary quality, the strength of the project, and its contribution to bibliodiversity. The issue and promotional activities have had exceptional reach: for example, the shortlist announcement had 100,000 views on Twitter, and the winners announcement had 65,000 views. Three of the seven winners have already been commissioned by publishers, and another has been agented. This 50% acquisition rate for a samples initiative expressly focussed on publishers acquiring more diverse literature is exceptionally high compared to industry equivalents, and indicates the positive shift that the programme is already having within the translated literature sector of the publishing industry. |
First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
Sector | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Collaboration with English PEN |
Organisation | English PEN |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The PI's successful collaboration with the project partner English PEN (a worldwide writer's association and the largest funding body for translated literature in the UK) has now been incorporated into English PEN's long-term strategic planning, offering a model of good practice for sustained collaboration between academic and industry partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners at English PEN offer significant in-kind support to our ongoing research. As well as offering significant staff capacity to our shared objectives, they share data pertaining to the digital publishing initiative PEN Presents that is being developed as part of the grant, so that we can use it to further our research and related outputs, and have committed to putting together further funding applications with the PI in order to continue the partnership in the medium to long term. |
Impact | The research we undertook together as part of a pilot project informed development of the platform PEN Presents (see URL above). The first issue of PEN Presents was a collaboration between English PEN and the British Council, and so is not directly related to this grant. The second issue of PEN Presents will be developed as a core part of the network activities. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | PEN Presents issue 2 |
Organisation | English PEN |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We worked together on issue 2 of PEN Presents, which was the culmination of the network meetings and activities. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partner English PEN undertook all the organisation and administration of the public call for applications, first sift, composition of selection panel, transmission of documents for panel meetings and organisation of meetings for the selection panel (one for the longlist and one for the shortlist). They also took responsibility for communicating with the successful applicants, collating final work and presenting it on the dedicated digital platform, as well as publicising it (as well as the promotional features listed under "Engagement acitivities", the social media engagement has accumulated 165,000 views to date). |
Impact | This is the online publication of the winning samples funded by the project, three of which have already been acquired for publication with a fourth author having been agented as a result of the sample. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Addition to translator resource database for WorldKidLit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As a result of the broad exposure with the translated literature sector of the publishing industry, PEN Presents has been listed on the WorldKidLit website as a funding resource for translators. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://worldkidlit.org/for-translators/ |
Description | Coverage in trade paper of shortlist for project translation samples issue |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Coverage in leading trade paper The Bookseller of the shortlist for issue 2 of PEN Presents (the issue funded by the grant). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.thebookseller.com/news/english-pen-reveals-shortlist-for-the-pen-presents-award |
Description | Further media coverage based on Publishers Weekly article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Condensed version of article from Publishers Weekly on BookBrunch - a daily newsletter and information site for the publishing industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/free-article/pen-presents-need-and-opportunity/ |
Description | Interview with project partner to coincide with announcement of PEN Presents longlist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Extended interview with project partner in high-profile online literary magazine Words Without Borders, timed to coincide with the announcement at London Book Fair of the longlist for the round of PEN Presents funded by this grant. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2023-04/fostering-bibliodiversity-english-pens-will-for... |
Description | Media coverage of London Book Fair panel and PEN Presents issue |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Article by project partner in leading trade publication, reporting on the panel at London Book Fair and the issue of PEN Presents created as a result of the grant collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/london-book-fair/article/92015-london-boo... |
Description | Media reporting on launch of PEN Presents |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview with project partner Will Forrester, Translation and International Manager at English PEN, to promote the launch of the digital publishing initiative PEN Presents. The initiative is signalled as the result of a research collaboration with Translating Women, the PI's public-facing research project. Interest in the initiative was significant, and resulted in engagement with a related panel at International Translation Day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.thebookseller.com/news/english-pen-launches-programme-to-diversify-the-translated-litera... |
Description | Open call for PEN Presents |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Open call for submissions to the issue of the PEN Presents digital publishing initiative that will be a major output of the grant activity. This had received over 50,000 views on social media within 4 days. It resulted in 125 proposals from over 50 languages and for work by writers based in over 50 countries. The spread of genre/form submitted was also wide-ranging: while many submissions were for literary fiction, there were also submissions for memoir, kid lit and YA, graphic novels, poetry, essays, travel writing and crime. The next stage is for these to be reviewed by a selection panel of experts, and a shortlist of 12 announced. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.englishpen.org/translation/pen-presents/apply-to-pen-presents/ |
Description | Panel at International Translation Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Online panel session at International Translation Day: "Samples, pitching and connecting with editors": following the launch of English PEN's new programme funding and showcasing sample translations, PEN Presents, a conversation exploring findings from the first round of the project, and exploring how best to get samples in front of editors. International Translation Day is the largest coming together for the national translation community; the session was chaired by the PI and involved members of the network |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.englishpen.org/international-translation-day/itd-2022-english-pen/ |
Description | Panel at London Book Fair 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | PI Vassallo presented findings at a panel session in the Literary Translation Centre at London Book Fair (April 2023). The session "Creating Samples and Getting Projects Acquired", focused on how creating a platform for translation samples (PEN Presents, the major project output) can help to diversify the literary translation industry not only in terms of what gets translated, but also in terms of who gets to translate it. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en-gb/whats-on/seminar-programme/programme/session-details.3159.184... |
Description | Press release for launch of PEN Presents |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Press release to announce the launch of PEN Presents, following research collaboration with project partner. Disseminated internationally via project partner's global network, and resulted in the first issue of PEN Presents (see https://www.englishpen.org/translation/pen-presents/issues/). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.englishpen.org/posts/news/pen-presents-a-new-programme-to-support-sample-translations/ |
Description | Short piece by project partner solicited for Bologna Book Fair |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A brief summary of activities written by the project partner, commissioned by Bologna Book Fair Global Rights Exchange to publicise the issue of PEN Presents funded by the grant. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.globalrightsexchange.com/blogs/details/35.html |