Written by
How I work
My work history is here. My focus is on voice, whether it’s found in a book, a marketing campaign, or a game. The goal is:
You, in effortless Polish, not Polish equivalents of your English words.
And that’s what’s on offer here. Thoughtfully translated, believable character writing, naturally flowing descriptions, and compelling copy, all of which preserve your original intent. Creatively faithful rather than merely technically accurate.
When it matters, of course. I’m not turning your instruction manual into a Gollancz SF Masterwork contender unless there’s a very specific reason to do so, and if you do have one, please contact me immediately. But why go to a random guy on the internet instead of an established, convenient service?
What you see is what you get
I’ve been the service. I’ve spent more than two decades working in localization as a translator and writer, a language lead, a reviewer, and a localization engineer. So I understand what the text needs to do, what can go wrong while it’s being localized, and what needs to happen afterwards to get it safely back in.
As for tools and formats, the answer is probably “yes”. I can work with your source code directly, any industry-standard file format, or whatever slightly-incompatible export produced by your online translation platform.
That means if you need just a translator, I can easily accommodate your tools and your process. But if you feel they aren’t working for you, I can also build the tools and processes your project needs.
You can be sure your text won’t be subcontracted away and passed through several layers of people who have never spoken to you. You can talk to me directly, and I’m responsible for the result.
On generative technologies
I’m happy to take advantage of any software that helps me deliver work to the standard I expect of myself. I’ve found that meeting that standard often requires starting from a blank page.
That said, the scaffolding for this site was built with AI. It writes serviceable code, and I write these words. And when everything’s out in the open, there’s a clear difference between serviceable text and one written with intent.
And you know what, sometimes that’s fine. Not everything needs to be an epic masterpiece. You might have a tight budget or a short turnaround time. You might simply not have the time or bandwidth to worry about every detail while you’re dealing with the bigger picture.
Deep frying localization
My homemade turkey nuggets are a family favorite. I grind the meat myself and escalate from there. Three days later, they’re ready, covered in crunchy, fluffy tempura crust. The kids love them.
But they also love McNuggets, which are predictable, inoffensive, and always available. You can just go and pick up a box — the logistics behind them are an achievement in their own right. In the end, a nug is a nug is a nug, right?
Why think about how they’re made when it’s this easy?
But put them side by side and you can see how different priorities shaped the final product.
Translations… translations work the same way.
Pudding
Take a look at my localization writing showcase and see how I think.
Or just contact me. Tell me what you need. Send me your briefs, your exports or source files, your vision, and your lore. Your RPG Maker creations, your sprawling narratives, your beetle speakeasy management simulator where you and your forest friends organize a resistance movement against the Formica Collective (original idea, do not steal), your idle clicker…
I welcome you all. I’ll tailor the localization to what your code can accommodate — or help your code accommodate the localization.
Papers, Please
- Master of Arts in English Philology (Linguistics), University of Warsaw.
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (C2).
Personal Facts
I’ve been playing games for over 30 years. I’ve put thousands of hours into Factorio and Oxygen Not Included, but I’m not above a round of Deadlock (and let’s be honest, it’s never just one round).
I also appreciate a good story and interesting writing — which is why I’d rather play New Vegas than those other games.
I enjoy indie games with interesting ideas, even if they’re slightly wonky. After all, wonky is better than boring, or filled with ads, or both.
I’m serving this page from a Proxmox cluster inside my home. (Welcome!)
I’ve completely rebuilt my 3D printer — twice. Next time, I’m buying a Prusa.
As a freelancer, I’ve learned to spend my time wisely. So it’s time for me to waddle over to the couch with my e-reader.
Digital footprints
For inquiries, contact [at] kaczynski [dot] pro