2026 Workshops

 

Workshop W1
The Diamond Diagram: Model for Deep Content Editing
The content side of editing is the most important, but sometimes editors have no structured system of how to approach it. In this session, Kelsey Budd will discuss the ten Cs of content editing for attendees to easily remember for later use. We’ll go over the definitions of each, negative examples, and positive examples. During the Q and A, we’ll discuss which ones were the most helpful and why, and any other content editing systems others use or have developed.

 
Workshop W2
How to Supplement Your Editing Income through Web Content
This workshop with Valerie Denor will dicuss how to create multiple income streams to supplement your editing pay. Yes, you can make a living as an editor!

Workshop W3
Editors Are Teachers Too
When you work with authors, you often must take on the role of a teacher. What’s an em dash? How can I convert my Google Doc to Word? What is Track Changes? During this workshop, Sue Fairchild will discuss how to communicate in a way that is both educational and beneficial to your authors, so they not only have the tools to finish their manuscript well but also the next one and so on.

Workshop W4
Coaching Authors Writing Biblical Content
Carol Tetzlaff shares the keys in helping editors guide authors in developing theologically sound, spiritually rich, and personally transformational biblical content. This workshop equips editors and coaches to offer more than grammar fixes—it empowers them to nurture spiritual clarity and depth. It’s a great follow-up to her 2025 workshop, though that is not a prerequisite for this class. Last year’s workshop is available for purchase in the PENCON store if you didn’t catch it but would like to.

Workshop W5
From Reader to Editor: Mastering the Fundamentals of Fiction Editing
Ready to launch your fiction editing career but not sure where to start? In this comprehensive workshop, Jennifer Crosswhite demystifies the editing process and gives you the confidence and tools to begin working with authors professionally. You’ll learn the different types of editing (developmental, line, copy) and when each applies, how to spot and fix common manuscript problems, what authors really need from their editors (hint: it’s not just grammar fixes), and how to give feedback that inspires rather than deflates. Through hands-on exercises with real manuscript samples, you’ll leave with a clear editing workflow, a toolkit of diagnostic questions, and the confidence to take on your first fiction clients. Perfect for aspiring editors, beta readers going professional, or anyone who loves stories and wants to help authors shine.

Workshop 6
How to Query “Life” (and other troublesome terms)
Christian topics tempt even the best writers to overuse ambiguous and abstract terms—terms we may not recognize as ambiguous because they are so familiar. Learn how to help your authors avoid the more subtle forms of Christian jargon. In this session with Kelli Sallman, we’ll also review some of the easiest ways to elevate clarity and resonance by paying attention to the style gurus, Strunk and White.

Workshop W7
Publishing As Partnership
Traditional publishing is built on relationships. In this session, Jason Fikes will talk about freelancing and how you can create healthy relationships with your clients. Learn to think like a professional and position your work for long-term success.

Workshop W8
Mental Health Reset: Best Practices for Keeping your Brain on Track
Life comes at us fast, and if we’re not careful, we can end up reacting to everything that comes our way. That’s less than ideal, but it happens all the time. This session, led by Chris Morris, will highlight several practical, biblical tools to allow us to be proactive and responsive instead of stuck in reactive mode.

Workshop T1
What’s New in the Christian Writer’s Manual of Style 5
There’s a new version of CWMS coming out in 2026, and the editor, Robert Hudson, will give a sneak peek at what’s to come and what is updated. His presentation will be followed by a time for questions and answers, so if you ever had any questions about CWMS, this is the time and place to get them answered.

Workshop T2
AI for Editors
Everywhere you turn these days, you hear about AI. In this workshop, Thomas Umstattd Jr. looks at how editors can use AI for good, what pitfalls to avoid when using AI, and some of its limitations.

Workshop T3
Perfectionism and the Practicing Editor
As editors, we’re wired to find flaws — the dangling modifier, the awkward sentence construction, the plot holes. But the gift that makes us good editors can become a burden without healthy boundaries. In this workshop with Sarah Barnum, we’ll look at where perfectionism serves the work, and where it starts to strangle us. Drawing on insights from craft, psychology, and the Christian call to faithful stewardship rather than flawless output, we’ll build practical strategies for navigating mistakes with grace and doing excellent work without paying for it with our peace.

Workshop T4
Can I Look at Your Proposal
Book proposals have many elements (title, hook, platform signals, chapter outlines, a writing sample, and more). In this session, Jason Fikes will look at a few non-fiction proposals and discuss what catches the eye of an editor.

Workshop T5
Social Media for Editors
Ever wonder how to sell your services without being “salesy”? How do you sell an intangible product like editing services? Do you have trouble promoting yourself and your expertise? In this workshop, Sue Fairchild will discuss how editors can utilize different social media platforms to garner new clients while also having a bit of fun. Sue Fairchild will show you how to put together content that is educational, encouraging, and effective for your business.

