About Blue Pen
We are a small team of editors, book designers, and project managers working to help authors create excellent books. Some of our authors need book editing services to prepare for submission, and others hire us to edit and design their self-published book.
Founded and run by Victoria Griffin, author and editor, Blue Pen is a haven for authors lost amidst misinformation and predatory companies. One of our clients said, “Working with Blue Pen made me feel like there was a light at the end of the tunnel.” We hope to do the same for you.
Our roots are in writing.
Our team works with authors because we love helping bring incredible books into the world. We understand how scary it can be to hand your work over to a stranger, and we work hard to both improve manuscripts and help authors develop their craft.
We are a partner member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. ALLi vetted us in areas including integrity, value, and communication.
Meet our editors and designers.
Each editor specializes in either story-level or prose-level book editing services. Blue Pen editors have an average of 10.4 years of experience, and each of our editors is an active member of the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Each of our cover designers has a bachelor’s degree in design. Our book designers have worked with independent authors and traditional publishers, and they are well versed in reader expectations and industry trends.
Victoria Griffin
Victoria is an East Tennessee author and editor. She is the founder of Blue Pen, and her writing is represented by Sandy Lu of Book Wyrm Literary Agency. Victoria is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Knoxville Writers’ Guild, and the Appalachian Studies Association. Learn more about Victoria.
FAQs
What is the meaning behind the Blue Pen name?
It's rather simple: Victoria edits with blue pens! Of course, the name came about during a time when editing was more frequently completed on hard copies. But she still breaks out the blue pen on occasion.
The name Blue Pen also represents our emphasis on providing editing that is not only thorough and honest, but also respectful and encouraging.
Is Blue Pen a publisher?
No, we are not a publisher. We provide services that authors need to publish independently or to prepare to pursue representation or traditional publication.
Blue Pen charges for services completed and does not maintain any rights, royalties, or control. A company that charges up front and takes a royalty percentage is a vanity press, which authors should avoid.
We encourage authors to research and understand the difference between a legitimate service provider, a traditional publisher, and a vanity press. Consult Writer Beware before working with anyone in the industry.
How did Blue Pen expand into design services?
While working as a freelance book editor, Victoria found that many of her clients needed trustworthy author services. In particular, she heard many horror stories from authors who had been scammed, and she thought, I oughta do something about this. She couldn't stop scammers and vanity presses from preying on authors, but she could offer a safe alternative. So she used her industry connections to begin adding book designers to the team. Today, Blue Pen has become a comprehensive resource for authors who want to produce high-level work.
What if I need one-on-one support?
For questions about self-publishing, querying, writing, or selecting services, book a one-on-one consultation. We offer these individual, paid consultations to ensure authors have access to all the support they need, while keeping rates as low as possible for those who do not need additional support.
You can also visit our Knowledge Base for answers to common questions, such as how to choose between KDP and IngramSpark and how to secure an ISBN.
What benefits does Blue Pen offer compared to other service providers?
Blue Pen offers more in-depth resources and specialized services than individual freelancers, while providing a much more personalized experience than large companies.
Our model is based on the author-freelancer experience, providing individual assistance and attention. However, our team is able to offer specialized services based on the author’s genre and goals. With Blue Pen, authors can access editing, design, and other services from thoroughly vetted and tested professionals.
How do you vet team members?
Victoria personally selects each Blue Pen team member. Each prospective team member submits samples of their work—designs or sample edits—which Victoria reviews for quality. She also ensures that each team member’s work aligns with our values.
If the prospective team member’s experience, credentials, and work sample meet our standards, they participate in an interview with Victoria. During the interview, Victoria makes sure the professional is committed to their craft and dedicated to supporting authors and the writing community. She also dives deeper into their experience to ensure they have the talent and background to provide the quality services Blue Pen is known for.
If the individual meets all of these standards, they may be invited to join the Blue Pen team. Victoria continuously reviews work completed for our authors to ensure each team member’s work consistently meets Blue Pen’s standards.
What programs do you use?
Our editors use Microsoft Word, and our designers use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.
Our Knowledge Base includes tutorials for exporting manuscripts from Scrivener, Google Docs, and Pages.
How do you set your rates for book design and book editing services?
Our rates are based on industry standards published by the EFA. We work to keep rates as low as possible while paying our team fairly, in order to attract and retain the industry’s top talent.
Do you offer specialized editing in my genre?
Blue Pen has worked with genres including romance, horror, western, inspirational, sci-fi, memoir, historical, upmarket, fantasy, crime thriller, adventure, suspense, and many more.
We take pride in delivering specialized editing services that fit each author’s work and goals. To see if any of our team members specialize in your genre, filter our list of team members by genre, age category, and service.
What is your approach to book editing?
The goal of any book editing service is to align the words on the page with the author’s vision. We work to enhance the unique aspects of each manuscript. Editing is a craft, and Blue Pen editors make thoughtful decisions based on the style and direction of the work. Whether we’re providing feedback on the story or making changes at the line level, we always work to balance honest, comprehensive editing with positivity and encouragement.
Will book editing services change my manuscript’s voice?
After editing, your manuscript will look different. But every change should improve the manuscript and align with the author’s vision. Good editing does not destroy what is special about your work. It not only maintains but highlights your unique narrative voice. We are always working in the best interest of your manuscript and career.
Should I schedule book design or book editing services in advance?
Blue Pen is proud to offer exceptional availability. We can typically begin new projects within a month—often much sooner. Because we require a finalized word count before booking the service, we cannot currently schedule editing or book design in advance. See our team members' availability when booking services.
Will my work remain private?
Absolutely. Safeguarding your work is a huge priority for us. Only the team members actively working on your manuscript have access to it. Each member of our team signs a confidentiality agreement, so you can be sure your work is never shared outside of our organization.
Learn more about our file privacy measures.