Our Story
Writing Has Always
Been the Work.
We Help Teams Do It Better.
Vermilion Quill was founded by editors who wanted AI tools to serve writers — not flatten them. We're based in Kuala Lumpur and focused on content teams across Malaysia.
← Back to HomepageHow It Started
A Practice Built Around Editorial Craft
Vermilion Quill began in early 2022 when two long-time editors — one from print journalism, one from digital content strategy — started fielding the same question from colleagues: "We've heard AI can help with writing. But every time we try something, it sounds nothing like us."
That question pointed to a real gap. The tools were capable, but there was no clear way for editorial teams to adopt them without losing the voice and consistency they'd spent years building. The consultancy grew out of practical fieldwork — testing approaches with content teams in media, finance, and retail, refining what actually worked, and building service models around those findings.
Today, Vermilion Quill operates from Kuala Lumpur and works with teams across Peninsular Malaysia. Our focus remains the same: help editorial professionals add AI-assisted drafting to their workflow without handing their voice over to it.
Our Mission
Keep the Writer in the Room
Our work is built on a straightforward idea: AI drafting tools are most useful when writers and editors remain the decision-makers. We don't position these tools as replacements — we help teams understand where they add speed, where they require careful checking, and how to build review processes that keep standards intact.
Every engagement starts with an honest look at the team's current writing process. We configure tools around that process, not the other way around. The style guides and workflows we produce belong to the client — designed to be maintained internally long after our involvement ends.
Our Values
- Voice preservation over speed
- Honest scope — no overselling
- Internal ownership for clients
- Plain explanations, no jargon
- Editorial judgment above automation
The People
Our Team
We're a small consultancy. That means every client works with the same senior staff who designed the service — not an account manager layer.
Siew Lin Tan
Co-Founder & Editorial Lead
Fourteen years in print and digital journalism before moving into content consultancy. Siew Lin leads all client-facing editorial assessments and style guide work.
Reza Azhari
Co-Founder & Workflow Specialist
Former digital content strategist who spent eight years building publishing workflows for regional media groups. Reza handles tool configuration and team training.
Nurul Baharom
Consultant, Content Quality
Background in corporate communications and brand copywriting. Nurul focuses on review cycle design and quality assurance processes within the Editorial Workflow Programme.
How We Work
Our Professional Standards
These are the practices we hold ourselves to on every client engagement — regardless of scope or budget.
Written Scope Before Every Engagement
We produce a clear written description of what is and isn't covered before any work begins. No scope creep, no surprise additions.
Data Handling with Discretion
Client writing samples and editorial materials shared with us are used solely for the purposes agreed. We don't retain them after project close.
Review Step on All Outputs
Every deliverable — draft, guide, or training material — goes through an internal review by a second team member before reaching the client.
No Affiliate Arrangements
We don't receive referral fees or commissions from tool providers. Our recommendations are based on what fits the client's workflow and budget.
All Documentation Belongs to the Client
Style guides, workflow maps, and training materials are written to be owned and maintained by the client's team — not to create ongoing dependency.
Honest Feedback in Both Directions
We encourage clients to tell us when something isn't working. We do the same — if a requested approach would weaken the editorial outcome, we say so.
Context and Expertise
Working at the Intersection of Editing and Technology
Content teams in Malaysia face a particular challenge with AI drafting tools. Most of these tools are configured around English as spoken and written in North America or the United Kingdom. That creates awkward results when Malaysian publications or brands use them without adjustment — the phrasing, register, and sometimes even the information feel slightly off.
Vermilion Quill focuses specifically on this gap. We work with your existing house style, your regional vocabulary choices, and your editorial standards to build configurations that produce useful first drafts rather than ones that require extensive correction. The time saved in drafting should not be cancelled out by time spent fixing.
Our practice draws on experience in Bahasa Malaysia and English-language editorial environments, corporate content, and publishing — which means we understand the different registers and expectations that apply across content types and audiences. That context shapes every setup we carry out.
Work With Us
Curious Whether We'd Be a Good Fit?
A short conversation usually tells both sides what they need to know. No pressure — just a straightforward discussion about your team's situation.
Get in Touch