Expert: Susan Rand - 3/24/2010

Question
Hi Susan,
I found this site initially though a Google search. I already sent this question to Cathy Clamp, but I just now noticed that she's on vacation until April. I hope I'm not being taboo by switching my question over to you, I don't know what the proper protocol is and I don't want to slight Cathy in any way. So if you can help me, great. If not, thanks anyway, I'll wait for her to get back from vacation.

I recently finished my first novel. It took me three and a half years, but I got it done. I'm currently doing some minor adjustments and editing. It actualy turned out better than I thought and I'm quite pleased with it. I've done what several other online advice columns reccomended, and had people I trust read it and give me feed back. It was mostly positive.
My questions is, what now? Do I have to submit it to an agent? How many do I submit it to, as many as possible? Do I need to pay an editor or other professional service to look at it as well? Can I just send it to a publisher myself? I've gotten a variety of answers on various writer's forums and gotten a variety of answers back.
I'm also wondering about "marketplace" and "mass appeal". Two terms that are tossed around all too frequently. My book is a little unsettling to some. It's centered around a couple of heroin addicts who run afoul of a powerful drug dealer. It does get into some detail about heroin use (it's hard to sugarcoat that) but I tried to not make it too uncomfortable for the reader. I try to treat it with humor and insight whenever possible. I'm a former addict myself (clean since '96!) and I tried to put it into a perspective that I think the layman would understand. It does also have some violence, not a lot, and a few "adult situations". There's not  a lot of that either as I'm not real good at writing romance.
Would something like this have a chance of selling? One thing working in it's favor, is there seems to be more and more "rehab" type shows on TV lately. It's also set in the 90's so it has a little bit of a nostalgia factor working for it.
I know it's a lot to answer and I hope I'm not being to ambitious with my querry. I appreciate your help if you can give it to me. If not, thank for your time anyway.
Take care, Ed."

Answer
Hello:

You have given me quite a bit to chew on; it may be I can't answer all your questions in the space provided here. However, I'll do the best I can.

As far as I know, there are no taboos nor protocols at this site.

Sorry to be blunt (it's my nature) but the opinions of people you trust - usually friends and family - count for nothing. The opinion of your agent or some other professional are what matters. By "some other professional" I mean a professional editor who can go over your material and tell you what works and what doesn't, as well as correcting spelling, punctuation, etc. Getting a professional to look at it is your next step. There are many editors to be found online. It is best to submit to one agent at a time, but that may be quite time-consuming. Most publishers stopped accepting "over the transom" unagented manuscripts years ago.

I wouldn't worry about "mass appeal," etc. Your publisher will decide that. All I can say is that there are plenty of books out there about drug users that contain violence and profanity. If your book has some humor to it, that will help to get it published. I don't think the material itself counts as much as how the material is presented.

At my website, http://www.susanrand.vpweb.com you will find descriptions of the services I offer, including an assessment of your work, at reasonable prices. An assessment of the first couple of chapters, assuming they are not too long, will cost you $25.

I hope this helps. If it does, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated. I am proud of my high scores over 1900+ questions.

And thanks for writing!