Affirmation and Education: What Every Editor Needs

Written by Denise Loock

My daughter is writing her first novel. Recently, I sent her a link to the audio of a presentation on dialog I’d heard live at a writers’ conference. When she called to thank me for sending it, she mentioned two benefits of listening to the workshop: (1) the speaker affirmed what my daughter was doing well; (2) she educated my daughter on what she could do better.

Affirmation and education. Every human being needs both. Those of us who work in solitary professions like writing or freelance editing don’t always receive much encouragement or instruction. Other responsibilities often suck up the time we could invest in educational pursuits. And if you’re a doer like me, you may neglect affirmation avenues because you “don’t have time for that.”

I’ve been associated with PENCON since 2017, three years as an attendee and five years as the director. Both the in-person and online conferences have affirmed my ability to pursue an editing career. This profession suits my skill set and my personality, but I still need encouragement to propel me through difficult projects and the financial challenges of self-employment. PENCON speakers usually share a personal story or professional technique that prompts me to say, “Me too” or “I never knew that.”

Some PENCON alumni say:

  • “PENCON is the only conference where the other attendees get me.”
  • “It’s so refreshing to be among like-minded editors.”
  • “I left PENCON feeling confident in my editing abilities.”
  • “What you walk away with is encouragement, knowledge, and a challenge to become better.”

At every conference, I’ve also learned new skills that enable me to improve my editing process and add services for my clients.

Other PENCON alumni say:

  • “Even as an experienced editor, I learned a lot.”
  • “The presenters provide concrete, practical information.”
  • “PENCON is full of experts in the field that are inspiring and knowledgeable.”
  • “PENCON packs a lot of great content and networking into three days.”
  • “I learned much more about the different specialties and also about how to excel as an editor in general.”

I’m confident PENCON 2025 attendees will share similar comments about the 28 encouraging and educational presentations on this year’s schedule. You’ll be challenged to prioritize self-care and pursue spiritual, emotional, and mental wellness. Speakers will address ways to encourage and educate your clients with integrity and grace. You’ll learn ways to protect your business and market it. Workshops on genre-specific fields such as youth fantasy, romance, poetry, and Bible studies will help you expand your services. Presenters will provide practical how-tos on manuscript critiques, story coaching, developmental edits, and substantive fiction samples.

In most occupations, professionals are encouraged to pursue continuing education. PENCON is the only annual conference tailored to the affirmation and education of Christian editors and proofreaders. Join us May 7–9 and discover why attendees say, “This is the one conference I budget for every year.”

Check out the session schedule and all the presentation information at penconeditors.com. Based on their membership level, PEN members receive up to 30% discount on the conference fee of $259. PEN discounts end April 15. Registration is open until April 22. Contact PENCON if you have questions.

Denise Loock is the owner of Lightning Editing Services. She teaches Editing Devotionals 101 and Sentence Diagramming 101 for The PEN Institute and is the director of PENCON. She is also the author of Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture and Song.