And time to sharpen those pencils. Or typing fingers (ouch!) or something.

Before I start . . . January is dead (long live January!) but there is still time to send stuff out . . . but those days are quickly waning. If 2008 is the year you will publish stuff in litmags -- then you need to send 10 things out this WEEKEND, or it may not happen this year. I'm serious. This is good sound advice.

WHY? because lit mags' inboxes get stuffed, and most of them stop reading in April or May. That leaves a very stuffed box in March. That means that stuff sent in Jan and maybe early Feb has the best chance of being READ and not just returned. READ (red).

If you say, screw it, I'll wait until Fall, most mags open their subs again in Sept or Oct -- that means you'll hear from them maybe by Dec or Jan earliest. And your piece will see print in 2009, not 2008.

Of course there are exceptions. Some litmags like Gargoyle only take subs when other mags are closed, like in the summer. (Garg accepts from Memorial Day until Labor Day for instance, but usually fills it's pages by mid-July.)

Check out Duotrope, http://www.duotrope.com for the most awesome-est compendium of lit mags ever!

And now the Prompts!


1) Outside, it's freezing rain, but inside . . .

2) If it wasn't for the snow next to your car, you would have never noticed the ________

3) Write a description of the person who always pushes your buttons (real or imagined).


Set a timer for 15 minutes and goooooooo.


--Hildieblog

PS -- Happy Groundhog's Day tomorrow -- it's my favorite holiday!

Also if you haven't stopped by to download/read/review my excerpt from Oh and She has a Dog and you want to -- please do quick! On Feb 19th they will be deleting 7/8th of the contestants . . . I may not be there any more! To help me stay in the contest -- stop by, forward to your friends, etc etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Oh-She-Has-Dog-Official/dp/B0012658EO

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