Denise Loock

Virtual PENCON: The Just-Right Conference for All Editors

PEN Tips , , , , ,

Virtual PENCON: The Just-Right Conference for All Editors

by Denise Loock

“Social interaction energizes extroverts but exhausts introverts.” That simple explanation from a human resources director released me from years of guilt. No wonder I avoid women’s retreats, reunions, and professional conferences. They wear me out!

Author Susan Cain explains my aversion this way: “Human beings seek ‘just right’ levels of stimulation … it can take any number of forms, from noise to social life to flashing lights.”[1] Introverts prefer less stimulation, extroverts more—the reason my friend edits on her laptop at Starbucks and I work in silent solitude at home.

On the other hand, I also recognize the benefits of attending these gatherings, especially professional conferences. I gain knowledge and skills from industry experts, I learn from fellow editors who have similar interests and challenges, and I’m inspired to pursue new goals.

So why is PENCON 2021 the perfect social gathering for people like me? The virtual platform allows me to choose how many sessions to attend and to regulate how much I engage with other attendees. I can limit stimulation without guilt—knowing I can view recorded sessions later when my energy is replenished. Woo-hoo!

But how well does a virtual platform work for extroverts? One sociable editor told me, “Of course I prefer face-to-face gatherings. But virtual PENCON still reminds me that I’m not alone. Even if I live out in the boonies, at PENCON I can network and learn with likeminded colleagues.” Another said, “I discovered that another editor lived nearby, which led to a lasting face-to-face friendship.”

This year, the conference schedule features midday breaks so participants can use free time to interact with other attendees through private Zoom or FaceTime meetings. Attendees can also meet one-on-one with faculty during those breaks. In addition, the Crowdcast platform features a Chat column for interaction before and after sessions. Faculty can also choose to keep the Chat column open during their sessions to encourage more interaction. If you want even more social time, volunteer to be a session host for PENCON 2021. (We’ll train you.)

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron.” Both introverts and extroverts need social interaction. If we regulate our intake at the just-right level, we receive maximum benefit at minimal expense.

And speaking of cost, that’s another benefit of a virtual conference. PENCON 2021 offers twenty-three hours of industry-expert input for less than $9.00 an hour. As a PEN member, your discount may reduce the price to $6.00 an hour.

One alumnus said, “PENCON is on my ‘do not ever miss’ list. … I adore honing my skills, connecting with fellow editors, and being encouraged in what can be an extremely solitary profession.”

Come to PENCON 2021 and discover why it should be on your “do not ever miss” list. Register today at.

[1] Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking (NY: Broadway Books, 2012), Kindle edition, Chapter 5.

Denise Loock is a general editor for LPC Books, a division of Iron Stream Media. She also accepts freelance projects from both fiction and nonfiction writers. As the director of PENCON, she is committed to helping editors and proofreaders learn, grow, and network.

Save the Semicolon

PEN Tips , , , , ,

Save the Semicolon

by Denise Loock

The semicolon awaits trial in global court. The indictment? Uselessness. If convicted, it will be exiled from the Land of the Written Word. 

This grieves my heart.

Worldwide, writers and editors have denounced the semicolon. In its place they have sanctioned unthinkable replacements: Phrases and clauses masquerading as sentences. 

Groups of words divorced from both subject and verb. The horror, the horror. And what about the twenty-first century writer’s infatuation with the single-word pseudo-sentence? Inexplicable.

I, on the other hand, come to praise the semicolon, not to condemn it.

No other punctuation mark has the semicolon’s ability to (1) connect independent clauses without compromising their individuality, (2) highlight the value of conjunctive adverbs, or (3) unsnarl a tangle of phrases and commas, then align them in readable lists.

 

What makes the semicolon a remarkable invention, however, is the nuances of meaning its presence heralds. The semicolon suggests a kinship between two independent clauses that distinguishes them from the crowd of sentences congregated in a paragraph. Without the semicolon’s assistance, the meaning of both thoughts would be diminished; therefore, it enables writers who appreciate its subtlety to craft more memorable sentences.

Example: Joy is not about praying for the sunshine; it’s about playing in the rain.

Semicolons also provide an air of expectancy at the end of an independent clause. They conduct a fluidity of thought that is blocked by a period and too forceful to be controlled by a comma. When savvy readers encounter a semicolon, they pause to examine the relationship between two thoughts. In this role, a semicolon acts as a grammatical selah. 

Example: I waited in silence as he read; I knew better than to leave before I had been dismissed.

I close with three advisements:

  • Don’t disrespect a semicolon by assuming it’s a pretentious comma or a period’s poor relation.
  • Don’t use one between two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so). That’s the comma’s job.
  • Don’t use one in dialogue. That’s the period’s job.  

Save the semicolon, fellow editors. It deserves both our protection and our patronage.

Denise Loock is an editor, author, and inspirational speaker. She is a general editor for LPCBooks, a division of Iron Stream Media. She also accepts freelance editing projects. She teaches two PEN Institute Courses and writes a grammar and usage column for Christian Communicator. She is the director of PENCON 2020.

Why PENCON?

PEN Tips , , , ,

Why PENCON?

by Denise Loock

Is it worth the money? That was the first question I asked myself when I read the announcement about PENCON 2017 in Atlanta. I’d attended many writers’ conferences, justifying the expense as an opportunity to interact with potential clients while I honed my writing skills. But could I justify the expense of a conference for editors? 

Full disclosure: Cecil Murphey was the keynote speaker in Atlanta, and I knew he wouldn’t disappoint. I also live in North Carolina, close enough to drive to the conference. Those two factors motivated me to register.

The conference far exceeded my expectations. I left with new skills, renewed motivation and purpose, and enduring friendships. I didn’t think twice about paying airfare to Grand Rapids and the conference fees in 2018. I was hooked. Why?

  • PENCON is the only annual conference for Christian editors. We need the support, insight, and inspiration colleagues provide. Sure, a lot of us are introverts and prefer the solitude of our home offices. But God didn’t create any of us to be hermits. Community is his idea, and we need the interaction.
  • PENCON faculty help me improve my skills. I’m a better editor—catch more mistakes, craft better sentences—because of the knowledge and tips I gain in the workshops. 
  • PENCON is fun. Other editors laugh at the same misspellings and typos you do. Eating together, sharing stories, and learning from each other in workshop discussions re-energize us. The camaraderie reminds us that we aren’t strange creatures from another universe. Punctuation matters; grammar matters. 
  • PENCON is affirmation of God’s approval. He demands excellence and he cares about details. (Review his instructions about the tabernacle in Exodus or the temple in 1 Kings.) Helping writers achieve excellence is a worthwhile endeavor that brings God pleasure.

You may be thinking that you can’t afford to attend PENCON 2020. Maybe so. Here are two suggestions. First, ask God to provide the funds if he wants you to attend PENCON 2020; tell him the specific amount you need. Second, ask friends and family members to give you cash as gifts throughout 2020 so you’ll be ready for PENCON 2021.

How much money would you invest in a continuing education course at a local college? Maybe three or four hundred dollars. Think of PENCON as a continuing education course with fringe benefits of fun and fellowship. Invest in your career but, more importantly, invest in yourself. You’re worth it.

For more information, visit https://penconeditors.com/

Denise Loock is an editor, author, and inspirational speaker. She is a general editor for LPCBooks, a division of Iron Stream Media. She also accepts freelance editing projects. She teaches two PEN Institute Courses and writes a grammar and usage column for Christian Communicator. She is the director of PENCON 2020.

 

Receive every blog article in your inbox.