Workshop T6
Lessons in Literary Law
Every author should know their rights in relation to their work. This presentation from lawyer Kelley Way looks at three areas of law every editor should be familiar with— trademark, right of privacy and publicity, and defamation—and talks about how to protect your rights in these areas while avoiding infringing on the rights of others.

Workshop T7
What I Learned About Editing from Being Edited
Robert Hudson’s whole view on editing changed once he started writing his own books. In some ways, he wishes he would have written his books before he’d been an editor so he could have been a better editor. In this workshop, he’ll share those lessons he learned along the way and help us become better editors, whether we’re writers or not.

Workshop T8
Narrative Layers: How to Help Your Author Cultivate the Garden of Their Story
Sometimes, even when a story has creative writing and a dynamic plot, there can still be something that feels off. These can be deeper issues within the narrative that are harder to find but are also very common. In this session, Kelsey Budd will go over the most common and obvious errors and then go through the top twenty she’s found in many fiction manuscripts. This will be an interactive session where, during our Q and A section at the end, we’ll hear from others about the narrative issues they’ve found in editing projects.

Workshop F1
Tips to Work Faster and Smarter
The old adage says we can’t have all three at once: fast, good, and cheap. But working faster and smarter will increase your profit margin, especially when you regularly catch errors other editors might miss. In this workshop, Kelli Sallman will recommend a variety of macros, tips, and techniques to improve your copyediting and proofreading game for academic and general nonfiction.

Workshop F2
Comma or No Comma: Understanding Adjectives 
Do you know the difference between cumulative and coordinate adjectives? Do you know the sequential order of adjectives and when to use commas? What should you do when cumulative and coordinate adjectives are used together? This workshop by Lora Doncea will cover how to identify, edit, and punctuate adjectives accurately.

Workshop F3
The Science of Story: Why Great Fiction Works (And How to Fix What Doesn’t)
You know when a story isn’t working—but can you explain why? More importantly, can you fix it at the root level, not just treat the symptoms? In this advanced workshop, Jennifer Crosswhite reveals the brain science behind every “rule” of storytelling. You’ll discover why readers’ brains crave specific patterns, why certain plot structures feel satisfying while others fall flat, and how cognitive science explains everything from character arc to pacing. Understanding the “why” transforms you from an editor who follows rules to one who knows when and how to break them brilliantly. We’ll dive deep into the neuroscience of reader engagement: how the brain processes story, why it bonds with certain characters, and what triggers that “can’t put it down” response. You’ll learn to identify the difference between surface problems and wound-level issues, diagnose why readers disconnect at specific points, and provide solutions that address core story problems rather than cosmetic fixes. Through advanced manuscript analysis, you’ll practice identifying cognitive dissonance in character development, finding the missing neurological triggers in “boring” scenes, and understanding why some beautifully written books still fail to engage. For experienced editors ready to level up their diagnostic and problem-solving skills.

Workshop F4
Breaking Through Writer’s Block
A practical session offering tools to help writers keep momentum during both the writing and revision stages. Carol Tetzlaff will include techniques for overcoming the spiritual aspect of writing including doubt and discouragement, clarifying their “why,” refining their audience, and developing practical structure methods to stay focused and inspired.

Workshop F5
AI and SEO Optimization
Now you have your website all set up. Great. But how do you optimize it so that it shows up near the top of Google searches? In this workshop, Thomas Umstattd Jr. will look at how editors can use AI to optimize their SEO and make them more visible to potential clients.

Workshop F6
Fair Use
Editors often grapple with questions regarding lengthy quotations or other content taken from outside sources, published and unpublished. When is this material considered to be fair use, and when does an author need permission to use it? What does the term fair use mean? What qualifies as fair use? When might an editor want to alert a client to a potential need for permission to avoid copyright infringement? Finally, how might a recent Supreme Court decision affect authors and publishers? Lawyer Kelley Way will guide editors through these questions.

Workshop F7
Serious About Series: Helping Authors Develop a Fiction Series
Every editor wants to help authors build anticipation for their next novels. One way to do so is with a book series. In this workshop Sarah Sundin will discuss the pros and cons of series. We’ll look at how to help your authors connect the novels to build a sense of community and familiarity, how to maintain consistency within a series, and how to provide contrast by within the series. You can guide your authors to create a series that grips readers and won’t let them go!

Workshop F8
Assessing What Your Client Needs
When you receive an editing job, you will typically be asked to do a specific type of edit. But what if the client doesn’t know what their writing needs? Or what if the type of editing they are asking for isn’t the right one? How do you handle these situations professionally and knowledgeably? In this course, Lora Doncea will teach the key elements of various types of editing. This information will equip you to identify the correct edit for the projects you receive. This is a great introduction to the PEN Institute course Lora will be teaching in August 2026.