I’ve gotten a few emails about this, so I figured it was time to post something about my writing, editing anthologies, and my role as Acquisitions Editor of Ambrotos Press.
As I touched on in my article for Morpheus Tales #11, it’s all about diversifying yourself. This also goes into why I don’t ever see myself having an agent. Reason being; I really do enjoy all aspects of the publishing world – from writing a story, editing them, or working with a publisher on the business side of things. I find the process of each thing fascinating, and I think if you follow me on here or on Facebook, you’ll see how passionate I am about it all. I enjoy crafting a story just as much as working with another author to get their short story, novella or novel into print. I dig working with cover artists on my own stuff and that of others. Pretty much the whole thing. I can’t speak for the other genres, but folks in the horror realm are some of the nicest and most down to earth people I have ever met. I love this world, even though it does make my blood pressure rise sometimes, and it’s always been my dream to do it fulltime (though some ask how I work two jobs and find time to write…to which I reply…Red Bull) one day – which I have no doubt will happen.
The point of all this is; yes, I am still writing (which can be seen by the number of books I have coming out over the next two years), being the Editor for anthologies AND running Ambrotos Press.
Welcome to my world. This is only the beginning.
Ty Schwamberger 
Sarah,
I agree. It can help, but not the only way to go.
And, of course there are. 😉
Thanks. You too!
Thanks, Ty. And granted, not everyone needs (or wants) an agent. But if your dream is to make a full-time living from fiction writing, it sure does help!
Are there advance-paying horror publishers that buy unagented fiction?
Best of luck with your writing and all your projects.
Thanks for the kind words, Sarah.
It’s not that I’m necessarily against what an agent can bring to a writer, but more that I personally know several fulltime horror writers that do it without one, so I don’t see the need for one (maybe 10 years ago, but not so much anymore with how the industry is changing).
There are things that are still in the works that I can’t quite talk about yet, but don’t worry…I have a vision, a plan.
Like I’ve always said…this is just the beginning.
Hello, Ty! Writer to writer, I enjoy reading your blog and admire the platform you have created for yourself. But if you really want to do this for a living, I think you’ll find you need an agent eventually. I can’t see how having one would take away anything from your experience of crafting and editing a story — they simply don’t do that. Their job is to sell your work to a publisher for the best possible advance. Which certainly adds to the experience!
They’ll also handle movie rights, foreign rights, licensing and all the other opportunities that open up when you sell to a big, advance-paying pub.
There’s nothing wrong with sticking to small presses that don’t require you to have an agent, but that’s a very hard route to go if your ultimate goal is to be a full-time, professional fiction writer.