Translation as creative writing practice

Traditionally studied as a dichotomised theoretical issue in the field of translation studies, translation is alternatively considered, in this essay, to be a generic term which highlights its practical purposes and effects as a literary practice in creative writing. This essay extends the concept of literary translation to incorporate a range of rewriting practices, which range from strict translation to open writing. Open writing deviates considerably from translation in that it becomes imaginative writing. The varied forms of rewriting practices culminate to form a continuum, characteristic of being from most to least ‘faithful’ or least to most ‘free’. Due to the derivative nature of translation, rewriting practices have generated a blurred liminal space between translation to open writing, in which translation and creative writing are mutually transformative. This essay further analyses three particular forms of writing, mistranslation, self-translation and open response, all of which feature in translation related practices that are concurrently counter balanced by various gradations of authorship. Being a frequently discussed and disputable topic in translation studies, authorship also constitutes the fundamental element in creative writing. Ultimately, rewriting practices developed from the concept of translation can be integrated with the practice of creative writing.