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Esperanto: The International Language that Works!
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Confusion about writing in Esperanto National Novel Writing Month for 2008 is over. I completed a draft of a sixteen thousand word novelette in English, entitled "Maria and the Math Fairies". I am a beginner when it comes to fiction; I only have one paid work of fiction published. The body of literature in Esperanto is its crown jewel. To enrich it I wrote an original draft of "Maria kaj la scifeoj" in Esperanto, then shifted to English for this draft. Sometimes I think about the great jumble of reasons to write in one language or the other. I assume it is easier to get a work of a given quality published in Esperanto than in English. In general, I think people are very eager to publish work in Esperanto, although of course the publication and the audience will be much smaller than in English. The chance that my work will be published in English is relatively small. Working in Esperanto would undoubtedly improve my Esperanto skills. Right now, I am a solid progresantoj, but, as I am often reminded, my writing skills in Esperanto are very weak. For the last three years I have been working for the movement via Project Gutenbergand as a board member of Esperanto-USA, but I have spent very little of that time in actual study. In fact, I have spent very little of that time reading fiction in Esperanto. I can communicate in Esperanto; but I don't feel that I can easily be vivid, or smooth, or clever, or concise in Esperanto. Of course, it is not clear that I can do those things in English. However, I would encourage anyone, even one who does not have my fluency in Esperanto, to write and submit for publication in Esperanto as much as possible. Clearly, I am somehow confused or even hypocritical on this point. I have sometimes thought, "Perhaps if a work is good enough to get publshed in English, then it makes sense to write it in Esperanto." However, the one short story in fiction that I sold is a satire of certain aspects of Amercian society, mixed with hard science fiction. Even if perfectly translated, some of it would be lost on an international audience. For the time being, I'm afraid I will remain confused on this point. However, I welcome your comments.
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Novels--romanoj en kiuj estas Esperanto
Mi estas eldonisto kaj verkisto.
Dum la NovJorko LK, en 1995, mi prelegis pri tiu temo--How to Get Your Esperanto Books Published. Because then, mi mem was the publicity person and folks would write stuff, then say, "Publicize this, Sherry." Which was too late for what they needed to be aware of beforehand.
I'd be willing to talk with you about your novelette. Maybe we can get it published--in English! You could email it to me, if you wish. I'm giving myself a 2-week vacation--hopefully to catch up on all my Esperanto labors-of-love, so I might be able to fit this in, or at least give it a look.
Beth and Philip were saying wonderful things about you.
I have unlimited long distance calling...!
S'eri U'elz
Michigan Usono
esperantosherry@tm.net
Writing in Esperanto
For the last several years, I've been writing short stories in Esperanto and sending them off to UEA's Belartaj Konkursoj. It has been an instructive, if quite difficult, process. I've been gratified that my proofreaders are able to tell which stories are older and which are newer -- that seems to indicate I'm making some progress in my Esperanto writing skills.
Getting proofreaders for your Esperanto works is essential, and if these proofreaders are from different linguistic backgrounds, so much the better. I've been surprised how many idioms and turns-of-phrase I use that are "English" and not really internationally understandable. This doesn't mean that every national idiom should be expunged from your Esperanto prose - it just might mean that a little more clarification is necessary.
I agree with Robert that it seems to be easier to publish in Esperanto than in English. There are a variety of magazines and bulletins that publish material, with several caveats. 1) None of them pay. 2) Length is usually limited (2,500 words or less, I've found). 3) Circulation is rather small - perhaps only a few hundred. 4) The majority of the reading audience is not completely fluent in the language. We're a community of learners, where textbooks outsell literature. Most of us read (and write) Esperanto with a two-way dictionary close at hand (myself included). These factors affect the way that I write fiction in Esperanto.
Authors looking to produce a long, complex work may find their opportunities more limited than authors producing short, punchy, easier works. That being said, there are works like Tarokoj kaj epokoj and La Litomiŝla tombejo out there . . .
> Even if perfectly translated, some of it would be lost on an international audience.
And vice-versa. I've written a few Esperanto stories that couldn't be translated into English without major rework -- they revolve around an Esperanto pun or some shared Esperanto experience or cultural icon.
Great local-group activity
I've found proofreading is a great local-group activity. We simply go through it line-by-line and translate into English to check grammar, vocabulary, and clarity. In many ways, learning to recognize bad Esperanto is a valuable exercise -- both in terms of how to make it better, but also how to understand what in-expert speakers are trying to say.
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Steven BREWER
Kuraĝu vi mem!
Thank goodness for your post. While my preferred muse involves using iMovie and Kino (on my Kubuntu–fed penguins), it seems we both have problems when working in la internacia lingvo. For me, it's a case of confidence (both in myself, and the votaroj I end up using at the age of 46...). Plus, I am trying to focus on American life, and how to best convey that to a very different audience.
But "practice makes perfect," as the saying goes — or at least it improves your skills. So rather than hesitate, I'm getting my name and my work out there now.
In fact, your words have given me the courage to blog about my first YouTubed short. Bv. stari preta — please stand by.
Mi fine legas la klasikajn verkojn
Mi nun opinias, ke mia E-o estas sufiĉe bona, por legi altkvalitan literaturon Esperante. Mi nun notas, ke mia pasiv scio estas pli bona ol mia aktiva (malpasiva?) scio. Mi nun legas "Kredu min, Sinjorino" akj mi multe ŝatas ĝin. Bonŝancon kun via skribado!
Formikoj en miaj pantolonoj