Written by Jayna Baas
Who doesn’t love a good discount? Retailers everywhere are gearing up for Black Friday, and with good reason. We all like deals. Editors are no exception.
But discounts on editing software and subscriptions aren’t usually available on Coupons.com or at the mall. That’s where The Christian PEN can help.
Plus, we have a brand-new member discount to announce!
Announcing 20% off Draftsmith (new discount!)
You may already be familiar with PerfectIt, an editing software we’ll talk about later in this article. Intelligent Editing, PerfectIt’s parent company, has done a lot of work in recent months on a new product called Draftsmith, an AI tool that helps polish writing while preserving the author’s voice.
Draftsmith works directly in Microsoft Word and allows you to accept or reject suggestions just as you would with other tools, and it does not store text or use it for training. You can choose from its suite of options to focus on exactly what you need, such as simplifying complex language or trimming word count.
The Christian PEN now offers 20% off Draftsmith subscriptions for PEN members at the Silver and Gold level. Log in to your PEN account or upgrade your Bronze membership to get the details.
Get 30% off PerfectIt
PerfectIt, mentioned above, is a longtime favorite from Intelligent Editing. This software integrates with Microsoft Word to quickly and efficiently check your entire project for consistency in style choices and spelling or capitalization. In addition, if it’s linked to a Chicago Manual of Style Online subscription, PerfectIt will catch any deviations from Chicago style and Merriam-Webster.
This tool is a valuable addition to any editor’s toolbox, but it’s especially helpful for proofreaders and copyeditors. It can also check tables and lists for consistency and perform quick cleanup tasks like removing extra spaces at the end of a paragraph or converting two spaces to one between sentences.
PerfectIt was originally built primarily for use on PC, but the program has recently made tremendous improvements to its Mac version as well.
PEN members at the Silver and Gold levels get 30% off PerfectIt’s annual subscription. Log in to your PEN account or upgrade your Bronze membership to get the details.
Get 20% off The Chicago Manual of Style Online
Every editor needs a trusty copy of The Chicago Manual of Style. Referencing this standard style manual online makes for easy searching and bookmarking, and it ensures you have the latest edition for always up-to-date information.
As mentioned above, you can link a CMOS Online subscription to PerfectIt for added style-checking power. CMOS Online also makes it easy to search within a long section of style guidelines, like the hyphenation table or the lengthy list of problematic words.
Because CMOS Online is such a valuable subscription for any editor, PEN members at all membership levels from Bronze to Gold get 20% off CMOS Online. Log in to your PEN account to get the details.
How to access your PEN member discount on editing software
To use your member discounts on these online subscriptions, log in to your PEN account. Click the Member Home link in the middle of the page (or the View button to the right), or hover over Log In in the main menu and select your membership level.
Scroll about halfway down the Member Resources page, and you’ll see all the information for each discount code and how to apply it.
If you’re not a member yet, start on our Purchase & Renew page by choosing a membership, filling out an application, and submitting payment. Then you’ll be able to view your member resources and use your discount codes.
Looking for more savings?
During the month of November, The PEN Institute runs a sitewide sale on editing courses in a variety of formats. Save on topics from developmental editing to biblical work-life balance with 20% off group courses or one-on-one instruction and 40% off self-study digital curriculum. You can combine your PEN member discount with these deals for even greater savings. Shop The PEN Institute here.
Thank you for reading the PEN Tips blog and for striving to give your clients the most informed, thorough editing possible. Happy saving!
Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) is the award-winning author of the For Liberty & Conscience series and serves as director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She writes and edits from beautiful northern Michigan, where she strives to give readers faith-filled adventures bursting with courageous characters and biblical truth. Learn more at booksbyjayna.com.