Writing bilingually sounds exciting to many people. In reality, it's different—but apparently still unusual, because I'm often asked how it actually works when you write a book in two languages.
Since I want to take a look behind the scenes in this section, I thought it would be an interesting topic – although I don't want to encourage anyone to copy my process – it's just a hell of a lot of work 😉
Here are the most frequently asked questions and my answers to them:
How does it feel to write in two languages?
Based on what it is: a lot of work. But it gives me the assurance that both languages really say what they're supposed to say. I've seen so many translations that are simply not good, that are terrible, that I don't want to subject myself and my readers to that. I translate myself and can then say that both are my books. Maybe other languages will be added at some point, but the books are complex and it's important to me to have accurate translations – that's not something you can do with a translation program – at least not to my standards.
Why do I write in two languages at all?
On a business level, it makes sense: reach. The German-speaking market is large, but the English-speaking market is naturally larger. In addition, most of my contacts are in the English-speaking world, as are my author friends – so it would be foolish not to take advantage of that.
But – and this is not the least important part – I also do it because I can.
The differences between the languages don't always make it easy, but it's also interesting. I like the tone. I like how the phrasing sounds. And I like the challenge of expressing the same thought as precisely as possible in two different languages. It's work, yes. But it's work that's worth it.
Does it become less work once you've done it a few times?
No. You just become less surprised by how long things take 😉
Why both languages at the same time?
Because I want to release a book “completely” before the next one comes out – that's why I release ebooks, printed editions, and audiobooks in both languages – yes, in both languages.
Do you think in German or English first? Or both?
I think in the language I'm writing in – when I write, I often only become aware of my thoughts once they appear on paper or on the screen – I don't think about language when I write.
How does my bilingual writing process work in concrete terms?
There is no such thing as a bilingual writing process for me. I always write my manuscripts in German first. Primarily because it is my mother tongue and therefore my range, especially in terms of word choice, is much greater than in English. Once the book is complete in terms of content, and after an initial revision, I translate it into English myself. From this point on, I work on both language versions in parallel: subtleties, tonality, transitions, rhythm – I work on them in both versions at the same time.
Why do you need two languages – does one allow something that the other cannot?
I can't think of anything that only one of the languages can do – they just do things differently – which can be quite time-consuming, especially when using wordplay, and is the main reason why I have a native American speaker as a copy editor for my English texts, rather than “just” a proofreader as for the German book. Not because I don't have a good command of the language, but because in the English version there are always mistakes in idioms or puns that my editor has to track down and that I can then correct.
And finally, almost always – understandably after the previous answers – comes this question:
Do you want to continue like this for all these books?
Apart from the restriction of poetry, the answer is clearly YES!
I enjoy language – words, communication, thinking, exchanging ideas, developing stories, solving puzzles, playing with meaning. And I enjoy it in both languages.
But more than anything else, I am a storyteller. And stories are always told differently, depending on who you tell them to and when. Sometimes to a child, sometimes to a physicist, sometimes in German—sometimes in English.
But at its core, it's always about opening the door to another world for someone with a story.
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