Frequently Asked Questions
The Christian PEN is a wonderful community of editors who support and encourage one another. Our unique industry can be challenging and rewarding, and every client brings a new adventure. We are delighted to partner with you to honor God through our commitment to writers, agents, and publishers.
PEN membership may be your first step toward becoming a freelance editor, or you may have edited for others already. Maybe you need to know the basics of a freelance business, like the industry standards for professional rates, how to pay taxes, how to find clients, and a lot more. Or you may desire to connect with like-minded freelancers who can support you in your business and help you move to the next level.
The Christian PEN, a division of Christian Editors Association, offers continuing education through courses at The PEN Institute and our annual editors’ conference, PENCON. Our email loop, available to Silver and Gold members, is a great place to get plugged in to our community and find support. Through the discussions, all levels of editors can network with others and learn about different aspects of editing and freelancing. You may ask any questions you have about editing and will often receive multiple answers within the hour.
To assist you with next steps, we’ve compiled frequently asked questions from our members. Please review these questions and answers below. As you do, new questions will most likely arise, so feel free to contact the PEN Director at director@thechristianpen.com. Enjoy the journey!
For help with your membership, contact one of these team members:
PEN Director
director@thechristianpen.com
thechristianpen.com
A division of Christian Editors Association
PEN Assistant
assistant@thechristianpen.com
thechristianpen.com
A division of Christian Editors Association
Where can I find my discount codes and other member benefits?
Your PEN member homepage, listed in the dropdown menu under Log In in the main menu, has all the information you need on how to access your member benefits. If necessary, first log in to view your member homepage. Then scroll through the page until you find the benefit you’re curious about, and you’ll see all the details on how to access that benefit. If you still have questions, contact the PEN Director at director@thechristianpen.com.
Can I change my PEN membership details?
Yes. Log in to your PEN account to update your email address or other details. If you are a Silver or Gold member and would like to update your membership listing or bio on the PEN website, contact the PEN Director at director@thechristianpen.com.
I’m new to freelance editing. Where should I start?
Educate yourself about editing: how to do it, where to find clients, how to write a contract, what it takes to run a freelance business, etc.
The PEN Institute (one of the four divisions of Christian Editors Association) offers several online courses that cover all these things and more. You can gain the knowledge you need to begin offering services, refresh your skills, or learn a new specialty. Group Instruction includes the lesson materials, optional homework assignments, additional instructor handouts, a group forum to learn from other students, and direct feedback from the instructor. Group Instruction is scheduled throughout the year, but courses are also available year-round as self-study Digital Curriculum or as One-on-One Instruction. Webinars are also available. Visit The PEN Institute’s website to see currently available courses.
If you are a PEN Silver or Gold member, ask questions on the PEN email loop. Read the articles posted on the PEN Tips blog. Also explore the other resources available on The Christian PEN’s website: freelance editing rate chart, recommended style guides, definitions of editing services, and more.
Do I need a website?
We don’t require our members to have websites, but we highly recommend it. Even a simple website is better than none. Potential clients need to be able to find you and may want to know something about you and your services before contacting you for a quote. Using the WordPress.org (not WordPress.com) website software with the Divi theme, hosted by SiteGround, Bluehost, or DreamHost, is one effective way to build your own website, but there are many reputable options.
How much should I charge?
Check out our page of editing rates to see common rates charged by Christian freelance editors. You can choose to charge by the word, by the page, or by the hour depending on the services you offer and the method you’re comfortable with. Until you get some experience, consider charging a little less than the average.
What kinds of editing are there?
Because there are so many terms for different types of editing, Christian Editors Association has compiled a list of standard definitions of editing services. Read these definitions here.
I edit articles or academic text. Is The Christian PEN for me?
Yes! As long as you are an editor who works with words, you’ll fit right in. PEN has members who work with fiction and nonfiction books but also with journalistic text, academic papers, medical editing, theological works, textbooks, and more.
What style manuals or reference books do I need?
The Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition) is the industry-standard reference for book manuscripts and many popular-style magazines. It is available in print or online for an annual fee. PEN members get a 20% discount on the online edition; find your discount code on your member home page after logging in to your PEN account. Subscribe to CMOS Online here.
The Associated Press Stylebook is the industry-standard reference for newspapers and journalistic-style publications. A new edition is released each year, so stay current.
The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style by Robert Hudson (4th edition) is used in conjunction with CMOS for all Christian writing.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (free online version at https://merriam-webster.com) is the standard dictionary for book manuscripts. Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (subscription) is another helpful resource but is not updated as frequently as the free website.
Webster’s New World College Dictionary (5th edition), is the industry-standard dictionary for newspapers and journalistic-style publications.
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide is an easy-to-use reference for CMOS and AP guidelines. This is based on CMOS 16th edition, but the information is still useful.
You can see PEN’s full list of recommended resources here.
I have experience editing professionally. Can you suggest ways to find clients?
Christian Editor Connection (another division of Christian Editors Association) is a matchmaking service for experienced editors and potential clients. Find out if you are eligible to apply. CEC membership is automatically included in PEN Gold membership.
If you are a PEN Silver or Gold member, your name and website will be listed on the PEN website. You can also purchase advertisements to be posted on our Find an Editor page.
What are the other divisions of Christian Editors Association?
The four divisions of Christian Editors Association (CEA) are committed to serving Christian editors. Everything we do is out of our passion to equip, empower, and encourage editors in the Christian market. Explore these other divisions for more opportunities:
The PEN Institute
The PEN Institute provides education for Christian editors through group courses, digital curriculum, one-on-one instruction, and more. Members of The Christian PEN receive discounts on education from The PEN Institute. Learn more here.
PENCON
PENCON is our annual conference for Christian editors. Learn from workshops, keynote speakers, and a community of Christian editing professionals. Members of The Christian PEN receive discounts on PENCON registration and recordings. Learn more here.
Christian Editor Connection
Christian Editor Connection is an “editorial matchmaking service” that connects publishers and authors with experienced Christian editors. CEC members must have at least two years of paid freelance experience and pass editing or proofreading tests. Learn more here.
Editors’ Choice Award
Christian Editors Association also sponsors Editors’ Choice Award. This award, which ran for seven years as the Excellence in Editing Award, celebrates newly released books that are superbly written, well edited, and published by a Christian publisher or self-published by a Christian author. Learn more here.