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A photo of Sam taken outside against some berries, with a nice colourful scarf

Sam Boyce
Writers’ Consultancy

All the help you need to get your story out there.

Welcome to my website! If you’re working on a novel or narrative non-fiction idea, my mission is simple: to help you get that manuscript finished.

No matter what stage you’re at, I offer dedicated one-to-one support to fix whatever’s holding you up — and bring some extra structure, confidence and pleasure to your writing life.

If your manuscript is finished and you’re unsure about the next stage, I offer an expert editing service, along with professional guidance on markets, readerships and routes to publication.


Mentoring

Narrative development for first-time writers;

Technical troubleshooting for mid-draft problems;

Empathetic, positive and practical support for mid-career dilemmas.

Manuscript Assessment

An insightful, professional overview of your manuscript's strengths, weaknesses and potential, plus an hour-long discussion and follow-up resources to help you plan your next steps.

Editing

Detailed development for your early draft, comprehensive line editing for the rewrite, and a fast, skilful copyedit for the final polish.

Professional Development

Help with competitions, anthology call-outs, self-publishing strategies, or submissions to agents and indie publishers.

I’ve been working with writers professionally for nearly thirty years and have helped hundreds of emerging and established authors — as a literary agent, senior tutor of postgraduate Creative Writing, through various national mentoring schemes, and as a full time, industry-trained editor. This depth of experience means I can design an editorial process tailor-made for your book: one which fits with your genre, intended market and preferred working methods, and which is dedicated to helping you achieve your creative and commercial ambitions.

The mentoring and creative/professional development support I offer is flexible and affordable. You can pay in small instalments and arrange the work at your own pace, with face-to-face meetings or Zoom sessions available on evenings and weekends as well as through the week.

If you browse the rest of this website you’ll find more about working with me, and about the other resources I’m developing.

But if you have a story you want to talk about, the best thing is to get in touch. Just contact me for a chat — I’d love to hear from you.


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Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

Books


Around half of the work I do is for commercial publishers, largely via the brilliant creative agency whitefox and the rest is for individual writers, who contact me direct. Here are some examples.

Tender Maps: Travels in Search of the Emotions of Place by Alice Maddicott

Tender Maps: Travels in Search of the Emotions of Place
Alice Maddicott

Published July 2023
Development edit for September Publishing
The Maiden by Kate Foster

The Maiden
Kate Foster

Published by Pan Macmillan April 2023
Development edit for the author
Mother Country by Monique Charlesworth

Mother Country
Monique Charlesworth

Published by Moth Books March 2023
Manuscript assessment for the author
We Can Be Heroes by Paul Burston

We Can Be Heroes
Paul Burston

Published June 2023
Structural edit for Little A (Amazon)
DELIO: Phase One by RR Haywood

DELIO: Phase One
RR Haywood

Published March 2023
Copyedit for Audible Original
The Puppet Girl by Kati St Clair

The Puppet Girl
Kati St Clair

Published February 2023
Structural/development edit for whitefox Publishing
Para Bellum by Simon Turney

Para Bellum
Simon Turney

Published July 2023
Copyedit for Head of Zeus
The Outcast

The Outcast by Eve M. Riley
Eve M. Riley

Published November 2022
Manuscript assessment for the author
Book cover: There’s a Hole in my Bucket by Royd Tolkien

There’s a Hole in my Bucket
Royd Tolkien

Published August 2021
Development Edit for Little A (Amazon)
Book cover: The Psychopath by Mary Turner Thomson

The Psychopath
Mary Turner Thomson

Published March 2021
Development Edit for Little A (Amazon)
Book cover: The Marsh House by Zoë Somerville

The Marsh House
Zoë Somerville

Published March 2022
Structural / Copyedit for Head of Zeus
Book cover: Waking the Tiger by Mark Wightman

Waking the Tiger
Mark Wightman

Published by Hobeck Books, June 2021
Structural Edit for the author
Book cover: The Ethical Stripper by Stacey Clare

The Ethical Stripper
Stacey Clare

Published March 2022
Structural edit for Unbound
Book cover: The Refusal by Eve M Riley

The Refusal
Eve M Riley

Published June 2021
Manuscript Assessment for the author
Book cover: Under Almond Blossoms by Anja Saskia Beyer, trans. Annette von Charpentier

Under Almond Blossoms
Anja Saskia Beyer, trans. Annette von Charpentier

Published December 2020
Copyedit for Lake Union Publishing (Amazon)
Book cover: City of Vengeance by D. V. Bishop

City of Vengeance
D. V. Bishop

Published by Pan Macmillan, February 2021
Manuscript Assessment / Development Edit for the author
Book cover: A World Of Secrets by James Maxwell

A World of Secrets
James Maxwell

Published July 2020
Copyedit for 47North (Amazon)
Book cover: The Girl from Nowhere by Eliska Tanzer

The Girl from Nowhere
Eliska Tanzer

Published by Mirror Books, February 2020
Mentoring and Development Editing for the author
Book cover: Goblin by Eva Dundas

