Swet Columns
July 4, 2018
SWET Kansai Event Report: Photography and Flash Fiction Workshop
By Rebecca Otowa
I had been dreaming of putting together John Einarsen’s evocative photography and a writing workshop for some months, and on June 9, it came true. It was held in central Kyoto and seven people attended.
In addition to being the founding editor of the respected Kyoto Journal, John has published several books of his photographs, including Kyoto:... more
May 30, 2018
EVENT REPORT – Travel-Related Events and Updating the Japan Style Sheet
May 16, 2018 (Wednesday), Book House Cafe, Jinbocho, Tokyo
Ten people gathered for a SWET Talk Shop to discuss two topics: (1) the idea of setting up special-interest group (SIG) in SWET for travel writers and (2), the proposed plan for SWET to publish a new edition of the Japan Style Sheet.
Rob Goss introduced his ideas for a... more
February 3, 2017
Japan Writers Conference 2016 Remembered
We asked three people who attended the Japan Writers Conference, held October 27 and 28 at Tokushima University, on the island of Shikoku, to share their impressions and notes from the talks they attended. While by no means comprehensive—and we regret not including reporting on all the sessions—our three authors give us lively and diverse accounts of what they gained... more
November 8, 2016
Teaching Translation
SWET Presentation by Susan E. Jones Sept. 25, 2016 Report by Don Todt
If you’re a female college student in Japan who’s interested in becoming a translator, Susan E. Jones wants you prepared.
In fact, she’s so intent on accomplishing this goal that she’s spent the last ten years developing a course in teaching translation at Kobe College (神戸女学院大学).
Japan’s low birthrate has caused a... more
December 1, 2015
Collaborating and Mentoring for Writers, Editors, and Translators
Notes on November 20, 2015 SWET Talk Shop
SWET members gathered on November 20th at the Books on Japan library in Jinbocho, Tokyo, to hear tips on collaboration from freelance writer Winifred Bird, and to discuss the possibility of establishing a mentoring program within SWET. The conversation meandered into the growing importance of social media, at which point several participants suggested... more
May 12, 2015
An Encouragement of Style Sheets
Setting your style—for the words in a document, book, report, newsletter, journal, website, or whatever you are working on—gives the product polish and professionalism. For an organization, a good in-house style sheet helps settle arguments authoritatively and expedites the little decisions that have to be made every day. Published style guides provide reliable and time-tested rules for most basic style... more
