Written by Megan Ryan

I recently celebrated my first anniversary of being a Christian PEN member, and I am happy to report that renewing my membership was a no-brainer. I’ve gained knowledge and connections, especially through the PEN Loop, that are helping me in my work. Here are a few highlights of what I’ve learned through PEN so far.

1. I am not alone.

I did freelance editing for far too long on my own. I learned a lot by trial and error. My family and close friends were supportive of my work, but they didn’t really understand all the details.

But as a member of The Christian PEN, I have found people who have been through many of the same situations I have. They understand the realities of the business side and the joys of the work itself. It makes such a difference to know I have a community who will understand my feelings about things like the Oxford comma.

2. There’s not one right way to work.

I started off my time in PEN somewhat insecure about the methods and processes I had built up on my own. Maybe they weren’t what the real professionals were doing.

While there are best practices and some legal aspects to consider, I have learned from the Loop (and am still learning) that there are usually multiple ways to approach a problem or process that can lead to success.

3. Other members are willing to help.

I also felt a little bit of caution about sharing with others at first, since we are in some ways competitors. But after observing conversations for a year, I believe the spirit of cooperation dwarfs any feeling of competitiveness among editors on the PEN Loop. Members are very willing to answer questions about style rules, business practices, and even marketing.

4. There are different views on sensitive topics.

Conversations about the use of AI and whether books without explicit faith content should be labeled Christian have drawn passionate responses on the Loop. While we have many things in common as Christian editing professionals, I also know that we have many perspectives. I have learned other ways of looking at topics like these.

5. The discounts are valuable.

While the Loop is my favorite benefit of The Christian PEN, I have also made use of most of the discounts available to members.

The Chicago Manual of Style is essential for book editing, so it’s nice to save on my online subscription. And it’s easier to prioritize professional development when there is a discount on PENCON (virtual conference) and PEN Institute courses. It’s even more powerful to combine the PEN member discount with the twice-a-year sales at The PEN Institute and the alumni discount for PENCON!

If you are considering joining The Christian PEN, I highly recommend you join us for community and opportunities to continue learning.

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