Goblin
Eva Dundas

Published by Saraband, December 2017
Mentoring for the author
Book cover: Wasp by Ian Garbutt

Wasp
Ian Garbutt

Published by Polygon, March 2015
Mentoring for the author
Book cover: Truestory by Catherine Simpson

Truestory
Catherine Simpson

Published by Sandstone Press, September 2015
Mentoring for the author
Book cover: Kissing Lying Down by Kate Tough

Kissing Lying Down
Kate Tough

Published July 2020
Development / Line Edit for the author
Book cover: Be guid tae yer Mammy by Emma Grae

Be guid tae yer Mammy
Emma Grae

Published August 2021
Structural / Development Edit for Unbound
Book cover: No Place to Lie by Helen Garlick

No Place to Lie
Helen Garlick

Published February 2021
Structural / Copyedit for whitefox publishing
Book cover: Flying on the Inside by Rachel Gotto

Flying on the Inside
Rachel Gotto

Published December 2021
Structural / Development Edit for Little A (Amazon)
Book cover: You See the Monster by Luke Smitherd

You See the Monster
Luke Smitherd

Published June 2021
Development / Line Edit for the author
Book cover: Last Star Standing by Spaulding Taylor

Last Star Standing
Spaulding Taylor

Published February 2021
Structural Edit for Unbound
Book cover: My Mother Next Door by Diane Danvers Simmons

My Mother Next Door
Diane Danvers Simmons

Published by Koehler Books, November 2021
Structural Edit for the author
Book cover: Hooray for the Next to Die by Michael Millar

Hooray for the Next to Die
Michael Millar

Published September 2021
Copyedit for whitefox Publishing
Book cover: The Rain by B. B. Thomas

To the Dead Already
Michael Millar

Published October 2021
Copyedit for whitefox Publishing
Book cover: Blood of Ravens by Jen McIntosh

Blood of Ravens
Jen McIntosh

Published June 2021
Development Edit and Line Edit / Copyedit for the author
Book cover: The Cost of Magic by Andrew Macmillan

The Cost of Magic
Andrew Macmillan

Published October 2020
Mentoring, Development Edit and Copyedit for the author
Book cover: The Knitting Station by Kirsti Wishart

The Knitting Station
Kirsti Wishart

Published March 2021
Mentoring for the author
Book cover: The Far Wild by Alex Knight

The Far Wild
Alex Knight

Published December 2020
Copyedit for Audible Original
Book cover: Stolen Girl by Sarah A. Denzil

Stolen Girl
Sarah A. Denzil

Published February 2021
Copyedit for Audible Original
Book cover: The Evidence by K. L. Slater

The Evidence
K. L. Slater

Published February 2021
Copyedit for Audible Original
Book cover: The Elfor Drop by R. R. Haywood

The Elfor Drop
R. R. Haywood

Published December 2020
Copyedit for Audible Original
Book cover: The Rain by B. B. Thomas

The Rain
B. B. Thomas

Published August 2021
Copyedit for Audible Original
Book cover: The Projectionist by Kirsti Wishart

The Projectionist
Kirsti Wishart

Published February 2022
Mentoring for the author
Book cover: The Empty Men by Luke Smitherd

The Empty Men
Luke Smitherd

Published November 2020
Development Edit for Audible Original
Book cover: A Silent Voice Speaks by Trishna Singh OBE

A Silent Voice Speaks
Trishna Singh OBE

Published by Fledgling Press June 2022
Mentoring and structural editing for the author
Book cover: The Stone Giant by Luke Smitherd

The Stone Giant
Luke Smitherd

Published March 2022
Development edit and line edit for the author
Book cover: An Awfully Big Adventure by George R Mitchell

An Awfully Big Adventure
George R Mitchell

Published June 2022
Line edit / copyedit for the author
Book cover: Music for Three in a Prelude to Revolution by Janet Savin

Music for Three in a Prelude to Revolution
Janet Savin

Published March 2022
Copyedit for whitefox Publishing
Book cover: Music for Three in a Time of Revolution by Janet Savin

Music for Three in a Time of Revolution
Janet Savin

Published May 2022
Copyedit for whitefox Publishing
Book cover: The Fractured Tree by Justin Wheatley

The Fractured Tree
Justin Wheatley

Published June 2022
Structural edit for whitefox Publishing
Book cover: The Elfor One by R. R. Haywood

The Elfor One
R. R. Haywood

Published September 2022
Copyedit for Audible Original
Book cover: Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs

Shield Maiden
Sharon Emmerichs

Published February 2023
Copyedit for Head of Zeus
Book cover: Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel by Janet Savin

Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel
Alice McVeigh

Published June 2021
Professional development consultation for the author
Book cover: Children of Shadows by Andrew Hall

Children of Shadows
Andrew Hall

Published October 2018
Manuscript Assessment for the author
Book cover: Model Citizens by Daniel Shand

Model Citizens
Daniel Shand

Published by Little, Brown May 2022
Manuscript assessment for the author