Let’s start today’s post with a bit of a paradox: One of the most beautiful things about stories is their ability to make us cry. Sounds strange, right? But I think it’s what I’ve always loved about storytelling: it creates this intense empathy that makes you feel so deeply for others, even if they’re fictional. Stories don’t just entertain; they reach into the core of who you are and tug at emotions you didn’t even know you had.
Translation is a subtle art, and this week I’ve come to realize just how much every decision impacts the final text.
I’m currently taking a class in literary translation with Susan Bernofsky, a leading translator of modernist and contemporary German-language literature into English.
I just moved to New York last week which, naturally, was a pretty big decision for me. I’ve been to the city a few times before, so I knew what I was getting myself into. Just in case you haven’t (or if you don’t get why anyone would choose to live in the city dubbed the “concrete jungle”), I thought I’d share some of my reasons for moving here and why I think every writer should consider spending some time in the Big Apple. Here who go.
Since this is my first post, I thought it’d be nice to share a bit about myself. I’m a fiction writer living in New York City, where I’m currently pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing at Columbia University.